Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I searched the forums for any answers to this question and found none.

My situation: 4 month old amazon tree boa which i purchased from a regular in my pet store. He said it was eating live pinkys scented with a chicken feather. After 2 months of attempting to feed it in every way imaginable, my boss told me it was time to force feed it. He gave me a frozen anole and instruction and the feeding went by with no problem. after a couple failed attempts at feeding, i notice glazed eyes and waited for him to shed. He did.

My Problem: I need to get this snake on pinkys, so i've been scenting and all that business just like before.. no dice. It came time where i decided to force feed it a pre-killed pinky scented with an anole. The entire session was a failure as the snake refused to clamp down after the pinky was in his mouth. It took me forever to procure this snake and I REALLY do not want it to starve to death/get injured because he is too scared to eat.

His enclosure is a 12x12x18 exoterra terrarium at 82 degrees and 60% humidity during the day.

P.s. I attempt to feed nocturnally.

P.p.s. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Taking the "down" feathers from a day old chick and putting it one the head of a warm wet pinkie is the best trick in the book.

I have a baby that is giving me trouble and I can't get day old chicks right now and the day old quail I have is not working.

I am a fan of the pinkie press for things that are really trouble. It is a little more gentle if done carefully and it is a better guarantee. I have had success getting things eating on their own after some pinkie pressed meals better than I have ever had with assist feeding.

There is a thread at the bottom of this page called "ATB feeding problems." The thread was started on Jan. 6 2009. This was my post in response to the question which also applies to your question. I would do this before any type of force feeding. It has always worked for me and I have never had to force feed a tree boa. Here is my post from before there might be other useful info from someone else but you will have to read the whole thread.

Heating the pinky to the point it almost splits open from the heat has always worked for me and picky newborns. Also make sure you use long forceps, hemostats or tweezers. You don't want your body heat confusing the snake. So the farther away you are from the food being offered the better. Sometimes they will lock onto your heat signature and not the pinkie. Hope this helps.
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Charles Koutris

>>There is a thread at the bottom of this page called "ATB feeding problems." The thread was started on Jan. 6 2009. This was my post in response to the question which also applies to your question. I would do this before any type of force feeding. It has always worked for me and I have never had to force feed a tree boa. Here is my post from before there might be other useful info from someone else but you will have to read the whole thread.
>>
>>Heating the pinky to the point it almost splits open from the heat has always worked for me and picky newborns. Also make sure you use long forceps, hemostats or tweezers. You don't want your body heat confusing the snake. So the farther away you are from the food being offered the better. Sometimes they will lock onto your heat signature and not the pinkie. Hope this helps.
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>>Charles Koutris

This works for me with all non-feeding snakes.
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Matt

I hate to say it but this is my #1 attack on stubborn feeders and it is the best trick. Like it much more than live.

However, I have had them that don't go for it and I am working with one now. The baby chicken feathers is my second best trick I thought was fool proof but there seems to be a chicken shortage.

There baby ckicken shortage is over. I just ordered a bunch and am crossing fingers!

.

Good luck with that stubborn and getting some chicks.
Chick down has worked for me also.

With newborn stubborn feeders I will give them a couple weeks without offering anything with little disturbance as possible. I have found that the more you leave them alone the less weight they drop. So feeding trials are spread further apart to reduce stress. If I am not being completely clear let me know and I will explain further.

Good luck!!
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Charles Koutris

I was just watching the snake exploring the cage after the light went off and i noticed that his scale where his anus is, is slightly popped out. He only pooped once after his massive anole meal, probably the size of big bird poop. Could he be constipated?

He could be constipated. Misting them heavily a day to a few hours befor I offer food seems to sometimes help with feeding for some reason. It might also help with constipation.