Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a kahl's albino boa I got from a confiscation where all the animals looked horrible. It is about 5ft and really skinny. I have had now for about a year. It has eaten maybe 3 times in that year. I have tried a variety of different sized rats mice, and nothing works consistently. It will strike and constrict, but rarely if ever eats. Ironically, it is fairly active and has had more good sheds in a year than meals. I attempted to wait him out this winter which has been successful with some finicky colubrids I have had. I didn't even try to feed him for 3 months and slightly cooled him. When I restored normal heat, he showed interested, striked and constricted but never ate. Over the past month, he has been given choices between rats and mice, and he always acts like he is going to eat with a kill constrction, but never eats. Today I tried a live chick, and again, he killed it and has refused to eat.

Any ideas? He is skinny, but otherwise acts healthy which can't last forever. I'm very frustrated with him, considering my other boas are garbage cans and will eat anything I throw at them.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and any ideas you have to get him feeding consistently.

Zach

I would suggest taking him to a herp. vet. and having a fecal done. Don't give up, given proper conditions and time boas can come back from the brink. good luck, and more power to you for helping an animal in need.
Rob

It's possible he's just a finicky eater. I have one snake that eats maybe three months (May, June, July) out of the year, otherwise it's healthy looking. I had a snake go almost an entire year without eating. I would still take it to a vet just in case.