Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My dumerils boa is about 1 and a half years old and about a month ago stop eating his food. I've tried geting smaller mice and he at least constricted them but still will not eat them. Is this normal for them to go off feeds in the winter because im starting to get worried. Please post any info that could help.

I wouldn't get too worried yet. Go back and double check everything about his setup (day length if using additional lighting, temps, temp gradient, humidity, etc.) and maybe clean the cage if you haven't recently. If all of these are fine, I would just give him more time. As long as he doesn't lose too much body weight (and you can tell visually when they start getting thin, but using a digital scale is best) then he should be fine. Many of the boas and pythons seem to go off food from time to time.
When you try to feed again, make sure he feels safe. They can be shy eaters, so you might want to make sure that during feeding he is away from any activity that might make him nervous. Large plastic containers work great...just put him in then add the food...if he constricts, then place them in the bathroom or bedroom and turn off the light. If he's still small enough (I don't remember if you said his length)you can put him in a container with the food, and place it back in the cage and leave him that way over night. If you do this, make sure the container is just barely big enough for him to move a little, but not be able to get completely away from the food. Hope some of this has helped!
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-David

Check out my pet pics at:
http://www.myspace.com/obx_fisherman

1.0 ball python (Pandora - don't ask)
1.0 argentine boa (Prometheus)
0.0.1 colombian boa (Athena)
0.1 hogg island boa (Andromeda)
0.0.1 brazilian rainbow boa (Inara)
1.0 Dumeril's boa (Hannibal)
1.0 kenyan sand boa (Diablo)
0.0.1 normal corn snake(Cypress)
0.1 amel. corn snake (Morgan LaFay) RIP
0.0.2 baby corns (Romulus and Remus)
- 1 normal, 1 ghost
0.0.1 banded cali. kingsnake (Cain)
1.0 tangerine honduran milksnake (Narcissus)
0.0.1 snow corn snake (Valkyrie)
1.1 garden phase amazon tree boas (Pegasus, Lenore)
0.0.1 baby yellow amazon tree boa (affectionately called
Snuggles)
0.0.1 albino san diego gopher snake (maybe Octavian)
0.0.1 sandfish skink (Slick)
0.0.1 fire skink (Phoenix)
1.0 bassett hound/black and tan coonhound mix (Luke)
0.1 Boxer (Zoe)
1.0 bearded dragon (Leonidas)
1.1 ferrets (Ares, Enyo)
1.2 cats (Galahad, Ripley and Sassy)
2.0 rats (Pan, no name yet)

something I forgot to mention...illness can cause them to stop feeding, so check the nostrils for any signs of a respiratory infection as RI is the most common for Dums. Also, if he is dehydrated, he could be constipated, so you might want to give him a bath in luke warm water. Rechecking your cage conditions should verify either problem if present in the snake. If cage is properly set up, and he continues to refuse to not eat, still don't worry until he starts to loose weight...if that happens, get him to a good reptile vet as soon as you can, but most likely it won't come to that.
-----
-David

Check out my pet pics at:
http://www.myspace.com/obx_fisherman

1.0 ball python (Pandora - don't ask)
1.0 argentine boa (Prometheus)
0.0.1 colombian boa (Athena)
0.1 hogg island boa (Andromeda)
0.0.1 brazilian rainbow boa (Inara)
1.0 Dumeril's boa (Hannibal)
1.0 kenyan sand boa (Diablo)
0.0.1 normal corn snake(Cypress)
0.1 amel. corn snake (Morgan LaFay) RIP
0.0.2 baby corns (Romulus and Remus)
- 1 normal, 1 ghost
0.0.1 banded cali. kingsnake (Cain)
1.0 tangerine honduran milksnake (Narcissus)
0.0.1 snow corn snake (Valkyrie)
1.1 garden phase amazon tree boas (Pegasus, Lenore)
0.0.1 baby yellow amazon tree boa (affectionately called
Snuggles)
0.0.1 albino san diego gopher snake (maybe Octavian)
0.0.1 sandfish skink (Slick)
0.0.1 fire skink (Phoenix)
1.0 bassett hound/black and tan coonhound mix (Luke)
0.1 Boxer (Zoe)
1.0 bearded dragon (Leonidas)
1.1 ferrets (Ares, Enyo)
1.2 cats (Galahad, Ripley and Sassy)
2.0 rats (Pan, no name yet)

Thank you for the info i will try and feed him in a smaller container tonight, I'm looking at him now and he seems to be in good health. He is about 2 ft and is fairly small but he used to eat very good so he should be ok for a while. Thanks again I really just dont want anything to happen to this little guy.

good luck, and let us know if he eats! Keeping snakes is very enjoyable, but it can also be very stressful as they are harder to "read" than mammals so it's hard to determine if something is wrong (a lot easier to tell if a dog is sick, or in pain, etc.) A few other feeding tips that might work if the container doesn't (probably will though!): let the mouse thaw out at room temp, the wash it off with really hot water, then dry and attempt to feed...my hog island boa would only eat if I did this for awhile. Also, some snakes can have a color preference, so they might not take a white mouse, but will a black one (I even heard a woman say her snake would only eat the black and white mice, nothing else!) They can also have a preference for rats over mice, and I've seen them refuse mice till they were almost dead just waiting for a rat (doesn't make since to me to refuse chicken and starve just because you wanted turkey lol) Since yours had been eating fine, I doubt it's the last two, but something to keep in mind. One more thing...I don't know how often you handle him, but you might want to try giving him a couple of weeks with no disturbance (except to check and maybe change the water)...if you have a spare bedroom that doesn't have to be used, then put him in there. If not, you can simply place a towel over the front to help provide security.
-----
-David

Check out my pet pics at:
http://www.myspace.com/obx_fisherman

1.0 ball python (Pandora - don't ask)
1.0 argentine boa (Prometheus)
0.0.1 colombian boa (Athena)
0.1 hogg island boa (Andromeda)
0.0.1 brazilian rainbow boa (Inara)
1.0 Dumeril's boa (Hannibal)
1.0 kenyan sand boa (Diablo)
0.0.1 normal corn snake(Cypress)
0.1 amel. corn snake (Morgan LaFay) RIP
0.0.2 baby corns (Romulus and Remus)
- 1 normal, 1 ghost
0.0.1 banded cali. kingsnake (Cain)
1.0 tangerine honduran milksnake (Narcissus)
0.0.1 snow corn snake (Valkyrie)
1.1 garden phase amazon tree boas (Pegasus, Lenore)
0.0.1 baby yellow amazon tree boa (affectionately called
Snuggles)
0.0.1 albino san diego gopher snake (maybe Octavian)
0.0.1 sandfish skink (Slick)
0.0.1 fire skink (Phoenix)
1.0 bassett hound/black and tan coonhound mix (Luke)
0.1 Boxer (Zoe)
1.0 bearded dragon (Leonidas)
1.1 ferrets (Ares, Enyo)
1.2 cats (Galahad, Ripley and Sassy)
2.0 rats (Pan, no name yet)

I tried the smaller container but with no results, it was just big enough for him and the mouse and he didnt seem interested. I think I'm going to have to wait this one out cause doesn't seem hungry I guess. I keep his tank at 90 and 80ish on the cool side. Humidity is about 40 to 60 depending on how much I spray. If this isn't right please correct cause he likes the hot side more. Hes not my first snake its just I've never had this problem before. I also have a blood python and hogg island boa. I had a ball python but unforunatly she escaped and when I found her it was too late. I appreciate the help and will post when he finally gives in.

wrong pic but thats a bad shot of the blood