Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I adopted a Dumerils Boa back in December, right before Christmas. Some of you may remember me posting about it. I also adopted a Ball Python from person.

Since then I have gotten the Ball to eat, but I just can't seem to get the Dumerils to eat. I have tried, prekilled, frozen thawed and live and nothing works. She is in a 20 long enclosure with a basking side and cooling side. She has a place to hide as well as Aspen to burrow in. She just doesn't seem interested in food at all. I have fed her all times during the day and she just goes about her business, which isn't eating.

Not sure what else to do. She is healthy otherwise and the previous owner says she was eating up until I adopted her. Any ideas?

DJ

place her in a confined rubbermaid tub for a week then throw in a live hopper mouse and she if she takes it that normally works for me, best of luck
-----
Jason & Danica
Don't wanna wait 'til tomorrow Why put it off another day? One by one, little problems Build up, and stand in our way. Oh One step ahead, one step behind it Now ya gotta run to get even Make future plans I'll dream about yesterday, hey! Come on turn, turn this thing around (Right now) Hey! It's your tomorrow (Right now) Come on, it's everything (Right now) Catch your magic moment (Right now) Catch your magic moment Do it right here and now Do it right here and now, IT MEANS EVERYTHING (Van Halen, Right Now)

So am I still waiting for this world to stop hating/Can't find a good reason, can't find hope to believe in/...You can't change the state of the nation we just need/ some motivation...So am I still waiting for this world to stop hating(Sum41 Still Waiting)

Classic Dums frozen feeders

It's entirely possible it's brumating. What area of the country do you live in? If your ambient temps drop based on cooler, dryer winter conditions many snakes will start a winter fasting. This is normal for many snakes even if you maintain the UTH. My dum did this for three winters, in fact, this is the first winter where he's eating past the fall season.
-----
Ken Roshak
BlackSwampSerpents@toast.net

yes it is possible that it is going through a winter fast. it is also possible that you have a very shy feeder. I remember i had alot of difficulty with my boy when i first got him until i figured out that he wanted his food prekilled and delivered to the front of his hide box. Even after that he still had to stare at it for at least thirty minutes til he was about three years old. He wouldn't box feed for me until he was about 6 years old no matter what I tried. What got him to start feeding for me was live pinks in the cage he would usually take them at least a couple hours after all the lights were out and his cage had to be covered too. I also had to keep the cats out of the room and stay away from the cage. (yes I spent several hours pacing in the other room in complete darkness waiting to hear the tell tale sounds) I would not handle him on feeding day either to minimize stress and make him feel more comfortable in his new home.
best of luck,
melissa

When I first got mine, she ate live hoppers with gusto evey seven days. Then after a shed I switched her to slightly larger rat pups. She will not eat them immediately. She will contemplate the prey for anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. She also will only eat in a covered box in the dark undisturbed. Since I've moved her over to the larger prey she also will only eat every 10 to 21 days between meals. These snakes because of their sedimentary inactive behavior don't seem to need to feed anywhere as much as their South American cousins. The approximately six weeks since you have had her is not a very long fast and she is in no danger of starving anytime soon. I suggest some more patience and experimentation. If the prey item is f/t or two small, pinkie/pup to harm the animal then leave it in overnight with the snake. If she does not want to feed do not try again every night allow a few days to pass before trying again in order to not stress the snake.