Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There are two CA Boas where I work that are not eating. They haven't been since they came in day one. They have been quarantined and examined multiple times but a good herp vet. Her diagnosis was "poor do'ers." Hmm...useless diagnosis IMHO.

They have been together away from all the other animals for upwards of approx. 4 months now. Maybe a little longer. I've lost track of time at this point! They are fantastic little snakes - pretty coloring, good temperments, fairly active...

But they won't eat. They have never struck out at anyone or anything. It's as if they have no desire to eat, or no prey drive. I was advised by another snake board to force feed them. I started with mouse and rat tails for the first month or so to be as gentle as possible with them and build up their digestive system. I then graduated them to pinkies (F/T). If they were eating on their own, they're more than large enough to eat large fuzzies, but I was hesitant to force something that size down their throats. They have done well on this so far, and I was giving them two each once a week. They kept them down just fine. I was told this would trigger a feeding response, but it never did. I have tried live pinkies (and fuzzies), anoles, and various methods of braining and so forth to no avail. You name it, I've probably tried it. They don't even show a bit of interest, and in fact, many times visibly get upset when put in a feeding container with food. They literally turn their noses away and won't have anything to do with it.

They are slowly growing and have maintained weight just fine. This past month, I have "starved" them and ceased all force feeding to see if they would eat when hungry enough. No luck yet, but I'm holding out.

I have been told I can just have them, as they obviously can't be sold if they aren't eating. What are the chances they could bounce back from this? What steps should I take at this point in regards to feeding? Keep force feeding weekly or wait them out?

I know snakes can go awhile without feeding, but I don't know what defines "awhile." I've heard 6 months to a year. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
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1 Thoroughbred
1 Mali Uromastyx
1 Bearded Dragon
1 Corn Snake
1 Milk Snake
3 German Shepherds
2 Birds (Conure and Cockatiel)
2 Rabbits
4 Fish tanks (SW and FW)

Forgot husbandry info...they are in a 15g glass tank with a sceen lid, small zoomed heating pad under one corner, 75w red light (glows black - for their comfort) and a regular strip light for daytime light. They were previously kept on paper towels, changed daily, to rid their system of any possible parasites the vet may have missed, but were just recently changed to a more natual setup with forest bedding dirt as a substrate, a good sized piece of driftwood and a couple fake plants for cover. They also have, obviously, a water bowl.
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1 Thoroughbred
1 Mali Uromastyx
1 Bearded Dragon
1 Corn Snake
1 Milk Snake
3 German Shepherds
2 Birds (Conure and Cockatiel)
2 Rabbits
4 Fish tanks (SW and FW)

I would try putting them in a small shoebox size tupperware with paper towels and a water bowl. Make sure their temps are correct and leave them in a nice quite place for a week and try feeding them again. A nice healthy sub adult or adult can go 6 months to a year without eating, not a baby. This is what I've done in the past for different boas and pythons and it generally works for me. I hope it will help you some.

Danni
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Jason & Danni
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SMILE SMILE

I have had two baby boas that showed zero interest in food and would, like yours, actually turn away from the mice as if afraid of them. I was told to put them in a small paper bag with a live mouse too small to harm the snake and to leave it overnight. Every time I tried this the snakes fed fairly quickly without the need to leave them in the bag overnight. I don't know why it works but it does. I have tried putting them in other small containers (i.e. deli cups)with mice, with no results, but small brown paper bags have always done the trick.

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1 Thoroughbred
1 Mali Uromastyx
1 Bearded Dragon
1 Corn Snake
1 Milk Snake
3 German Shepherds
2 Birds (Conure and Cockatiel)
2 Rabbits
4 Fish tanks (SW and FW)

You don't want to use mice old enough to bite your snake. Not a dimb question at all. Good luck.

I've heard that trying chicken feet will trigger a feeding responce. Most grocery stores have them.
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Alone, alone, all, all alone. Alone on a wide, wide sea.
-Rime of the ancient Mariner

i would try the fuzzy in a paper bag trick i have also had great results with this also you could ask your vet for a syringe and a feeding/medicating tip and try a mixture of 3 parts turky babyfood to 1 part non flavored pedialyte carfully slip the tip down the babies throat and carefully and slowly squeeze 5milof that mixture into each baby that will at least keep them alive and keep there strength up untill they decide to feed on they're own good luck with them i hope it all works out for you

billy