Emerald Tree Boa Refusing Food

[Nexus]

Hi,
I got my emerald in March and he has eaten happily till the start of May but is now refusing to take the mouse/rat as I have tried both and he has eaten both in the past. Is this normal for them to go on a fast, he is about 9/10 months old.

The humidity in the tank is 85/90 in the day and 65/70 at night I also mist the snake itself once a day. The temperatures in the tank range from 78 -84F depending on position.

I have checked him over and he has bright clear eyes his skin looks fine and elastic, and he is still excreting urates although not much fecal matter as he has not feed for six weeks.

As soon as the light goes of he comes down and adopts a hunting position but is not taking the food item. He will investigate it a bit but then almost turns his nose up at it.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Nick

[CraigC]

Hey,
We missed one of our animals going into shed and my wife tried to feed but no luck. He was hunting every night but wouldn't take anything. He shed last night. Maybe you just missed your's going in?
Craig

[Jesustheherper]

Does he have ventallation and moving air? Sedentary air may cause the refusal of food and may cause upper resparitory infection.Where did you get you Emerald I want one but can't find breeder to buy from.

[Nexus]

I don't think missed him going into shed but you never know, I am not goint to lose any sleep at present about the refusal to feed as he is not looking as if he has lost any weight.

The cage is well ventilated and does not smell stagnant and their is not any sign of fungal/mould growth.

So I think it may just be a case of waiting until he decides he is going to eat.

[JuliusSqueezer]

I can never tell when mine are in blue. Their eyes always look clear and then one day there is just shed in the cage(s) Esmerelda and Emilio are synched. They always shed within a day or two of each other. The rest do their own thing.

[Dbutton]

I couldn't tell at all when my female neonate or the adult male were in shed either. Just like Brett said, one day I went in and there was a shed laying on the bottom of the cage. My neonate had refused food on one of her normal eating dates and I was wondering what the trouble was until she shed about 5 days later. Now I am going to start trying to look a little closer at them to try and find some signal that they are in shed other than refusing food. My adult female's face is starting to look a little dull so I am keeping a close eye on her.

David