Too long off of food?

[east_stingray]

Hi again all. My RTB has been off of food for almost a month now. I know this doesn't sound like much to all of you who have had them go off for 8 or 9 months, but mine is nowhere near being full grown. She's only about 1 year old (maybe not even that) and about 3 feet long. She's still growing pretty fast and is starting to look really skinny. She's never gone off of food this long before and she just shed about a week ago. Just wondering about everyone's opinions on this.
-East
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[herp_chick]

First, I would check temps, that is probably the most likely reason. If temps are OK, 88 warm side, 78 cool side, then I would check for symptoms of RI. You probably have read a lot of posts one here, but just in case, I will repeat them. If you already know this, sorry [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Hold her about 1/4 to 1/3 down her body from her head, up against your ear. Listen for wheezing, bubbling, or clicking sounds when she breathes. Another obvious symptom of RI is a clear, frothy mucous bubbling from her nose or oozing out around her mouth, also open-mouth breathing. The latter 2 I expect you would have noticed by now, but the breathing noises are sometimes hard to catch, if you don't know what to listen for. And lastly, have you changed her food item, either species(mice to rats, or vice versa), or size of food item? Sometimes that will cause them to go off feed also. I'm sure I didn't name it all, and I'm equally sure that someone else will be along shortly with more advice. Good Luck!
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[east_stingray]

Well, alas, I was forced to do it. I'm sure she hates me now, but I suppose it's all for the better. I *dum dum duuuum* made her go in the feeding cage. I can't explain to all of you how much she absolutely hates the feeding cage. The only time I've ever been bitten was putting her in there. She goes from cute little teddy bear to snarling, fanged monster. Just because I love her so much and knew how much she hated the feeding cage, I had started leaving the mice on a dish outside her hide. She did fine for a few weeks, but then quit eating. I knew that if I put her in the evil cage of death *aka feeding cage* she'd be so po'd that she'd have to take the mice. So, I suppose all's well that ends well. She ate two and I'm a lot happier now. I also managed to narrowly avoid a chunk being taken out of my hand. Thank you, plexiglass. Just wanted to update you all.
-East
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[Stormyva]

I cant help but laughing at your description of the evil mean feeding cage. It's great you have gotten your boa to eat though! Congrats!

Maybe you could try a deeper tub that is harder for it to get out of.... or clean it out so that there is less "mousy" smell in the tub to kick the snake into feeding mode so fast. Another idea... now that your boa is eating again try stepping it up to a properly sized rat instead of multiple mice. Multiple prey items are harder on your snake than a properly sized single item.
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[east_stingray]

Stormy-
A deeper cage is a great idea. I never really thought of it. I clean it pretty regularly so I don't think that's the problem. I think it's just being in a small space. She's not quite big enough for rats yet. Well, I suppose the properly sized rat would be ok, but the local petstore and the petstores in Little Rock only carry huge rats. She's only about 3 feet long and not near big enough for those size rats. I'm hesitant to order from rodentpro or similar corporation because she's going to get big fairly quick and I don't want a lot of improperly sized rats. I know what you mean though and I'll try my best to get her on rats ASAP. Thanks for the .02.
-East
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