Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Its been many years since I have been into snakes. I brought home a baby Hogg Island Boa about 4 weeks ago from a reptile show. She is about 15 inches long. The vendor told me that she was eating frozen small mice/hoppers. She has under tank heater as well as basking spot, hide box etc...

I had been trying to feed her every few days. Large frozen pinkies, fuzzies, small mice, we tried everything, I sure did waste alot. I tried rubbing them on a live mouse, taping her on the nose, annoying her with them, splitting the head to leak brains (I read that they loved the blood and guts), nothing worked. I finally broke down and bought a pregnant mouse and she had babies. We cant find live mice around here that arent huge. Yesterday, I tried with the live fuzzies and she ate 2 of them pretty quickly. I know shows are traumatic and a new enclosure and whatnot can cause stress. I was just so desperate to see her eat, I didnt want her to lose strength.

I do know the bad things about feeding live rodents (please no lectures), I actually have 200 mice in the freezer of various sizes for her and my milksnake. What else can I try to get her to accept the frozen mice? Is there a rule of thumb for babies, if they refuse frozen for so long, should give a live, just so she gets food? How often should I try or how often should I expect her to eat at this point (frozen or live)?

Your help is greatly appreciated!
Shell and Deliah (Hogg Island Boa)

I have an adult male Hogg (Sunny) that I've had practically since his birth. My uncle breeds. He was sort of a pain to get to eat off the start too. Usually when I buy baby boas especially from shows I like to give them a week or so in quarintine and to relax. Boas can get traumatized from shows or shipping. The best way to get it to feed as a baby you've already found out. Your boa prefers live meals. Now it is your job after about 5 or so feedings to start weaning to stunned then f/t. I found this method to work exceptionally with new arrivals.
Keep on herpin the best hobby around.
Nicsrus

Thanks, I had a Boa 15 years ago, but found another home once the reptile room turned into a nusery. Had to make a choice if you know what I mean.

How often should I expect a baby Hogg eat? This morning she is doing circles around the tank looking around. I never fed more than once a week with my snakes before.

Thanks,
Shell

Once every 7-14 days should be good. My young hog isle eats a f/t rat pup every 1-2 weeks. I like to vary the schedule so they don't get in a routine. My adult male eats every 2-3 weeks.

Your girl was probably just stressed out for the first month from the show, getting adjusted to the new enclosure, along with being offered so many food items. I would offer her a f/t about 10 days after the meal of live and see how that goes, offer a f/t same type of item as the live (mouse fuzzy I think you said?). If she still refuses, try again a few days later, repeat as necessary. I'd offer live if she doesn't eat for about 3 weeks of offering f/t.

Are you feeding her in the cage or in a seperate tote? Is the cage in a high-traffic area? I find my picky eaters will take the food when it's at night, low or no light and not a lot of movement around (I feed all my snakes in their enclosure). Sometimes the snake gets stressed when being offered food and you gotta just give up and try again a few days later. Good luck! I haven't met a boa yet that I couldn't switch to f/t.

My girl, Bacon is below.
-April

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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

Your guy is very nice. Here is a picture of my baby. She is very light and has a deep orange/pinkish belly. I didnt want to pick her up since she just ate the day before yesterday.

She is located in the corner of the kitchen, so I am pretty much the only one in there,lol. Typically she has a towel over the one side of her cage in addition to her hide box.

I will try in about a week again with f/t and go from there.
Thanks,
Shell

>>Here is a picture of my baby.
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

She has very little black specks. The vendor told me that was desireable, but they can tell you whatever to get you to hand over the cash,lol. I think she is a bit darker now than when she came home, hopefully getting ready to shed.

>> but they can tell you whatever to get you to hand over the cash,lol.

haha now that is the truth!

Speckles are a personal choice, lots of people prefer the clean look of no speckles. I'm kinda into the speckles myself on hogs but prefer the clean look on my other boas.

It's amazing how the hog isles go through a color change, during the day mine are dark and they get nice and light at night. A much more dramatic change than any of my other boas. They usually darken up a bit when digesting as well.
Have a great day!
-April
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow