New Rosey Boa

[yetimama]

I have a Mexican Rosey Boa that I got 3 weeks ago and am having problems getting it to eat. Its a good size, sub adult, in a 20 gallon long with sand substrate, a hide and some rocks for it to crawl over and temps are good. Ive tried putting it in a plastic tub with the prey and leaving overnight and its still there in the morn. Any advice?, as far as another way to feed it and a good time.

[Ed_r]

Sand Substrate for the majority of snakes is a no no, they can gt irritations from the sand.

What are your temps. I know you say they are right, but who's right? there is allot of ill information out there.

Many times snakes lose their feeding response when removed from the cage. I would change your sustrate to newspaper right now and feed in the cage.

Like you said the snake is a good size so it has been eating, so you need to look at your husbandry.

[haroldo359]

and has it eaten since you got it? and what was the feeding schedule and setup of the previous owner?

[Stormyva]

I think it's more stressful for us when our snakes dont eat
When you say the temps are right, what are the actual readings?
Where are you measuring the temps?
Are you using an analog or a digital thermometer?
Is there a lot of traffic around the cage?
Have you been handling the snake a lot?
What are the humidity levels in the cage?
Sorry for all the questions but there are a lot of things that should be looked as to find out what's going on with the snake.

[yetimama]

Temps are mid 90's on the hot end and low 80's on the cool end
I do handle it at least every other day like all my snakes and it doesnt seem shy or anything. Try to have it in a low traffic area with all the other cages.

[Ed_r]

90 is way on the high end of the high range of temps for them if your in mid 90s that surely could be stressing it not to eat. bring the hot side temps down to 88-89 and change the substrate from the sand to newspaper and try feeding it in the cage.

[Stormyva]

You may also want to consider minimizing the handling until the snake has a couple of meals in it's belly.
How and where in the cage are you measuring your temps?
(The thermometer should be approx 1" above the substrate, and dont count on one of the cheap tape type thermometers from the pet store to give you an accurate temp)

[yetimama]

Thanks for the corrections and advice, will definatly try that.
I measure the temps with a digital temp gun.

[yetimama]

Thanks for all the help and advise....after getting the temps under control I put it in a plastic tub with a rat pinkie and left it alone for about a day and the boa finally ate. Thankfully.