Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have recently rescued a 5 foot boa. My first boa.
Picked her up on April 4th.
The person that had her previously kept her WAY too cool, 70 degrees. She had not eaten for him in about 6 months. (No surprise considering he was trying to freeze her.) She also has a respiratory infection. (Again no surprise...)
I brought her home and heated her up. Keeping her between 95 and 100 degrees, hoping to burn off the RI.
She shed and ate a small rat the first week I had her and a medium sized rat each of the next three weeks. She also shed a second time last week.

Her RI is improving; no more open mouthed breathing.
My concern is the fact that with all she has been eating over the last month she has not pooed. Should I be concerned? My other snakes, all colubrids, all poo within a few days of eating. Is this normal for a boa? or one that had not eaten in so long?

Thanks for your help,
Shari

From the info you have given I do not think there is any cause for concern on the defecating.. the animal isn't ready to go..

But.. if you have a boa showing signs of a respiratory infection after weeks of elevated temps and TLC you are looking at the real possibility of a chronic infection that will not go away by itself.. and could be a problem for you or whoever eventually gets the animal.

It is likely true that many boas are over-medicated but I think it also true that many of these infections can be safely treated. Making the likelyhood that they will carry the disease to other animals/colonies much reduced.

Respiratory infection syndrome is fatal in the Boas, if it doesn't kill right away or until a few years later, that doesn't make it less lethal.

Gus