How do I know if my BCI is still hungry?

[Chaos_in_1983!]

Tonight I finally got my new BCI Pinky to eat since I found him, he refused pre-killed mice and small rats, so I tried feeding him a live hamster (since it's a wild caught boa), he snagged it right away, now I know what he likes, but I noticed that after he was done he was like looking for more, like looking for something else to eat, but I fed it a right sized hamster, do you think I should feed him more? [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
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	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[Bry]

A hamster? Didn't I just see you post a pic of your BCI eating a rat the other day? If they are hunting after they eat, there's a good chance they're hungry. Although, sometimes, right after feeding, the snake will still be in some sort of "feeding frenzy" and continue hunting, even after they've eaten a big meal. Remember, snakes in the wild are opportunistic feeders, and they'll take whatever food they can get. What you can do is wait about 30 minutes or so, if the snake is still hunting, you can feed it a smaller prey item. If the snake has already eaten a meal that leaves a clearly visible bulge, I wouldn't bother giving it anything else.

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

[Chaos_in_1983!]

The snake you saw eating a rat is Lola, this is my other snake Pinky I'm talking about. This dude hadn't fed since I found him about 4 weeks ago, I haven't posted any pics yet, but I'll try posting some in a few days. The hamster did leave a visbile bulge so I don't think I'll be giving him anything else.

Thanks
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[JuliusSqueezer]

I can't think of very many quicker ways to kill your snake than to feed him live hamsters. Those little monsters can and will put up quite a fight. 4 weeks is far too soon to be panicing and feeding such a thing. Please go back to F/T rats now and get him eating those. Don't be overly concerned if it takes a few tries....he will eat.
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	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[Chaos_in_1983!]

I know feeding live is not good, especially hamsters, but he reguses anything pre-killed (mice, rats, hamsters) and here in Nicaragua I can`t get frozen mice or rats. I was was not worried for the 4 weeks, but remember I found this boa trying to get Lola`s rats, so I really don`t know how long he had gone without eating, so that was my concern of feeding him.

I don`t know why, but both of my snakes only eat live, they refuse anything pre killed, they just won`t take it, I`ve tried several times with Lola, but no luck. With Pinky I tried with pre killed small rats, mice and hamsters and he wouldn`t take them either. I figured this was because it`s a wild caught boa. But I would really like to convert both of them to pre-killed, `cause I really don`t want them to get hurt, how can I accomplish this??
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[SteveP]

Persistence! They are wild animals so it is going to take awhile to get them to convert to f/t food (which you'll likely have to freeze yourself). Let them go an extra week now and then without food, so they get good and hungry. That little of a fast isn't going to hurt them and just might inspire them to feeding on the thawed goodies! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

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"It's not that we don't know...it's just that we don't want to care..." - Wind on the Water, Crosby & Nash

	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.