Reptile & Amphibian Forums

heres my problem, I acquired a breeder pair of rosy boas. The Female is in perfect shape, but the male is another story. Everything checked out with the male that I looked at, but I overlooked one thing. The previous owner had him on live (knowing there is no real good reason to have a rosy on live) But aparently the snake took a live mouse at some time in the past, and it bit his tounge off now my problem is or should I say my question is : Will the strong feeding response of a rosy boa override the fact that he cannot smell his food? he isnt eating now because of a slight respatory infection but that is being taken care of with baytrill injections so it should clear in a week or so. Am I hopeless or should I keep plugging at it? I would rater not have to force feed him for the rest of his life

...let me unquailify myself even further by saying I know nothing of Rosies. Just because I don't have a similar experience it doesn't keep me from having an opinion!

Snakes have a Jacobson's organ which IMO would allow it to still have some olfactory sense. I also think with or without an actual fully functioning tongue it would still be able to detect heat and smell. Although a Rosy isn't a pit viper I think it would do just fine. I will be curious to see other replies on this subject. Motion and smell would still entice or create a feeding response IMO. You might have to "dance" a f/t prey item it would create the visual stimulis needed to achieve a feeding response. I would further think that it could be fairly easily "conditioned" to accept f/t without enticement given a reasonable amount of time.

My next thoughts would be turned to the person who sold you this pair. Was it feeding before you purchased it? If so, how was it's meal offered? If it indeed has a RI, maybe that is why it is not currently feeding.

I hope you keep us posted on the outcome. Good luck.

Linda
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It fed at the show on a f/t but prolly got a RI on the ride home but the tounge has been bitten off... so im skeptical