Reptile & Amphibian Forums

one of my good friends just called me and came home tonight and discovered that his male had eaten his female. He was wondering what to do. I really have no idea, so I thought I would ask here. Both snakes are about the same size and age. Should I have him force it to regurge? or should he just let it digest it? could it die from such a big meal?

Josh

Every instance I have ever heard of a Boa eating another Boa has resulted in the death of both animals. Leave the Boa alone, who just made a big mistake, maybe it can survive. Please report back on what happens.
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Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

Jeff-

Have you heard of this in BCI/BCC? I have heard of it in Rainbows and Dumerils, but the only BCI/BCC instances I have heard of are situations where the birthing mother eats still born offspring. This is something I have seen on 2 or 3 occasions now.

I would love to know more information on this and also what you think might cause such behavior.
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Brandon Weik

A story several years ago from Daveyfig went something like....

Separated two babies for feeding, both ate a mouse, put back in communal cage and the smaller one ate the larger one.... Both died

I copied links to his pics and they still work.....




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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I am actually surprised that Bci and Bcc have not fully evolved this behavior with regards to females ingesting stillborn neonates and unfertilized ova. We have captive bred and produced green anacondas on numerous occasions using different females and the ingestion of stillborns and slugs has always occurred. Additionally, the few other individuals I have spoken with that have produced greens have seen the same behavior. Definitely a useful survival adaptation and strategy. I took the photo below of one of my females eating an unfertilized ova back in 2001.

Kelly

I'm not sure if we are talking about the same thing or not.

The original question was about Boas eating each other. I have seen this only once when I was a newbie. Since I don't keep anything together any more except during breeding, I have not personally seen it. BUt I have heard of it probably five times. In ever instance, including the one instance I had, both animals died.

As for eating still born neonates and slugs, I do think that happens more often than we know. I found a very small litter at least a day after they were born a few weeks back. It's only a guess, but the number of babies was so low and the mess in the cage in such a large area, I assumed there must have been a pile of slugs that the female ate. I didn't see it though.

A guy posted pictures of his Boa eating slugs last year here on the forum. So I think that is probably very unusual, but it does happen. So much to learn...
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Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

I witnessed a female BCC eating slugs back in '05 I think it was.

As you mentioned, I don't think it happens often, but I know it happens. Kelly mentioned that she thought it strange that BC's haven't "fully evolved" that behavior and I agree that it's strange, and also that it's not FULLY evolved.

jb
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What's written above is purely my opinion. In fact, MOST of what you read on the internet is someone's opinion. Don't take it too seriously

Jonathan Brady
DeviantConstrictors.com Site received a complete makeover! Check it out!

I think you are both correct and one reason we probably don't see it more often is because we are usually quick to clean up after a litter. I think if we always left litters in the cages for 24-48 hours you would witness this much more often. I have seen it 3 or 4 times and rarely is a litter left in a cage more than 5-6 hours after birth here.

Again, back to the original question though. Jeff what size were the snakes you had experience with? I can see this happening in neonates, especially with agressive young snakes being kept together, but larger animals is something all together different.
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Brandon Weik

I have only seen baby Boas eat another Boa. I have not seen or heard of anything with any size on it doing that. But I could easily see the mistake happening some time if multiple animals were kept together or in the wild. Since responsible Herps do not keep multiple animals together except for breeding, I don't think it's likely we'd see it in captivity. All bets are off for those who do not observe to conventional wisdom of keeping individuals separate except during breeding.
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Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

My name is Josh, not Jeff and I believe the boas are 2-3 years old.

Josh

lol im pretty sure they are talking to jeff aka boaphile

I was talking to Jeff, but Josh, if you can get some photos or any more information on the situation I would like to know more of what happened. i.e. Was he feeding them, were they always housed together, etc.

Thanks,
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Brandon Weik

They have been housed together as long as he has had them. He fed them separately, then put them back together after feeding, like he always has.

Josh

So, the snake regurged the meal and seems to be doing fine. He is going to give him a while and then feed him some smaller food items for a while.

Josh
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1.0 Rosy Boa
0.1 Mexican Rosy Boa
1.0 Coastal Carpet Python
3.1 Miniature Daschund
0.1 California Kingsnake
1.0 Western Coachwhip
0.2 Desert Kingsnake - 1 Just laid six eggs!
1.0 Long-nosed Leopard Lizard
1.1 Desert Box Turtle
0.1 Tiger Salamander
1.0 Texas Banded Gecko

..with housing two (or more) boas together. When they constrict a rat, they get that juicy rat smell all over them. The other boa/s think they smell a rat that is moving! They strike, there's a struggle and someone gets eaten. This happens even if the animals are separated for feeding. I've witnessed it many times, as I've housed males together at times. Also, breeders that are fed, then put back together. Twice I've had to pull one off the other. They can't see worth a darn. At least not with their eyes.
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Jason Dowell

Exactly why snakes shouldnt be kept together, unless its breeding season.
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Richard Ceniceros

Wouldnt Common sense tell you not to feed boas and put them together the same night?LOL

I agree.
This year I introduced a pairing. It had been 2 weeks since anyone ate. I placed the male in the females enclosure to begin breeding. The female saw the male twitching towards her and 2 minutes later bit him when he was making his way near her face. The both coiled but luckily immediately let go.

I think my example was a hungry female and a male that was moving in twitches almost like prey.

Luckily I watch for the first hour when making a introduction during breeding season, usually to watch for clues from both the female and male
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www.BetterBoa.com

40 Bci's
3.3 Corn snakes

Betterboa,thanks for the idea,from now on im giving the female a rub to kill feeding responce and try put male in to her tail end instead of him not touching her first and meeting her head on.May help!They know when i touch them its not feeding day here!LOL I feed in cage and dont touch them for a few days after.When i pulled male during breeding season to feed a small meal ,i didnt return him for a day or 2 and this was my first and only litter.Just dont make sense to feed and return him to see what happens.LOL