Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I feed my snakes frozen/thawed rodents and with most of them i have no trouble at all. However, i am particualy concerned about one of my Boa's. Her feeding response is very poor. At most she will only eat about once a month, normaly taking me the whole evening to tempt her into striking at the prey. I've tried most things to get her feeding response going...increased temp, varied food items, limited handling ect.. the only thing i havent tried (which my local herp dealer advises) is feeding live. I've never had to feed any of my animals live before and would like to keep things that way if i can. I'd really like to feed this snake up and possibly breed her one day (one step at a time i hear you cry), but to be honest i just want this snake to make it as she has got me a little worried. Personaly i dont think i'm doing anything wrong, she's just a fussy eater. What i'm looking for is some of your best trade secrets on the subject. I know most people here have been keeping Boa's for years and would really appreciate any advise you could offer. Many thanks, Lorie.

ps. Just a small list of some things i've tried...
....Offering varied rodents (mice, rats, baby rabbits),
....Offer different prey sizes,
....increased temp (also dropped temp),
....reduced handling to a minimum,
....prime snake before offering food item,
....praying (joke), or mabey i should!!!

How big is the animal ?
Are you in fact warming the prey enough ?
More snake stats would be helpful .......

As for this ? LOL!!! Yeah I gotta hear it so please explain how one primes a snake for a feeding response. rotfl ....

>>....prime snake before offering food item,

M/

To prime i simply rub some tissue on the rodents back and through it in the snakes viv 15-20 mins before feeding. It normaly gets them really fired up. Like i said, most of my snakes dont need this as they have very good appetites.

As i noted before, i dont think it is me that is really doing anything wrong, its probably just a fussy snake. What i was asking for was 'help in feeding fussy snakes', as i'm sure many people have had (fussy snakes) over the many years they have been keeping snakes.

I have been keeping Boa's/Python's for about six years now and can reasure you that all my other snakes are all in very good health. I know how to feed snakes and have also delt with a problem feeders in the past (ball Pythons) but this Boa has got me a little concerned as her sister is twice as large and an exelent feeder.

The Boa itself was born in 2002, is about 42" long and quite slender. I'm 100% sure this snake is definatly female...well 99.999%

Thanks again for any advise, Lorie.

ps. Whats so funny about priming?

Have ya tried a chick? I don't recomend feeding chicks, but to a boa it seems to be icing on the cake. If it takes a chick, then just start scenting the rats with one after that.

All I gotta do to "prime" my snakes for feeding is take some rats outa the freezer. LOL Put them in the sink, and walk in the living room, and they ALL got there heads poked out in ready.

I train 'em that way.
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Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices

Most of ours perk up when we enter the snake room !
I dont think they know the difference between Daddy gettin a cold beer and the freezer side with prey ?Got something to do with the fridge doors Im pretty sure ? LOL!!

M/

>>Have ya tried a chick? I don't recomend feeding chicks, but to a boa it seems to be icing on the cake. If it takes a chick, then just start scenting the rats with one after that.
>>
>>
>>All I gotta do to "prime" my snakes for feeding is take some rats outa the freezer. LOL Put them in the sink, and walk in the living room, and they ALL got there heads poked out in ready.
>>
>>I train 'em that way.
>>-----
>>Richard Carew
>>Sunset BCI
>>You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
>>Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices

Nope, Only when I feed. I think the draft carries the scent from the kitchen to the living room. But they smell it coming. LOL Amazes me every time. My dog can't smell that well.
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Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices

Hey Lorie,

Try feeding at night in the dark. I get a better feeding response out of my snakes that way. You can try putting it infront of their face. If they dont take right away, leave it in the cage overnight near them.

Also, I doubt once a month is going to lead to her death so I wouldn't be too worried if I were you. There's no way to really force a snake to eat.

Did she just recently start refusing food or has she always been a finicky eater? How old is she and what size?

-Eddie Kim

Eddie,
Yes the snake has always been a fussy eater. The thing is i also have her sister who has a verosous appetite and is easily twice the size of her by now.

The Boa itself was born in 2002, is about 42" long and quite slender. I am as sure as i can be that the snake is female. She lives in solitude, in a four foot square viv. Heating and humidity requirments are of the standard for this type of snake.

Thanks for the reply and thanks for any further advise, Lorie.

We also have two very small females, a 2.5 and a 1.5 year olds that are both roughly the same size as yours. They haven't had any problems eating so I have no idea why they've stayed so small (genetics, I suppose) but i'm questioning whether or not they will ever be breedable.. of course we're hoping they will fill out on their own time.

Anyone have any really small breeders?
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1.1 96, 04 Het Albino - "Suzie" & "Lumpy"
0.1 03 Poss. Het Albino - "Ami"
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1.0 06 TH-Moonglow - "Gargamel"

I agree with Ophidia. I've never had a finicky eater refuse a chick. My good freind had his 20 yr old male go on an 8 month fast, and a chick was just the thing to snap him out of it. I don't know how easy it will be for you to find them this time of year. I live a few miles from an egg hatchery, so they have day olds daily - 10 cents ea.
Another Boa that I produced ate well for me for years, and then he changed. He would no longer eat unless I set the f/t rat in a rubbermaid tub and leave it with him overnight. He would not eat in front of me or in the daytime like he used to. Good luck, keep trying.
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I'm just the snake room janitor