Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Help me out here! What can I do to get my Boa to eat F/T? He's was raised eating live until he was almost 3. He switched over to F/T with no problem at all. Then, all of a sudden, he stopped eating. Just to check to see if he was sick or something, I put in a very small live mouse. He snatched it up and swallowed it down with no problem. I figured that maybe he'd "wake up" and he would also eat the F/T that I left for him. Nope. He hasn't eaten in a month. Should I wait longer? Help!!!
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George
1.0.0. Columbian Red Tail Boa (Madmartigan)
1.0.0. California Kingsnake (Noodle)

Looks like he needs some re-training. Give him a couple of live, and then wiggle the thawed in front of him. Hopefully, he will grab it. You might have to get him to do this a few times (weekly feedings) before he re-aquires his taste for thawed. The most important thing is to get him to eat regularly. Go get him what he wants. Do not let him lose weight because it is not what he wants to eat.

That's very good advice! What sucks is that I just spent a bunch of money at RodentPro.com to get him a whole bunch of F/T rats!

I ordered XL Rats because that's what he was eating live. Like I said, he took them at first. The live mice that I have available are not even 1/4 the size of the rats. Does that matter?
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George
1.0.0. Columbian Red Tail Boa (Madmartigan)
1.0.0. California Kingsnake (Noodle)

Does the heat source affect anything? I know that snakes see in heat vision so should I turn off the light so he can see better?
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George
1.0.0. Columbian Red Tail Boa (Madmartigan)
1.0.0. California Kingsnake (Noodle)

No, the size of the live prey does not matter. Just want him in the eating mood. And, you do not have to turn off the lights. My snakes take their frozen/thawed at room temperature in the light or dark.

Maybe you should stop buying rats that were not meant as feeders. Do you know were those $1.00 XL rats came from???

Please inform me on these $1.00 rats. Are they safe.

RodentPro.com is actually running the same sale that they were when I bought from them.

XL Rats - $1.00 each
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George
1.0.0. Columbian Red Tail Boa (Madmartigan)
1.0.0. California Kingsnake (Noodle)

Do you really think they can raise quality healthy rats to that size, sell them for a buck each and make a profit??
Hmmm....now where do LAB rats come from....think.

He never likes to eat during the winter months. I chalk it up to him being in breeding mode. He is also a picky eater. I finally figured out something that works for him. I put him in a dark tuberware with the lid on (small air holes are the only light) with a warmed rat and don't check on him for about 3-4 hours. When I check the rat is gone. I never get to see him eat, but I don't mind. Better then his daughter who strikes at everything that moves when the smell of rat is in the air. Good luck to you. Also make sure your temps are good!

Tony.

Thank you both!

I think he might be a little cold. I had a heat emitter on his tank for a while. It got the temp. to soar up to 90+. I thought he might like it but for some reason, I don't think he did. So I changed out the bulb to a normal red heat bulb that keeps the temp. around 80.

Which would you use?
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George
1.0.0. Columbian Red Tail Boa (Madmartigan)
1.0.0. California Kingsnake (Noodle)

...i would use the red bulb that got the temnp around 80 because 90-100 degrees is too much...unless its a female and pregnant...

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0.1 c.b.97' 9' 60 lb. common boa "scarlet"
1.0 c.b.02' 6' 15 lb. "hi pink" common boa "maverick"
0.1 c.b.06' 17" firebelly x pastel boa "betty boa"
2 savannah monitors Ozzy & Uggy

1.0 everglades x yellow ratsnake c.b. 04' 4' "pooh"
1.0 c.b.06' redear slider "dweezil"
1.0 c.b.04' emorys ratsnake "zeus"

"...does it bite?"

If your two choices are a red light that goes to 80, or a CHE that goes over 90- I'd do the CHE with a thermostat set around 88. This would allow the cooler end to be in the lower 80's. The red light that goes only to 80 means that their's going to be places in your cage that are too cool.
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I'm just the snake room janitor

I like that idea the best. I forgot about a thermostat. Reccommend one?
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George
1.0.0. Columbian Red Tail Boa (Madmartigan)
1.0.0. California Kingsnake (Noodle)