Boa not eating

[thecrazycoop]

We have a baby Central American Boa. We've had him for 2+1/2 weeks and he has not eaten yet. The things we have tried are frozen fuzzies, brained fuzzies, live fuzzy, putting him in the bath for a bit and then feeding him, feeding at night, putting him in a brown bag with the fuzzy over night under the heat lamp, covering his cage etc. His temperature gradient is fine and so is the humidity. My son has been holding him a lot as he loves him, but think I'm gonna stop that until he eats. Anything else we could try? I really don't want to "force" feed him as I have never done that before and it seems kind of crappy. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks so very much!

[SnakeyJay]

You need to slow down how much your attempting to feed him.. Try, then leave for Atleast 5 days before you try again. Trying too often will stress your boa.. also yes it's a good idea to stop all handling untill it's feeding regularly as this may also be the cause.

If you tell us some details we may be able to help more.. Temperatures of hot and cold end, what's it housed in and how are you heating the viv/rub.
Also are you heating the prey well, my boa's will only eat if it's toasty warm :)

[Jay]

Leve the boa alone for 14 days only providing fresh water, no other interaction. In 2 weeks offer a nice warm meal in his own tank.

[thecrazycoop]

"If you tell us some details we may be able to help more.. Temperatures of hot and cold end, what's it housed in and how are you heating the viv/rub.
Also are you heating the prey well, my boa's will only eat if it's toasty warm :)"

It is housed in a tank with ecoearth substrate. The low end is 78 and the high is 91. The humidity is 50-60 % We have been heating the pinkies in warm water first and right before I run really hot water over it (in the bag of course.) There are lots of hides, things to climb on etc. Big water bowl too. I did read to not try to feed it so often, but that was just this morning so I will stop trying for at least a week. I'm just concerned about the fact that is hasn't eaten. I know they can go awhile, it just scares me.:yes:(my son forced me to put the faceO:) Thanks for your help. This is our first boa and we don't want to screw him up.

[millertime89]

offer every 5 days, try bumping humidity, reduce handling to 0 until he's fed a few times and shed at least once.

[thecrazycoop]

Okay, so we tried a week after posting and he didn't eat. My concern is for his health and I am wondering when I should start to worry (well technically, I'm already worried, but wondering when I should take other measures) My son has not held him at all since posting either. I've read about force feeding but from what I've read it is a last resort and very stressful. I truly don't want to do that but don't want the snake to be malnourished. I could try waiting the two weeks like one suggested, but is that too much time for him to go without eating? I've tried asking if he ate before being shipped to us, but am getting vague answers. Any ideas would be great or any opinions on force feeding. Thanks so very much!

[Jay]

Don't force feed.

Do not attempt for another 2 weeks from today, make sure the prey is nice an hot. It's not rocket science.

Can you oust a current picture?

[Becky Goings]

Snakes can go a long period of time without eating. Biggest thing is make sure the husbandry is correct, and it sounds like you're on the right path there. Next thing is no handling for a while. Cleaning is ok, just limit how long. Wait 2 weeks, then try again. No handling in the mean time. We try not to handle too much until several feedings have gone well.

[thecrazycoop]

Everyone is a novice at some point. My son is 11 and the only experience we have is having a garter snake for 9 years and catching wild rubber boas. We just want to do the right thing. I am trying to post a photo and will do what you said about waiting as I'm assuming that he will be fine in the mean time. And again, I appreciate the help in any form I can get itO:))

[mark24]

what you could try is cutting little pieces off a mouse so the scent is stronger hold in front of his face so he can smell it for a couple seconds then set it down he sould eat it. (i was having thee same problem with my bullsnake he wasnt eating for 2 months an i did that an eat it in a matter of seconds)

[Jay]

what you could try is cutting little pieces off a mouse so the scent is stronger hold in front of his face so he can smell it for a couple seconds then set it down he sould eat it. (i was having thee same problem with my bullsnake he wasnt eating for 2 months an i did that an eat it in a matter of seconds)

Great advice for a colubrid.

[Aaron_S]

Your meal size is too small is my guess.

I'd go with a hopper mouse. I'd probably even feed it live to get it going. Then switch it to f/t.

[Aaron_S]

what you could try is cutting little pieces off a mouse so the scent is stronger hold in front of his face so he can smell it for a couple seconds then set it down he sould eat it. (i was having thee same problem with my bullsnake he wasnt eating for 2 months an i did that an eat it in a matter of seconds)

Awesome. I'm sure the mouse butcher in the wild makes a wicked lean filet cut for all the problematic snakes.

Personally, I just stick to whole prey, consistently offered.

I had a snake hatch out last year, it went about 3 months without a meal and it lived purely on the yolk it absorbed. I tried a few tricks and gave up and went back to the basics. Live hopper, every 5 days. She finally ate and is a great feeder now. Being consistent is key.

[thecrazycoop]

I guess that is what I wanted to hear, how long is okay. Being that your snaked hatched and didn't eat for 3 months gives me some reassurance. I did try a live hopper but as you said, be consistent. We are in the waiting period again and I'm sure I'll be back on here shouting that he ate (just trying to stay positive.) Oh, and I did "brain" a hopper but I didn't cut pieces off. I could try that tooO:)

[bcoop1234]

I had the same issue with my new baby sunglow... I tried twice with a week in between but it did nothing. So i did the container trick.. found a piece of tupperware and poked some holes in it. I cut the head of the baby rat and put them both in there... I came back like 40 minutes later and the rat was gone... I have fed him twice since then and now he instantly snags the f/t baby rat right away.

[Terranaut]

A boa can go months without eating or pooping so have no fear. Jay has the best advice so far IMHO. Just offer food once a week and he will eat sooner or later. Also, time of day can affect feeding responce. Get a rat ready and offer it when the snake is active. Normaly in the evening or early morning works with my 2. Make sure it's low light and your not casting shadows over the snake. Good luck.

[thecrazycoop]

Update: The snake is way more active. I'm assuming he is getting comfortable in his setting, but we tried feeding last night and he didn't eat. So I will try again after waiting unless you think there needs to be something else done. Thanks all for the input so far!

[Jendee]

looking at that picture you may have purchased a boa that hadnt been eating already he she looks emaciated any poo?? since youve had him force feeding is always last resort and can do more harm then good. i ive had baby boas go 4 months without a meals before then jump right into it

[thecrazycoop]

No Poo. I think he looks a little emaciated too but I really have no experience with baby boas and so I have nothing to compare it to. I tried feeding again last night and he didn't eat it. Getting nervous again.

[rmfsnakes32]

I have had my boas go off feed for 5 months during the winter they seem to do this pretty consistently every year! Baby boas can be fussy eaters if in doubt take the snake to a certified vet and find out if he is healthy my baby boa was scrawny like that he filled out in the last few months males tend to be smaller and I have noticed with mine and a few other friends that their males are also less aggresive eaters as well

[thecrazycoop]

Thank you. My fear with the vet, is that the few that I've found in my area, have almost NO experience with reptiles. I took a different snake in a couple years ago and they were zero help. My question now is, won't he eat before he just lets himself die of starvation?

[rmfsnakes32]

He can but I don't think you have to worry about that just yet try calling different towns near bye and see if you can find a vet and see about getting him tested for a parasite or bacteria also vet may have reccomendations on getting him to eat and worse case scenario force feed if he thinks its needed but I would only do that if vet thinks its needed good luck and keep us posted on how he is doing ;)

[mark24]

Awesome. I'm sure the mouse butcher in the wild makes a wicked lean filet cut for all the problematic snakes.

Personally, I just stick to whole prey, consistently offered.

I had a snake hatch out last year, it went about 3 months without a meal and it lived purely on the yolk it absorbed. I tried a few tricks and gave up and went back to the basics. Live hopper, every 5 days. She finally ate and is a great feeder now. Being consistent is key.

For me I tried f/t mice an live mice nothing worked then I had I fresh killed mouse cut so pieces for my garter snakes then I tried to feed my bull snake an he finally ate if it worked for me I don't see if it worked for me why it wouldn't work for someone else

[thecrazycoop]

I will do that. @mark24, I did try that because I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get him to eat, even if it means I do something that doesn't necessarily happen in the wildO:) I'm gonna try a live fuzzy or something again and see. Will definitely keep you posted. I will feel so much better after he eats! It's hard to enjoy his awesomeness when we are worried and also not handling him because we don't want to complicate matters more. Thanks again!

[thecrazycoop]

Update,
After one last attempt and he didn't eat, and noticing he was losing weight and looked smaller and less strong, we decided to go ahead and force feed. I know most of you are against this and we really didn't want to have to do it, but we tried a lot of things to no avail. We've now had him for 3 months. I possibly could of waited longer, but he didn't look right or very healthy. Too thin. My son and I read up on all we could and watched numerous videos. We used a pinky mouse and my son pried his mouth open with it and gently inserted it 1/2 way, then set him down and he finished it. We feel better knowing he has some nutrients in him. I'm not writing this to offend anyone, but if anyone is interested in the outcome. I hope this triggers his desire to eat and if not, we will repeat this process until it does. Hope to see noticeable changes in his weight.

[SleepySleazoid]

Thanks for the update, I've been wondering how your little guy was doing. I'm sorry you felt like you had to do something I know you or anyone never wants to do, I really hope that this did it for him and he will eat and be a happy little guy for you :) Good luck.

[rmfsnakes32]

Force feeding sucks to do but when they are obviously losing weight it must be done just be happy he isnt the size of my 7 foot boa who after 3 months still refusing food I am not looking forward to force feeding her she is a very big girl so we have quite awhile before I need to worry

[Terranaut]

When I see threads like this I always wonder if snakes will starve themselves in the wild for no apparent reason. The answer is probably not. So why are so many people having trouble feeding their snakes? Or are they. Is it part of your snakes wild behavior to go months without food? Some adult carpets will only eat 4 meals a year in the wild. Or is something else wrong? Slightly wrong husbandry? Something is not right other than you having an anorexic snake. Now I am not "being cheeky" here or " having a go" at anyone , I am just trying to point out that some part of these non eating snakes care is not right. Keep looking at it until you find the root cause of not eating rather than stuff food into the snake. Again no offence intended. I just had to put that out there.

[thecrazycoop]

No offense taken. I wondered the exact same thing. I asked people if the snake would die from lack of eating. If it would actually get to that point. I find that interesting as well. In the wild, it may happen and maybe it would just die. I don't have an actual answer but would love to know the facts. After talking to the breeder, who still seemed to think he "had to of eaten" but was rather vague, and a couple other breeders, the few said that they have about 1 out of 100 snakes that is a "problem feeder." Not sure. Our husbandry seems correct. I even bought an additional humidity gauge and thermometer to be on the safe side. So I now have two sets on one side and one set on the other. But I agree, something has to be off, just not sure what that is. ANd until we figure it out, I can't have him losing weight. I do hope this triggers his appetite. Thanks for the kind words as I do appreciate them. I feel like we did the right thing.

[Ivanator]

Are you feeding him inside or outside of his cage? I had a boa once that would not eat if you touched it. It would only eat live mice inside of his cage.

[thecrazycoop]

Originally we did outside, but then after I got advice, we switched to inside the cage. We also stopped handling him etc.

[gareth.hooper]

Where are you sourcing your mice/rats from?
How are you presenting the food item to the snake? From hand, dropped inside and left, etc.

Perhaps a set of hemostats or similar will be a good investment.

[thecrazycoop]

We get them from two different pet stores in the nearest "city." We thaw them (but we've also tried live twice) and then get run them under hot water to get the nice and toasty warm. We've tried leaving in the tank in a hidden, safe spot, hand feeding, using hemostats etc. Also tried putting him in a container with the food.

[rmfsnakes32]

I would wait 10 days to feed the next time since force feeding is stressfull for the snake and you just my opinion maybe someone would have some different advice!

[lumpbump]

When I see threads like this I always wonder if snakes will starve themselves in the wild for no apparent reason. The answer is probably not. So why are so many people having trouble feeding their snakes? Or are they. Is it part of your snakes wild behavior to go months without food? Some adult carpets will only eat 4 meals a year in the wild. Or is something else wrong? Slightly wrong husbandry? Something is not right other than you having an anorexic snake. Now I am not "being cheeky" here or " having a go" at anyone , I am just trying to point out that some part of these non eating snakes care is not right. Keep looking at it until you find the root cause of not eating rather than stuff food into the snake. Again no offence intended. I just had to put that out there.

Stress or sickness will cause anything including humans to not eat :smug:

[lumpbump]

No offense taken. I wondered the exact same thing. I asked people if the snake would die from lack of eating. If it would actually get to that point. I find that interesting as well. In the wild, it may happen and maybe it would just die. I don't have an actual answer but would love to know the facts. After talking to the breeder, who still seemed to think he "had to of eaten" but was rather vague, and a couple other breeders, the few said that they have about 1 out of 100 snakes that is a "problem feeder." Not sure. Our husbandry seems correct. I even bought an additional humidity gauge and thermometer to be on the safe side. So I now have two sets on one side and one set on the other. But I agree, something has to be off, just not sure what that is. ANd until we figure it out, I can't have him losing weight. I do hope this triggers his appetite. Thanks for the kind words as I do appreciate them. I feel like we did the right thing.
Bad breeder if he doesn't know for sure if the snakes he sells have or have not eaten. Even more so to sell a snake too young as to get rid of snakes before they know for certain they will eat, poop, pee, and shed with out problems is irresponsible. Sometimes snakes digestive systems are broken but they look healthy outside. I wouldn't buy a baby snake with out feeling comfortable. Lots of people breed em and also document things, feeding at a minimum to provide confidence in their stock. Birth date, date of feeding and what was fed, shed dates, poop/pee dates all go into my logs. I even go so much as to weigh feeders before feeding and once in a while tally up amount of food consumed and amount of weight gain in the snake. I usually weigh em after they shed and poop to try and be accurate. :unhappy:

[lumpbump]

We get them from two different pet stores in the nearest "city." We thaw them (but we've also tried live twice) and then get run them under hot water to get the nice and toasty warm. We've tried leaving in the tank in a hidden, safe spot, hand feeding, using hemostats etc. Also tried putting him in a container with the food.

Be careful about "cooking" feeders. Boas aren't designed to digest "cooked" food. All of mine except the pickiest baby will take room temp thawed feeders. Roughly 80 degrees F. My 3 month old baby girl appears to like a heat signature. I have a laser temp gun I use to check temps. I will thaw her food then drop it in a glass of warm water. 90 degrees F give or take. Some tap water comes out real hot, hot enough to denature or "cook" meat. :hmm:

[SnakeyJay]

I'd like to point out that you assist fed your boa, not force fed... Force feeding is where you actually push the food down the snakes throat... Not a good idea unless you know how. :)

[thecrazycoop]

Notes taken."Assist feed" sounds betterO:) I realize now, not that it matters at this point in time, that our breeder was obviously not concerned for the wellfare of the snakes and was probably just doing it for money. Lesson learned for us. Thanks again for the info.

[SnakeyJay]

Unfortunately there's always breeders like that out there and it's best not to do business with them.. However your doing your best and that's what matters.. Goodluck :D

[lumpbump]

Unfortunately there's always breeders like that out there and it's best not to do business with them.. However your doing your best and that's what matters.. Goodluck :D

Yep. Keep it up. Go slow. Better to have a slow growing small snake than no snake at all.