Rosy Boa Help

[ChelsyC]

Hey guys, I am considering adopting a rosy boa that is in really bad shape. Actually, I've pretty much decided to take it already.
I need some advice. It's in really bad shape according to the woman who rescued it. She said she can't get it to eat. I am going to take it to a vet asap, but what should I do in the meantime? She mentioned trying to force feed it? How does one go about that?
I've never had anything but corn snakes, and they've both been nice and healthy. I want to give this poor thing a good home, and help it recover.

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

[jbt123]

Do not forcefeed unless there are no other options. It's very stressful on the animal and you, too! Alot of things can go wrong.

I breed Rosy boas...they are sweet creatures and are relatively easy to care for. They are also great eaters. There's something wrong with this rosy if it won't eat. A snake that won't eat is a stressed snake.

I would definitely take him/her to a vet and get it checked out for internal parasites, etc. Also be sure to offer it plenty of water, and give it a good 20 gallon long tank and a hiding area where the heat source is (UTH's are usually the best). Keep the warm side of the tank around 90-85 Day/80-75/night. Make sure that there's a cooler side of the tank for it to escape to if it gets too warm. I hope it makes a swift recovery.

Rosies don't need alot of humidity, in fact, they prefer it quite dry...so don't mist it...you don't want to risk giving it an RI. I hope it doesn't already have one...

Please take a photo of your snake when, and if, you get it. I hope you adopt this poor creature and try to bring it back to a healthy state of living.

[ChelsyC]

Thanks for the advice.

..and also sorry for posting this in the wrong forum. I wasn't paying attention.

[ChelsyC]

Here's the pic the lady sent me of the rosy. I'm picking it up tonight, and I'll get some more pics of my own soon.

[sesshomaru 15405]

hope everything goes well. keep us updated.

[telefrag]

uh, it doesn't look like its in that bad of shape, it could just be off feed for the winter months.
they do that sometimes.
especially males.

keep it in a clean, dry, warm cage and offer it a fuzzy mouse or pink rat after a few weeks in a quiet spot.

[ChelsyC]

Originally Posted by telefrag

uh, it doesn't look like its in that bad of shape, it could just be off feed for the winter months.
they do that sometimes.
especially males.

keep it in a clean, dry, warm cage and offer it a fuzzy mouse or pink rat after a few weeks in a quiet spot.

Yeah, that's what I thought after I saw the pic. I was expecting something bone-thin and near death. I'm much more hopeful now.

Actually she sent me pics of all the snakes she has rescued and they all look healthy enough. She said they were all in iffy shape. FYI to anyone who lives in the L.A. area. They're $60 for adoption and it includes a tank. Lots of corns, and a really nice looking rat snake I might snatch up.

[ChelsyC]

I just got my new rosy home. I think I just got a perfectly healthy snake, to tell the truth. She's alert and all that jazz.

I think I know why she wouldn't eat. They were feeding all the snakes live mice. All the other snake are actually big enough to eat an adult mouse, I don't think she is. I'll try feeding her some f/t pinkies soon.

These snakes all belonged to a boyscout troup and the guy who knew how to take care of them properly moved away a while ago, and the guy filling in was neglecting them, so the troup decided to sell them off for $60 a pop to raise some money for other boy-scout-related things. They gave me this one because she was not eating so they assumed she was sick.

The rat snake I might buy was so hungry that he latched onto my finger and tried to eat me, then after he let go, he bit himself and held on for about 30 seconds before he realized that he could not eat himself. Poor things. I hope some caring people adopt the rest of them. Like I said, I might snatch up that rat snake myself. They had a king that was mighty attractive too...

I consider myself a snake n00b, but I'm a frickin' expert compared to these people.

[ChelsyC]

Guess who just took a brained fuzzy like a perfect little gentleman/lady?

That's right. My new baby who supposedly won't eat went right for it! Well, it was sketchy at first, she took it by the middle twice, couldn't swallow it and dropped it. I had to do the zombie mouse dance three times at the end of the tongs until she got it by the head and could swallow it.

I'm such a happy mummy!