Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there! I've just gotten a seroius case of the boa fever and I've been constantly researching online to get as much info as possible. I currently have a redtail guyana male and a hypo poss super hypo red group female. My Guyana fed after the first week on a small rat, but it took him about a 1/2 hour to gain some interest in it. I tried to feed him a f/t three days ago and he refused it . So I tried to feed him again yesterday with a live med. rat (knocked out) and he refused it again. I think that the rat I tried to feed him yesterday may have been too large, but who knows. I also tried to feed my hypo poss super hypo red group female yesterday for the first time sice I bought her 5 days ago. She refues as well. I have my temps and humidity and lighting right so what's going on??? Anyone know? Just for some info, when I feed them, I dangle the feeders is front of them for a sec and then drop them near the snake in the tank. My snakes seem to be intimidated by the feeders even though they're knocked out. Any advice would help. Thanks! -Don

First, try holding the rodent still in front of the snake. Second, what are your actual temperature zones and humidity levels?
Lastly, you should usually wait a week after you first get a boa to offer food, let it settle in and don't handle it until it eats. Just provide fresh water and let it get used to the new environment.

It is normal for a snake to refuse food every so often, I have some that will not eat more than once every 3 weeks, even though food is offered on a weekly basis. Offering food every couple of days just because they wouldn't eat is only stressing them out.
-----
http://www.GilbertBoas.com/www/

Thanks for the info... My temps are @ 90 to 91 on the hot side and 78 to 81 on the cold side depending on the time of day. My humidity is @ 65% right now. I don't have a real reliable way of keeping the humidity and temps regulated except for me checking at least four times a day ( wich I do religiously of course :-} ). I have my Guyana in a 40 gal wide glass tank and he's about 40" long. I have my hypo red group in a 20gal long glass tank as well and she's about 24" long. I have aspen as a substrate, a hide box with moist moss in it, a water bowl that's large enough for each to soak in, and I have a grape vine for each tank for them to climb on. I've been reading that glass tanks are crap and that keeping the cage without any branches is best... but I really don't know. I've been looking into geting either boaphile cages,vision cages, or reptile basics inc. cages soon because I'm actually planning to breed eventually. I have a few more boas that I'm going to be purchasing shortly, but I want to figure out what the best caging is for the price as well as thermostats and night time drop equipment. I also want to get my stuff down with the two boas I have before I buy more...I just think that it's the smart thing to do. I have been researching like crazy, but most websites are obviously trying to promote thier own products, so not having any dirrect feedback from other breeders and keepers makes it real hard for me to choose what's best. Thanks for responding and any other advice would be golden . Thanks again! -Don

n/p
-----
http://www.GilbertBoas.com/www/