Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone, I purchased a baby rubber boa two weeks ago and I have a few questions. First, should i be worried she hasn't shown any interest in food? I know wild individuals hibernate this time of year, so should I be offering her food? where i bought her from, the people are very responsible and have reliable information and they stated she was captive bred. Does the hibernation rule apply for captive bred individuals? i'm currently keeping her in a 2 gallon "critter keeper" with hide, water dish and a coconut fiber mixed with moss bedding. there is no heat source, but it stays at around 70 degrees all day and night. Is there anything i can do to improve her lifestyle, she's already my favorite snake and I want her to be as happy as possible. Thanks for any help!
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1.0 Hypo Tang Leopard Gecko
1.0 Giant Jungle Albino Leopard Gecko
0.1 Normal Leopard Gecko
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First off, did it already eat for the previous owner?

If yes I would just wait a couple more weeks, and try feeding again.

If no, I would cool them down. I currently have my pair in a frig. @ 35-40F. After they get warmed up they eat readily for about a month and thats it until next year.

I have heard of plenty rubbers feeding year round, but cooling is still recommended.

Keep us posted...

Chris

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Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps

I purchased a pair of rubber boas about 2 weeks ago too. I was told to keep a flourescent light on them throughout the day to keep them eating. I put them in a smaller feeding container with the newborn pink (frozen thawed) and leave them overnight. They have eaten twice for me so far and are doing well and growing.

I do however have a western hognose about a year old that has gone off feed since September. He has lost some fat but is still in good shape so I keep trying to feed him ever other week.

Good luck with you little rubber boa. Mine have completely won my heart. I also keep spotted pythons and a western hognose among other critters.

Mary Ann

I have had a number of neonate Rubber Boas. Some eat right from the start some do not. This fall I had one of my females drop 5 neonates. I could not get any to take small pinkie mice so in November I put them into burmation, temp. 45 to 48 degrees. I have had to do this w/ other babies and it seems to work fine.
I have some 2004 neonates that started out at 5 grams, and are now over 150 grams.
Good luck, these are great snakes.

Check this web site out www.rubberboas.com, Richard Hoyer is the man to listen to about Rubberboas.

Geckofanatic23,
I have posted a message on the main boa forum that pertains to your Jan. 11 post.

I have known a number of individuals that have had success in getting their juvenile and/or adult Rubber Boas to consume prey during winter months. For the most part, the boas I have maintained quit feeding anywhere from early Sept. to late Oct. so I have found that trying to get specimens to feed during the winter months is mostly a waste of time. I suspect that the type of lighting, light / dark cycle, and temperature in combination may be important.

I would suggest that if your juvenile boa has not taken prey by this time, to place it in the coolest place possible for the duration of the winter. But first be sure it is hydrated by soaking the boa in shallow (1/8 inch) water in a jar for about 12 - 15 minutes. At 70 degrees, 24 hours / day, a non-feeding juvenile boa will likely metabolize body reserves rather quickly. Thus, there is an increased risk of the specimen becoming emaciated in a relatively short period of time.

Richard F. Hoyer