Feeding Question

[KaptainK]

I have had a redtail boa for about 1.5 weeks now and for some reason it will not eat. I have tried multiple times to fee him and he just ignores the food.

Is this common?

is there anything i can do?

would anyone that can help me please email Kaptain@eatcrayons.com with any advice?

THANKS!

-KaptainK
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[RevMojo]

Welcome to RTB Kap

Tell us a little more...how big is the snake, what are it's living conditions, what did you try to feed it? Live, Frozen/Thawed, Fresh Killed?

Is this your first snake? Be sure to check the caresheets at left if so....lots of good info


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[Ed_r]

Yeah need to know the living conditions and age of snake. Could be as simple as its going through a shed.
Welcome to RTB
Good to see another Illinoian in here. Im in Chicago where are you?

[KaptainK]

It's actually my girlfriends snake i just got online to see if i could get some feeding info for her.

anyhow,

the cage is about 80 degrees normally
she is trying to feed it frozen pinky mice
the snake is about 1.5 feet long

i know she has a care sheet and has experience with snakes/reptiles as she has had some before

shes not sure why he wont eat and i know nothing of snakes

if you guys need more info please let me know

again thanks

-Kaptaink

also im from Rock Island, IL Ed
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[kogoz]

First you need to thaw the mice and they need to be a bigger food item like a rat pink or a hopper mouse. the cage temp needs to be 92 f t the hot end I think not a big snake knolage person plus its prolly going through a shed. Did you get it from petco?
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[KaptainK]

she ordered it from zoologicalimports.com actually

but thank you


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[RevMojo]

What Kogoz is trying to ask (ps Kogoz...start paying attention in English class dude...it's your native lanuguage, for crying out loud, learn to write in it) is: you are warming the mice up before giving them to the snake, right? I don't know if there's a how to on it yet, but I defrost mine in the fridge overnite, then put em in a bowl of warm water until the skull no longer feels cool...should be a little warm even. Pinky mice are probably too small...most BCI can handle small mice. The size of the prey should be about the same size or just slightly bigger than the girth of the snake at it's widest point. As far as it being in shed, you'll know when it's eyes haze over...some snakes will eat while in shed, others won't.

We're glad to have you here, even if it's only for your girlfriend's snake...


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	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[KaptainK]

Thanks Mojo

we have been thawing them out didnt warm them up at all just let it sit in the fridge for a few hours

she will have to try bigger, warmer food i guess

[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

again thanks
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[Ed_r]

1.5 ' so its just a few weeks old if that the snake probably just had its first shed. Get the hot side to high 80's 87-88ish. Also try getting a spray bottle and misting the snake with warm water, that always got mine moving. also How are you offering the prey? You should be using tongs and hold the prey in front of the snake. dont just drop it in the cage and hope for the best
Geting them to make their first feed can be trying. With my babies I started them on the first meal with a pinkie but i also had 22 of them and had to move them constantly. A fuzzy mouse should be a good starter prey for it. Also when you ovver it litly wiggle and kinda tease the snake with it. If it is interested it will back off a tad and slowly ease back to the prey then strike, or else it may just start to open its mouth slowly and grab the prey. Don't be too discouraged if it doesnt feed right away i had a couple babies go 3 weeks without feeding them all of a sudden they ate like champs.
Oh and I soak my prey in hot tap water for a few minutes til the prey is warm to the touch and completely soft.