Columbian redtail not eating.. Help please!

Aat101689 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-01-2006, 09:06 PM

Hi. my boyfriend recently got a baby columbian redtail. about a week after he got it, it went to the bathroom for the first time.. meaning that it should start to want food, right? Well, we have pinky rats for it to eat. we thawed one out and put it in there. he smelled it alot... but didnt seem too interested. He ended up not eating it. we left it in there all day, but nothing. Should we just try again.. or are we doing something wrong? I dont want him to get too weak that he wont eat..generally how long can a baby columbian go without food?? he hasnt eaten in two weeks. he's almost 2 feet long( still a little boy)... HELP!???

mtacqua · #2 (**permalink**) 08-01-2006, 10:20 PM

very new here, but I'll try to help. I'd 1st look in the feeding section; there is a sticky post with F/T feeding tips. If the snake is in it's shed phase it might not eat no matter what you do. I had a stubborn female that I got on F/T now. I had to get her to go into her hide and dance the mouse in the opening of her hide.

Aaron_NSBM · #3 (**permalink**) 08-01-2006, 10:40 PM

well when you guys first got the boas what was he eating? how big around is this fella? whats is his temps and humidity..dont wory my first colombian I couldnt figure out either but it all comes with time and alot of wonderful advice from people on this site!

Aaron_NSBM · #4 (**permalink**) 08-01-2006, 10:40 PM

and I almost forgot welcome to the site!

Aat101689 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-01-2006, 11:33 PM

He's 23 inches long, and and the widest spot he's abotu 2.5-3 inches around. I have NO idea what he was being fed before ( bought him from LLL Reptile company). i am going to email the company to find out.. on the care sheet that they sent with him it said feed him pinky rats to start with. so that's probably what they were feeding him.

Aaron_NSBM · #6 (**permalink**) 08-01-2006, 11:35 PM

well if he isnt eating yet dont worry he will get hungry and eat soon as he get hungry

Brandon28 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-01-2006, 11:52 PM

First of all...welcome to rtb.net! For the first few months, there will be many questions that will arise and we will all be glad to help!
As for the feeding...don't stress it...it happens and it ALWAYS works out in the end. You will be more worried about it than your snake. They can go months without eating, which brings me to my next point. A snake will eat when it wants to...they won't starve themselves to death! There are plenty of tricks for you to try, but before you do...wait a few days, maybe even a week. You want it to be comfortable and try to feed it everyday will stress it out. Stress in little boas can cause many problems, even death.
Give it a few days and try doing the "rat dance" by holding the rat by tail with your tongs and twitch it around in front of the snake's face. If that doesn't work, you can dip the rat in chicken broth (which has never failed for me). Braining the rat (cutting the skull open to expose the brain) is like snake-crack works like a charm. Another thing to consider is that many boas are shy eaters and need to be left alone. Place the f/t (frozen/thawed) rat in a box or pillowcase (tied at the end of course) and leave it for several hours. Most of these tecniques work like a charm, so you shouldn't have a problem for long. Just remember that you are more stressed about it than it is, so don't attempt it too much....it will only prolong the agony! Good luck and keep us posted (with pictures!)

Aaron_NSBM · #8 (**permalink**) 08-02-2006, 12:01 AM

talking about snakes going without eating.. I have a ball python that goes up to 3 months between meals..I learnt to just offer every 2 to 3 weeks and see if she will eat..if not try again in 2 weeks..but only one of my boas give me troubles and that is my adult male colombian x peruvian boa...but like brandon said they eat when they are ready to.

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