Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I obtained an adult (7 yrs) Costal Rosy about a month ago. The former owners did not handle it often so I knew it might be a challenge. For the past three weeks I held it every other day for 15-30 minutes. It was never thrilled to be held but after about 10 minutes it would normally relax a little. It never showed any agression. I feed it frozen hoppers every five days by transfering it to a tupperware box and using forceps to handle the food. I have never fed it in it's enclosure but the former owners did.

Last week it was shedding so I did not handle or feed it. I did feed it immeaditely after shedding.

Two days later I picked it up after coming home from work. I would with marine mammals and handle squid and fish. I washed my hands before handling the snake but still had the scent. Almost immeaditely it bit me and held on for a full minute. After it released I fed it one hopper.

Two days later I went to handle it again (had not handled fish at all) and it tried to bite again. Not a typical strike bite but a feeding bite. I fed it two more hoppers.

Today I tried once again and got the same response. What is going on? This was never a problem before it shedded. I have ALWAYS fed it out of its enclosure. I would think that 4 hoppers in 4 days would be plenty to satisfy any possible hunger.

HELP!

Post a pic if you can.
What is the weight & length? Is it a male or a female?
A 7 year old coastal should be HUGE.
For instance, all of my coastal adults are 400 grams. My biggest rosy is a Limburg albino female that I weighed yesturday. She is 743 grams(or over 1.5 pounds!)
Hoppers are way too small for a FULL grown coastal.
I feed mine 40-50 gram young rats(don't go much higher, as there is a regurge potential) once every 5-7 days.
Keep us updated!
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Thanks,
-JC
www.rosyboas.to

40 plus rosies
0.1 Boa constrictor
1.1 cats(bengal & bengal mix)

My boa is large, probably about 1.5lbs as well, 3 feet or so in length. I believe she is female. I;ve been feeding her hoppers because that is what her previous owners fed her. Do you belive she was just extra hungry?

Thanks

I think it's very probable.
Coastals are very active & alert compared to the other rosies, I think, if your emphasis were to keep her as a pet, to feed her more, as well as, keep handling her as often as possible.
Did that run-on sentence, make sense?
-----
Thanks,
-JC
www.rosyboas.to

40 plus rosies
0.1 Boa constrictor
1.1 cats(bengal & bengal mix)

Yes - feed more (do you suggest juvinile rats or adult mice?)
Handle often.

And yes, my intention is to have her as a pet.

It's your choice(I use both), but I think small rats are better. Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong, but rats have less fat than protein.
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Thanks,
-JC
www.rosyboas.to

40 plus rosies
0.1 Boa constrictor
1.1 cats(bengal & bengal mix)