Young boa help

Davidrobert · #1 (**permalink**) 03-13-2006, 10:01 PM

Hi every one posted message last week and got some very good advice but problem is still there, purchased young boa about 14 inches in length very alert and not to thin, pet shop owner kept two of them to gether i purchased one, owner said he was eating alright took him home put him in his 2 ft tank with under tank heater 60 watt heat bulb warm side 85-87
cool side bit lower and left him a lone, covered tank with towel and left alone good advice from this site. Fed my other 3 snakes last night and decided to give the boa a go dangled pre killed fuzzy mouse in front of him with tongs took a while but he struck at it didn’t grab it and then started hissing loudly at me with mouth opened and in striking mode, left fuzzie in over nt, still there in the morning, took fuzzie out and he started hissing again covered tank again checked again later on him. He was curled up in corner i have three hides for him plenty of branches and I’m using wood chip as substrate went back to pet shop where i bought him asked to see any records of him feeding and shedding said he couldn’t find them and walked away so I’m none the wiser any help would be great
thx p. s was informed to-day the pet shop owner only had him 3 days before i bought him so he probably didn’t eat for him seeing he has a notice on window saying feeding time Sat 4.30 and i purchased boa at 2.00 Sat any help would be great any sort of live prey is hard to soot young boa
Thx

03/13/06 04:47pm

Shadraak · #2 (**permalink**) 03-13-2006, 10:06 PM

well i was feeding judas live pups, because i think i was getting fuzzies not pups, no teeth, no hair but dont leave it in there with them just keep trying to feed or try what someone had said in here before about a rubbermaid tote, put a hole in the tote and dangle the food in there thru the hole maybe he's still scared, i dont know what' sup, my judas was never handled till the girl that i got him from got him and she only had him for a week, but now he almost encourages being held , i know people say it's stupid but i swear he really does like me lol.

Pork Chops N' Corn Bread · #3 (**permalink**) 03-13-2006, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davidrobert

Hi every one posted message last week and got some very good advice but problem is still there, purchased young boa about 14 inches in length very alert and not to thin, pet shop owner kept two of them to gether i purchased one, owner said he was eating alright took him home put him in his 2 ft tank with under tank heater 60 watt heat bulb warm side 85-87
cool side bit lower and left him a lone, covered tank with towel and left alone good advice from this site. Fed my other 3 snakes last night and decided to give the boa a go dangled pre killed fuzzy mouse in front of him with tongs took a while but he struck at it didn’t grab it and then started hissing loudly at me with mouth opened and in striking mode, left fuzzie in over nt, still there in the morning, took fuzzie out and he started hissing again covered tank again checked again later on him. He was curled up in corner i have three hides for him plenty of branches and I’m using wood chip as substrate went back to pet shop where i bought him asked to see any records of him feeding and shedding said he couldn’t find them and walked away so I’m none the wiser any help would be great
thx p. s was informed to-day the pet shop owner only had him 3 days before i bought him so he probably didn’t eat for him seeing he has a notice on window saying feeding time Sat 4.30 and i purchased boa at 2.00 Sat any help would be great any sort of live prey is hard to soot young boa
Thx
03/13/06 04:47pm

Ok, first. Go to the vet and get a fecal done. Although parasites is not likely a problem, its good to get a clean bill of health. Try a rat for these 2 reasons.
1.) Rats have more nutrients than mice
2.) He may have been fed rats before and not mice. Some boas are picky that way
Chances are he is just not hungry yet. Make sure the rat is warm and if you have too, squeeze some brain matter out of the rats nose. Its like crack for snakes. I find that letting them rest for a good week or 2 is the best way if they don't seem hungry. You could boost the temps up to 90 or 89. That little bit may make a difference.

Pork Chops N' Corn Bread · #4 (**permalink**) 03-13-2006, 10:10 PM

Oh ya, never result to live prey unless the snake is not eating for a long time and is starting to loose drastic weight. Even then I wouldn't use live but thats just me. Make sure you turn the light out at night time. He needs at least 12 hrs. of dark time

unluckyseventeen · #5 (**permalink**) 03-13-2006, 11:04 PM

Try feeding him in a closed box. Put him in a pop-tart box or something else with those little tabs that can close. When you're ready, just make him go into the box, open the tabs to the box, drop the rat in, close it... and leave him alone. He SHOULD take it. If not, let us know.

Brandon28 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-14-2006, 07:28 PM

There's only one trick that has worked for me EVERY time. Chicken broth. nothing fancy...plain chicken broth on the mouse/rat.....talk about crack for snakes!!!!! I hope any of these suggestions help.....good luck.

HisssssyFit · #7 (**permalink**) 03-14-2006, 07:42 PM

Oh fiesty! Just like my lil rainbow guy.

I would leave him for a few days and watch to see if he's going into shed. They only time my greedy guts refused food was when they were some days before the blue appeared.

bmytmouse · #8 (**permalink**) 03-14-2006, 08:09 PM

Like hissyfit said, he might be about to shed. But one other thing you may want to consider is that since the genius @ the pet store never fed him, he may have been started on pre killed....if so he might not be used to striking. I know mine just goes up and eats it, no striking or anything. You may have scared him dangling it in his face. What I would do I'd put him in a rubbermaid tote with the mouse(or go pick up a hopper) and just cover it up and be quiet...leave a little crack so you can peek in to see if he shows any interest...mine usually takes about 5-10 minutes b4 he eats. Hope this helps you.

JuliusSqueezer · #9 (**permalink**) 03-14-2006, 08:15 PM

It may not be that he's "not interested" in food but just not interested in what you are offering. Most of the baby boas I have ever raised don't like mice. Try a pink rat. It's better for him anyway.

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