Change in feeding behavior

Squeezer · #1 (**permalink**) 08-05-2003, 04:05 PM

Feeding Squeezer (BCI) used to go like this: I would place 2 or 3 medium rats on a plastic tray in his enclosure. Then I would dangle one in front of him to show him that dinner is served. Eventually he would get around to eating them. Might take 5 minutes, might take 2 hours. He's not in a hurry. A few weeks ago I was feeding him and did everything the same as I always do. I checked on him 30 minutes later and he hadn't moved so I dangled a rat in front of him again. He blasted it. Grabbed it by the head, ripped it out of my hand and constricted it in a fraction of a second. I went downstairs and got the tongs that I use to feed the burm and he did the other two rats the same way. Last week when I fed him, he did it the same way. Blasted all three rats and the water bowl. One of the rats slipped ot of the tongs and landed in the water bowl (litter box). I picked it back up and hung it infront of him. He flicked his tongue for a few seconds and then struck the bowl where the rat had just been laying. I'm wondering what made hin become such an aggressive eater. Am I underfeeding him? I give him 3 medium rats (90-140grams each That would be the same as a large large or a small jumbo) every 10-14 days. After I use these mediums up I am going to try to get him the eat larges again. Last time I tried, hee wouldn't touch them. He is 7 ft long and weighs maybe 15 lbs. Temps in the enclosure haven't changed, 80-88. During handling time he's the same mellow Squeezer that he's always been. I guess as long as he is still eating and isnt aggressive towards me I shouldn't worry about it. Just seems wierd.
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RevMojo · #2 (**permalink**) 08-05-2003, 04:39 PM

Someone else was just saying a few days ago how ornery their boas had seemed lately...there was a theory about it approaching breeding season, not to mention all the unusual weather...
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JuliusSqueezer · #3 (**permalink**) 08-05-2003, 06:12 PM

You can skip large and go on to jumbos. He is plenty ready for them. Although he may not be moving much when you put them in there....he can smell them and the longer he sits smelling them, the more fueled his feeding response will be. Boas don't always come searching when they smell food. Sometimes they wait to ambush.
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Squeezer · #4 (**permalink**) 08-05-2003, 06:18 PM

I've got jumbos in the freezer. I'll see if he'll eat one next week. He should be able to.
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MTB Mamba · #5 (**permalink**) 08-05-2003, 07:58 PM

My male bci has been really moody as of late also, nd my female who has never shown a hint of aggression "struck at me" the other day, my arm was on the other side of the cage and she was about 2 feet away from it and struck about 3 inches forward. I laughed knowing she is harmless (only 5 months old) and then picked her up no problem, but the male has definitely been more aggressive. Any truth to the theory reverend mentioned? I'm suspicious although mine are quite young.
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SteveP · #6 (**permalink**) 08-05-2003, 08:10 PM

Here's what I theorized the other day. I don't know that it would apply to your snakes Kent, being neonates. I don't think it's unusual for our animals to go through the odd mood swing here and there. They aren't machines after all. Just like us, some days they just seem to wake up grumpy. My male Hog Island 'Cycas' was out of sorts the other day...just not his normal 'cheerful' self. A day or so later he was fine. If their moodiness becomes chronic though, then I'd start looking at environmental changes that may have occured without warning. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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SteveP · #7 (**permalink**) 08-05-2003, 08:15 PM

Looks like my link didn't work. Anyway, it was under Just Talk, 'Anyone else's Boas acting Ornery' by Ed_r
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Squeezer · #8 (**permalink**) 08-09-2003, 07:34 PM

Just an update. I gave him a jumbo today and he took it, no problem. It seemed to take him a while to figure out how to swallow it. He kept grabbing it and letting it go. He finally found the head and made it disappear. Now if I can just get the Burm to eat.
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Fyre · #9 (**permalink**) 08-10-2003, 04:09 AM

burm not feeding.......never thought i'd ever hear that one! well good luck!
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Squeezer · #10 (**permalink**) 08-10-2003, 05:22 AM

>>burm not feeding.......never thought i'd ever hear that one! well good luck!

I know. He just shed a couple days ago, so he hadn't eaten for a couple weeks. He ate a couple jumbos today and went back to sleep.
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