eating habits

[mdsngrc]

Recently I fed my 4 month old boa a fuzzy and he didn't kill it before he ate it. He ate it feet first and a live. Is this very common? Also a few days later his eyes changed to the milky blue color and we assumed he was going to shed but then he didn't and his eyes changed back. What the heck is that all about. Please healp me!!!

[mnolan9876]

I have no clue about him eading the fuzzy alive. Doesnt sound too good, but my RTB goes into blue for a few days and then his eyes will be clear, and i can expect him to shed within the next few days also.

[thetupak]

one i wouldnt be feeding live for very good reasons they can hurt your boa and they might have parasites twoalot of boas when there shedding have there eyes turn blue and then back just make sure you spry the boa every day with water

[MythsBishop]

I am not sure about the fuzzy thing but the thing with the eyes is normal. They will milk over, then unmilk, then it will shed.

[thetupak]

just wondered what fuzzy are you refuring too (re)furing lol
rat or mouse you should be feeding fuzzy rats and they should be as big around as your boa at its widest point

[eddie]

If the boa is willing to eat that easily, whack the next food item before feeding.
Also try frozen thawed, as it will cut down on a lot of problems in the long run, such as parasites (mentioned above), literally zero chance the food wil inflict a wound on the snake, easier to keep more food on hand without taking care of it except for thawing and a lot cheaper in the long run (bought frozen vs bought live) and the savings in vet bills and treatments for possible parasitic problems and injuries etc.

The blue to normal is normal for sheds also

Last but not least, welcome aboard

[python11]

I have a 7 month old ball python and it does the same thing eats them alive feet first..... If you lisen closely you can hear the rat take its last scream inside of him.....

[Kent K25]

thats not too good. give it time and its food items will be big enough to inflict some real damage rather than just let out a last scream. Gotta whack that food at least. Or even better as Eddie said, feed f/t

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

[Reptiman]

Just to add to all above. The sooner you start feeding pre- killed or thawed frozen the better. It seems when they get used to live they don't like to switch. Maybe mine are picky. My RTB is just finally starting to eat prekilled, after 3 month's of trying, it was a couple month's old when I got and definitely used to live prey. My Ball only took about 2 weeks to get with the program. All my snake"s eyes go blue then clear and then they shed.

[NicoleRussell]

I turned down 2 other balls before I got this one because they were eating live food and were already quite large. Would it have been impossible to switch them? No, but buying one that was already there just seemed smarter to me.
I know many owners like the thrill of the whole hunt thing but when you get hit with your first vet bill (from a rodent bite or a parasite problem) that thrill diappears fast