Reptile & Amphibian Forums

At the end of august, i purchased an axanthic kenyan sand boa from a small time breeder at a reptile show. There was paperwork on the age, when he last ate, that he was eating f/t pinkies, ect. I have tried to feed him a few times since purchasing him, although he isn't cooperating. I have moved him into a medium sized kritter keeper with 4 inches of sani chips (what i keep my albino on) and a small water dish.

I have tried braining the pinks, heating the pinks, tease feeding, force feeding (which i hate doing, although i have had nearly a decade of experience....i back off after the second or third try so as not to stress him out more than i have to)....and he is just not eating.

I know that not all vendors are truthful, but the paperwork seemed legit...(silly me).

He is a baby, really quite small. He has lost a bit of weight, although not much. The daytime temp in his tank is a constant 85...with a small gradient, due to the size of the tank.

I dont have the room in my apartment (or the patience to do this again) to raise mice. And i dont know any one who has pinks available.

If anyone has any advice, i would appreciate it greatly. I dont want to stress Ashoka out any more than i have to, and i dont want to lose him either...
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"Brains for dinner, brains for lunch. Brains for breakfast, brains for brunch. Brains for every single meal; why can't we have some GUTS?"-Misfits

1.0 ball python- Azazel
0.0.1 Yellow phase ATB- Devilin Hisseyes
0.4 leos- Boji, Sanjae, Fae, Azra
1.1.5 crested geckos- Jubeh and Inari, Avalon, Vajra, Pheonix, and 2 hatchlings
1.1.1 gargoyle geckos- Acacia,Osiris, and Enoki
0.0.1 flying gecko- Malarchy
1.0 leucistic texas ratsnake-Ojo
0.1 albino kenyan sand boa- Akasha
1.0 xanthic kenyan sand boa- Ashoka
1.1 whites tree frogs- Sifaka and Eikon
0.1 Transpecos ratsnake- Cleo
0.1.2 Senegal chameleons- Ambaji, The Chosen One, and Vertigo
1.0 Ruthven's X Thaeri king- Kemushi
0.2 pacific parrolets- Mishka and Kya
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
1.0 crown tail betta- Lazarus
1.0 Husband (hes my favorite, but i dont let the 'kids' know that. )

Seems like you have most of the bases covered. Personally I would switch him to a 10 gallon glass tank with an undertank heater on one end. I usually keep the "hot" end hitting 100 and the cold end down to 75-80. I have big cages though 4ftX2ft.

If you've only had him a month, I wouldn't panic too much. Make sure he doesn't loose weight (force feed him mice tails if you have to), and give him some time to adjust. You can also try the sock trick. Take a long tube sock and put him and a pinky in it. Tie the end and put a folded towel over it for weight/comfort. You can also try scenting the pinks with different things...I've been successful with goldfish of all things. Make sure that the frozen thawed pinks you are trying to feed him don't show signs of freezer burn. If they do, it changes the smell enough he may not want them.

Going through the same thing myself. I always end up with one or two reluctant feeders every season. Oh well.

Please post your location. Someone on the forum will be able to help you with pinkies.

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Travis Rose
Lazy S Snake Ranch
3.7 Kenyan sand boas (various morphs)
1.2 Indian sand boas
0.3 Dogs
0.1 Cat
X.X Fish
0.1 Very understanding wife
2.0 Future Snake Lovers

If its an 09 baby id try using a very thin layer of substrate. I only keep about a 1/4 inch of aspen in for my hatchlings and they all ate there first meals within 10 minutes. Seems to me a smaller enclosure with the right temps does the trick. if your temps are good i wouldnt worry too much. I wouldnt handle he/she until its taken a meal for you.
Mark

new borns rather then hatchlings i should say.

Raise the temps (warm side 95-100F, cool side 75-80F). When I first switch sand boas to f/t I wait for them to sit with their head at the surface of the substrate and dangle the mouse to provoke a feeding response. Once it has constricted the prey item you can either leave it in the enclosure or move it to another container...

Best of luck,

-Chris
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Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps

I'm having the same problem with some Rufescens...they have 'just' started popping their head out. I'll try your idea tonight Chris. Thanks.

Thanks for all the great advice. I have him in a LOT of substrate....I may try thinning it out. The sock trick sounds like a plan. I have tried paper bags before on reluctant feeders, but for a sand boa it makes sense for the extra weight. (My husband's gonna be mad at me...lol). I did grind up a pink in a food processor with some water and syringe fed him (i watched out for the glottis and was easy with the push). He took it down and now he is in shed. He's not thin yet, but compared to my female he is flatter on the underside. I am going to give him a week or so to mellow out....leave him alone. All good points...This is the first shed he has had with me so i know at least he is getting a little nutrients from that syringe feeding.

I will try the sock thing in a week or so and keep you updated.
I may also just give in and breed mice. Im in portland, maine if anyone has any live pinks...i cant travel though. no car...

Thanks again for all the responses!! Much appreciated!
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"Brains for dinner, brains for lunch. Brains for breakfast, brains for brunch. Brains for every single meal; why can't we have some GUTS?"-Misfits

1.0 ball python- Azazel
0.0.1 Yellow phase ATB- Devilin Hisseyes
0.4 leos- Boji, Sanjae, Fae, Azra
1.1.5 crested geckos- Jubeh and Inari, Avalon, Vajra, Pheonix, and 2 hatchlings
1.1.1 gargoyle geckos- Acacia,Osiris, and Enoki
0.0.1 flying gecko- Malarchy
1.0 leucistic texas ratsnake-Ojo
0.1 albino kenyan sand boa- Akasha
1.0 xanthic kenyan sand boa- Ashoka
1.1 whites tree frogs- Sifaka and Eikon
0.1 Transpecos ratsnake- Cleo
0.1.2 Senegal chameleons- Ambaji, The Chosen One, and Vertigo
1.0 Ruthven's X Thaeri king- Kemushi
0.2 pacific parrolets- Mishka and Kya
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
1.0 crown tail betta- Lazarus
1.0 Husband (hes my favorite, but i dont let the 'kids' know that. )