Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have been useing live and the heat and humidity is right but he just dosnt seem interested he is about 1.5ft i have had him since december and he has only eaten once

Are you trying to feed him rats or mice? He may be used to feeding on mice and you may have to work with him to get him switched. It could be a number of things, have any more info? What's your setup...temps/humidity/ etc.

Sorry I missed it in your first post where you said humidity and temps were right. Many male boas go off feed for a little while this time of year for breeding season also. This could be the reason. haha i feel stupid now for not reading that first. Good luck!

hey thanx 4 the help so u think its a breding thing, when will he eat agian cuz he is looking skinny, the ting is the hey is only like 1 1/2 ft long a baby he seems a little young to be botherd by breeding seson wut u think?

Being that young I would doubt it is a breeding fast. While live feeding is usually a last resort, coincidentally live prey, especialy if too large can intimidate a small snake. What is being offered? I would suggest leaving a fresh killed hopper or two over night. ANd does the snake have sufficient hides?
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I don't believe in luck. Luck is God covering your a** when you screw up.

For all those having trouble feeding your new baby Boas, here are some helpful hints.
Ask yourself some questions about why it is not eating (Boas don’t go on hunger strikes for political reasons).
Could the problem be environmental? Is the snake feeling stress due to its caging and refusing to feed because of it? A snug fitting hide box makes a snake feel more secure and hidden from danger. Without this a young snake may not eat because it dose not feel safe.
Is the cage too big? Many new herpers in the zest to make the perfect snake habitat will put their newborn Boa in a large cage or tank. The snake may just not find the food in such a vast home. A Rubbermaid shoebox is ideal for feeding young Boas
What type of substrate are you using and is it safe? Cedar chips are lethal to reptile and other substrates may also be harmful (desiccating)
Is the temperature too hot or too cold? A cold snake won’t eat. Many new herpers will keep their pets too warm because the breeder or pet store stressed to them to keep them warm. An 82-90 degree temp should be good for most. I’m sure you have heard about heat gradients and things along these lines. Too cold can be in an air-conditioned room with no heat source.
Is the humidity ok? If you live in a desert type area it may be too dry. Clean water should always be present but spraying/misting may be needed several times per week.
Ok that’s a basic look at environment now what about the food types?
Are you feeding it correct sized prey items? Newborns should be offered smaller than normal food items at first. Something too big may intimidate the snake.
Is the snake refusing rats or mice? If it is refusing one try the other. I have had snakes prefer either or as their first meal.
Are you feeding live or frozen? Some snakes may take to live over frozen/thawed. The body heat seems to trigger the feeding response. Others will take to thawed over live because the movement discourages them.
What time of day are you trying to feed the snake? Some snakes will feed better in the evenings while others will feed better in the mornings, try both.
Are you giving your snake enough time to feed? Over zealous herpers will check on their new pet every few minutes while feeding. Your snake will develop a strong feeding response over time, but at first they need privacy to feel secure. Also try to keep the prey item in over a 12-hour period without disturbing the snake. Many will remove the prey after just a few minutes in the cage thinking that if it did not happen immediate it won’t happen at all.
Now as far as how often to try and feed? Don’t do all these suggestions in a day’s time! Check the cage environment and try 1 method every 2-4 days until the snake eats. That’s not to say try it every day for 4 days straight! Try it once and if it does not work try again in a few days with another method. Offering all these different things to your snake will confuse it and may prolong the feeding process.
FORCE-FEEDING should be the last thing on your mind! Too many people are too quick to force a meal on a snake. After weeks of pulling out your hair, trying all things under the sun and thinking about just freezing the “damn thing”, one day you will walk in and find that the pinkie is gone. You’ll check the entire cage, under and around the water bowl, under the substrate/newspaper. You’ll even look around the outside of the cage as if by some miracle this small, blind, hairless animal climbed out of the cage to safety. Then it will hit you, oh my god it ate!!!
If all else fails and you’re set on force feeding, try just putting a thawed pinkie in the mouth of your snake. Many times the feeding instinct will take over and it will eat.
I hope this helps some of you. Good luck, stay strong and be patient.
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

...it's very good. You are an asset to this forum. Just when I started wondering where you were you re-surfaced.

Linda
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer

thnx every1 4 all your help
and i'd like to say that he ate tonight!!!
ya i gess he was intimidated by the mouse so i tried a smaller one and thonked it, he went right 4 it so ya thatx every1

Hi Linda
I try to get here more often and with all of my snakes in breeding mode right now I have more time, less feeding = less cleaning LOL. Thanks for the kind words its good to see some friedly faces (ok read friendly email names LOL) now and again. I am normally good to go here until a couple of weeks after babies start popping up, then it is back to the salt mines in the old snake room.
How is breeding season going for you this year, any good babies on the way?
Thanks
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

I hang out on the Rainbow Forum, because all I have are a relatively small amount of BRB's. I am still green and read most of the stuff on this forum to learn. Hopefully in a few years someone may be able to associate my name with some BRB's....but it's really all for my pleasure. I think the chance of a litter for me this year is slim to none. The only adult female I have has produced 2 years in a row and is not being allowed to breed this season. The female I put with a male is young and just above minimal breeding weight so I think it's unlikely much will happen. (Only 2 breedings were actually observed). Stranger things have happened. I have been keeping my eyes on those Hogs though, that's what I claim to be doing here.

Linda

Hope things go to your liking this season.....good luck.
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer