Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a columbian red tail boa that I've had since her first feed and shed. She's almost 7 years old and has always eaten when fed, which is about once a week or so.

My problem and concern is this. She hasn't eaten since mid-october. She acts like she's hungry, roaming around her tank and all, but as soon as I put a rat in with her, she totally ignores it until the smell makes me gag, (Her tank is in my bedroom) which about 3 days. She will wander around it, over it, and generally ignore it.

She (Alice) has never done this before. She's always had a good appetite and eats within an hour or so of placing the rat in her tank. Alice has been raised on pre-killed, and I buy the rats frozen and thaw them out on top of her tank to let her know that food is coming shortly.

The only thing that has recently changed is we cleaned her tank. Other than that, the lighting, heat, and everything else are the same. Her attitude hasn't changed for better or worse, she isn't displaying any signs of anything being wrong (ie: illness), she's as active as she always is.

I'm concerned that it's been so long since she's eaten and don't know what to do. I have gone so far to lightly "bonk" her with the rat to let her know that it is in there for her, and she got in the way...

Does anyone have any advice? I'm at my wits end

Thanks,
Demoncat

PS: Sorry if this is in the wrong place, I'm new

What temp is it in the tank? Even though the lighting and heating element may be constant I would not be surprised if winter has caused temperatures in the tank to drop below that at which the snake is willing to feed.

On a side note, if your snake doesn't eat a mouse on the first day, it probably won't and it may be a good idea to just take it out. If it smells bad, it's probably not a great thing for the snake to be eating.

I've never owned or cared for a boa but I've heard many people talk about their snakes randomly going off of their feed for extended periods of time and then starting right back up again. A 7-year old RTB should be able to go for quite a long time without eating. I still think it may be related to change in temperature though...

an old roommate of mine had a ball python who was about 5 years old who didn't eat for about 9 months and finally one day the put a mouse in there(they started using mice to see if she would eat it or not rather than small rats to cut down on cost) and he snatched it rite up. same situation no change in temp or anything. even the cleaing of the tank. just keep trying. i agree tho at most i only left unthawed for a day anything after that isn't really good for them to be eating. thats my opinoin tho.