Inexplicable Fasting

[kinnardc]

My boa constrictor is on an inexplicable fast since 9/8/04. I acquired her on 6/19/04. She ate on average every 4-5 days when not in pre-shed. On several occasions since 9/8, she has refused mice and gerbils. Last night, she refused a live weanling gerbil.

As a concerned keeper, I took her to the vet on 10/22/04. The vet’s assessment was that she appears healthy, but does seem to have a lot of gas. She decided to treat my boa prophylactically for worms with 0.1% ivomec injected intraperitoneally in a pinky mouse at 0.06cc. I was to do this immediately, wait 2 weeks, and then repeat.

While at the vet’s office, I was asked what I thought could have contributed to the condition. My temperatures and humidity levels were in check. I told her on 8/15/04, I switched substrate, from aspen to cypress mulch (landscape quality). I didn’t freeze it or bake it first to eliminate the possibility of parasites. Possibly, I thought this could have something to do with it.

My vet agreed that the mulch could have some affect on snakes due to the chemicals used to treat the trees. She recommended that I switch to Astroturf or indoor/outdoor carpet. She also suggest the following: change water daily, mist with fresh water daily, switch from 10% bleach water as a disinfectant and use chlorhexidene instead. She also proposed I used UVA lighting for a few hours a day because the snakes she has seen just seem to do better.

I have completed the course of ivomec and complied with all of my vet’s recommendations. My snake continues to refuse to eat. She is housed alone in a 36”x15”x17” all glass reptile enclosure. She has three hides: one on warm side, on one cool side, and one in the middle. My daytime temp gradient is 95 to 84 degrees, and the nighttime is 88 to 80 degrees. Since switching to the carpet as substrate, my relative humidity has dropped from 60% to 33%. (I assume this shouldn’t be a problem because I am misting daily. However, today I added a second water bowl place under the heat lamp). She has 12 hours of light provided by UVA plant growing light; and 12 hours of darkness, controlled by a timer. She is kept in room away from people and other pets. Her enclosure stays clean. She has no obvious signs of illness, parasitic infestations, and is definitely not pregnant. She is not in pre-shed. Her last three sheds were on 10/28/04, 8/20/04, and 7/01/04, all complete in one piece with no retained eye caps or tail tips. She appears healthy, does not look to be losing a significant amount of weight, and is active at night.

I am still concerned. On 8/30/04, my ball python stop eating. This is not unusual for that species, especially since the seasons were changing. But my ball ate on 10/30/04, and my boa refuses! What’s the deal?

	Female Female

[StevenLeeAugust]

How old is she?

I have had some success with problem eaters using full spectrum lighting but it could have been just coincidence. Some of my boas eat more readily in the dark/night.
Have you tried feeding her at night?

Good luck

[kinnardc]

I tried to feed her mostly at night. Last night, she refused a live gerbil. I'm at a lost. Her last bowel movement was 9/15/04, one week after her last feeding.

[kinnardc]

I was told she was born in Spring 2004.

[python04slayer]

Why are you feeding her kice and gerbils?
Also the temps look a little on the hot side it should be about 80-88 in the day and 75-83 at night.
And you probably should put in a bigger water bowel or a different substrate or regulate the airflow into the cage by covering part of it with saran warp taped to it to help seal off some airflow for more humidity.

[python04slayer]

I tried to edit my post but that 2 min edit window expired...
heres how it should of read.

Why are you feeding her mice and gerbils?
You should be feeding her rats taht are no bigger than the size of her girth every 7-10 days, if you are feeding anything less than 7 days thats unhealthy for the snake and will deplete her gut flora making it hard for her to digest, and that also causes snakes to lose appitite, and also causes early deaths in snakes.(most powerfed snakes havent lived past 5yrs)Feeding her every 7 is enough time for her to digest it in a health safe manner.
Also the temps look a little on the hot side it should be about 80-88 in the day and 75-83 at night.
And you probably should put in a bigger water bowel or a different substrate or regulate the airflow into the cage by covering part of it with saran warp taped to it to help seal off some airflow for more humidity.

[kinnardc]

I feed her mice and gerbils because appropriately sized rats are easily found in my area. My snake is too small for the ones that are readily available here. Clay English's Utlimate Boa Care Guide recommends feeding every 4-5 days for young boas, then to every 7 days. My is around the age where I should be feeding every 7 days, but she won't eat every 17 days. It has been longer than two months since she ate. Besides, when I was feeding every 4-5 days, I definitely wasn't powerfeeding her-just one appropriately sized mouse or gerbil at each feeding.

I'll take your advice about the temp. I drop the the basking area to 90. But, I only talking about 1/4 of my tank space. She doesn't spend any significant amount of time in the basking area. (What's the point? She doesn't need it to digest anything).

I also take your advice about controlling the humidity better by covering part of my top. As I mentioned in my original post, I added a second water bowl just for this purpose. Thanks for your response.

[python04slayer]

Feeding every 4-5 days WILL eventually cause problems with their gut flora and digeative tract. And I wasnt say your were power feeding, I just meant you were overfeeding which causes problems that are the same but are only less severe at this point.

[kinnardc]

Thanks for your replies. You have educated me. Where can I find more information about gut flora in the digestive tracts of snakes and boas. Knowledge is power. BTW, what does "do I need to roll you" means?

[python04slayer]

Rolling someone is kicking their @$$, its a funny saying that my friends dad uses, not something we hear alot.
And Ill get you a link to the gut flora thing

[python04slayer]

Here you go:

Probiotic fix for nonfeeding or bloating - puking reptiles

You also might want to go to the vet, because internal parasites might also be the cause.

And, Im glad I could help.

-Erik

[kinnardc]

Python04slayer,

Thanks for the link. I have taken her to the vet and we treated prophylactically for internal parasites using 0.1% Ivomec. But she still doesn't eat. I have a follow-up appointment with the vet on Monday.

	Female Female

[python04slayer]

Keep doing what you can, good luck with her.