Boa not eating

[JPreptiles]

I have 2.5 year old male Boa Constrictor who has suddenly stopped eating. He's done it before but all I did was turn the heat up a bit and he ate 1 week later, that didn't work this time. He doesn't appear to have any illness and no dramatic changes have been made to his enclosure or anything like that. He's missed three meals now and I know thats not that many but he normally never misses a meal so I'm a little concerned. If anyone has any advice that would be great.

Thanks, JP

[DeadlyDesires]

what are his living conditions like? and what kind of boa is he?

[Kid Boa]

Brumation . . .

[IW17]

This could be it. My Male ball python hasn't eaten since Oct and probably won't till march/April. Even indoors they can tell the seasons and will "turn off".

[Robford12]

if you feed frozen try live that will most of the time get them going again

[Kid Boa]

Originally Posted by Robford12

if you feed frozen try live that will most of the time get them going again

I don't condone this unless its absolutely necessary.

This is brumation seasons and a lot of snakes go off eating or have finicky eating habits during this.


First off, I would check your husbandry to make sure it is %100 on.

second, check the animal to insure that it is good health (no sickness or injuries). if all this checks out, your snake it likely going through brumation.

Simple weigh the animal and record its weight. Check its weight every few weeks to make sure its not loosing weight.

continue to offer the snake food ever week or so, eventually it will start eating again.

EDIT: One of my snakes who is a MONSTER eater is only eating a small meal every 3-4 weeks right now.

Hope this helps.

[EL Ziggy]

My Cal King went off feed for almost 3 months. Prior to that he was a BIG eater. I did panic after week 9 and offered him a live mouse which he took down. It was off and on with live and f/t feeders for the next 2-3 weeks before he was feeding again consistently. He's been eating only f/t since the beginning of the year and seems to have his normal appetite back. All in all if the snake isn't losing weight and seems healthy you should wait him out.

[formica]

missing 3 feeds is nothing to worry about at all, as long there is no significant weight loss or other obvious health concerns


post up your setup parameters (temps/heater setup/humidity/pics etc) and maybe there is something that can be tweeked, but I dont think you have much to worry about at this point tbh

[Snakesitter]

Also, is there perhaps a breeding-age female within range that he can smell? He priorities might be elsewhere than food.

[Kid Boa]

Originally Posted by Snakesitter

Also, is there perhaps a breeding-age female within range that he can smell? He priorities might be elsewhere than food.

Cliff you horny dog.

[lady_bug87]

No weight loss = no problem

[Snakesitter]

LOL not me -- I've had male snakes do that on me!

[Kid Boa]

Originally Posted by Snakesitter

LOL not me -- I've had male snakes do that on me!

BTW, thanks for the new T-Shirt, that makes two now.

1614537_10152196298266005_227122213_o.jpg

[Snakesitter]

Loot! ^^^ The benefits of a free monthly Facebook sweepstakes. ;-)

Glad to see it made it safely!!!!