Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello

I acquired a 2-3 year old male Rosy Boa in October of 2011. Before October, the place I got him from had no problem feeding him as you will see from his feeding record I will post below. He was fed f/t adult mice.

He has NOT shed since I've acquired him. I gave him a month long cool-down to try to induce appetite. Didn't work.

He is 28 inches long. His scales have a slight crinkly appearance, he also has funny wrinkle marks on his eyes. This has been evident for several weeks now and he has not gone into the blue.

He has access to a small water dish at all times.

What I have tried:
-Braining the mouse.
-Leaving it in his tank overnight.
-Leaving it in his warm hide overnight.
-Putting him in a feeding tub with the mouse in a warm place overnight.
-Wiggling it around in front of him.
-Scenting with chicken stock
-Live mouse - he killed then left it.
-Fuzzy mouse - completely ignored it.
-Bugging him with it to induce striking - this does cause him to strike and coil, but he will then slither away once he believes he has 'killed' it.

He seems to be interested at first, smelling it and nosing it, then he seems to get either dis-interested or annoyed by its presence and avoids it like the plague for the rest of the evening.

Should I try a f/t rat? (what size?)

Here is his feeding record:

Boaz: Rosy Boa Feeding Record
Good feeding history before record sheet

September 2/11 1 Adult frozen mouse
September 9/11 Didn't eat
September 12/11 1 Adult live mouse
September 23/11 1 Adult frozen mouse
October 1/11 1 Adult frozen mouse
October 8/11 1 Adult frozen mouse
October 14/11 1 Adult frozen mouse
October 22/11 1 Adult frozen mouse
October 24/11 Acquired him
October 30/11 Didn't eat frozen mouse
November 3/11 Didn't eat frozen mouse
November 9/11 Didn't eat frozen mouse
November 15/11 Begin Cool down/Brumation
December 12/11 Finish Brumation
December 13/11 Didn't eat frozen mouse
December 21/11 Didn't eat frozen mouse
December 27/11 Didn't eat frozen mouse
December 29/11 Didn't eat live mouse
January 8/12 Didn't eat frozen fuzzy mouse

Pics taken on the 1st of January.

Also, he is very used to handling. Previous owners took him to schools for presentations, he is so gentle that children could hold him. I do not handle him too much except when I take him out to examine him or bathe him to hopefully improve his scales.

He doesn't act scared of me and sometimes will try to climb up my arm when I put it in the tank.

Here he is (my hand for size comparison, I wear women's medium size gloves if that helps!?)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/IMG_6828Small.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/IMG_6817Small.jpg

Scale 'wrinkles'
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/IMG_6834.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/IMG_6813Small.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/zz-6.jpg

Size comparison on my hand. Notice the funny marks on the scales on his back where the top layer of skin is separating from his scales.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/IMG_6843Small.jpg

Good close-up of weird eye marks.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/Pareeeee/z-6.jpg

Look very healthy, and in no way does he need to eat. See how robust he is?

Males of his size are sexually mature. Sexually mature males that have good body weight will often cease feeding in Sept or Oct, not feed all Winter, resume feeding perhaps in Feb or early March, eat a few times, then refuse food during breeding season. After breeding season, they will often eat again until Sept/Oct.

I used to breed rosyboas, and I had males that honestly would maybe eat 6 meals per year as described above. They were all chunky and healthy.

My advice to you is not to fight it. Keep the cage cool except for a basking spot. Try feeding him next week or the week after. From the pics, that snake will not starve.

Also, many rosies want fresh food vs thawed. Don't know why, but they often do. Mine would eat thawed rat fuzzies though.

Scale indents: very common in rosies. If desired, soak him in about 1/4 inch of tepid water for about 5 minutes. You may see his scales plump up. Water bowls do little for hydration. A soak will produce results. If the air is very dry or the cage has a screen top, then a soak from time to time is good. I used to do that to all my rosies and not have a water bowl. They would drink during the soak. All of my rosies had nice supple skin quality from doing that. Maybe once every 2-4 weeks. Not in the cold of Winter though. I would provide a water bowl in Winter.

Oh, he's so beautiful! How's he doing now? Has he eaten? It's normal for rosy boas to go a few months without eating, but if it goes like 5 or 6...and/or he starts losing weight, I would take him to a qualified herp vet asap.

The scale indents seem normal, mine has a few of those as well. It could be from how he shed his skin, maybe he rubbed up against something hard when shedding that caused an indent. Or it could be lack of hydration as others have suggested. A short soak wouldn't be a bad idea. Also make sure he can find his water dish and knows that there's actually water in it-- sometimes I have to put my 13 year old rosy in hers if she doesn't come out to drink for a while! Then she'll drink just fine. (Or at least put his head right over the water so he can find it. Putting him IN the bowl isn't necessary, lol.)

Btw, here's her picture:

I have an adult harcuvar female who has not eaten since Oct 20th so I am in the same boat as you. She is fat, active, and offered food all the time, but no go. She used to eat for me like a psycho path too. No changes to her life style from me, she just decided she wants to work towards a slimmer figure I guess.

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~Markus

The very existence of flamethrowers means that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves..."You know, I really want to set those people over there on fire...but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."

Rosies are more efficient food-wise compared to kingsnakes for example. Food goes a long way with rosies as long as they have some fat stored, and during cooler weather they just do not need food at all. Totally normal for adults and subadults. Babies are always more inclined to feed all year because much of that energy goes to growth.

I bet in preparation for potential breeding in March/April, your female rosy will become voracious at that time. Watch your hands. Adult female rosies take no prisoners. It is then that you should feed as often as she wants.

Thanks for your thoughts there markg! I am hoping she gets back to her crazy hungry self soon as you say! And yes I will feed her silly when that happens, and will definitely be watching out for my fingers ha!
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~Markus

The very existence of flamethrowers means that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves..."You know, I really want to set those people over there on fire...but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."

Rosies are more efficient food-wise compared to kingsnakes for example. Food goes a long way with rosies as long as they have some fat stored, and during cooler weather they just do not need food at all. Totally normal for adults and subadults. Babies are always more inclined to feed all year because much of that energy goes to growth.

I bet in preparation for potential breeding in March/April, your female rosy will become voracious at that time. Watch your hands. Adult female rosies take no prisoners. It is then that you should feed as often as she wants.

Well, good call there. Last night after shedding a couple days ago, she slammed down 3 mice after a four and a half month fast
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~Markus

The very existence of flamethrowers means that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves..."You know, I really want to set those people over there on fire...but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."

Awesome. Take note of the snake's rythmns in terms of feeding. You'll see a pattern that repeats year to year. Except, as they get really old, they just do not eat as much in general to maintain their status quo.

Rosies are cool. I don't know what it is, but I am always in awe of rosies whether I have them or not.

Awesome. Take note of the snake's rythmns in terms of feeding. You'll see a pattern that repeats year to year. Except, as they get really old, they just do not eat as much in general to maintain their status quo.
Rosies are cool. I don't know what it is, but I am always in awe of rosies whether I have them or not.

For sure I will do that. She is an '08 so I think she has a good while till she becomes really old

We have a KSB that eats less than she does, talk about low cost pets ha! These 4 sometimes 6 month fasts sure do save us money on feeders

Yeah I agree Rosie's have a cool something about them for sure!

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~Markus

The very existence of flamethrowers means that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves..."You know, I really want to set those people over there on fire...but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."

My rubber boas are the same way. They stop eating in late summer, then start again in March.
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Kent

1.1 Hypo (het lavender, striped) corn snakes, 2010
1.1 Gray-banded king snakes, blairs phase, 2008
6.8 Gray-banded king snakes, 2011
1.1 Oregon rubber boas, w/c 20??

I assume your Rosy has eaten by now. It's not uncommon for them to not eat over the winter. My male stops in early Aug and doesn't eat again until about March. Between brumation, and breeding season (I don't breed mine, but he knows when it's time), they tend to go quite a while with no food. Mine gained 10g one year while not eating for 6 months. They're well being boils down to weight. If they are not losing much, if any, they are OK. They will eat when hungry. When mine doesn't want food, he'll kill it and just leave it there. What a waste of a good mouse.

Also, be very judicial with water. They are desert snakes. Too much water will lead to infection, as they cannot handle it. I fill a shallow bowl once every 2-3 weeks, and just let it go dry until the next time. Most of their hydration comes from the food they eat. Needless when they are not eating, water every 2 weeks or so is important.

Good luck.

Jeff