Rosy Boa not eating :(:( Help!

[Alicewave]

Ok guys, Jose was doing just fine except he has decided not to eat for the last monthish. At first I thought the feeders were too big but he had eaten a pretty big rat at the second to last feeding that he was eating. After that he would not eat another rat but he ate a pregnant mouse. Since then he hasn't eaten at all, it's been over 4 weeks. Is he just being anorexic for a spell? SHould I worry? Nothing else seems wrong and he is extremely active, slithering around all over the place, up and down the walls of his tank. What should I do?
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[phaedrus]

Hi Alice! First of all, great to have met you at the show! Secondly, assuming temps and humidity are up to par, when's the last time he went poo? Maybe he's constipated and that could also contribute to him not eating. If it's been awhile since he last poo'ed, soak him in a warm tubby. That should work.
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[eddie]

Try a small mouse and a smaller than normal rat, scenting the rat with the mouse prior to feeding, letting him eat the mouse and quickly following with the rat to see if he'll take it.
He could be doing the diet thing, afterall, you know how vain snakes can be... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

But if there isn't any degradation to his body weight, and everything else is good, like poop that phaedrus mentioned, then don't get too worried yet.

Are you feeding frozen or fresh whacked?
Has he ever been fed live or fresh whacked in the past, as in prior to you having him?
If so, has he been seen by a vet for a possible deworming?
Did his feeding stop immediately after your move, or did it continue for a little afterwards?
And how ya been doing, girl?
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[Alicewave]

He ate 2-3 times since I moved home. To my knowledge he has always eaten f/t. The last time he pooed was after he ate that last preggo mouse. He pooed several times but it looked normal. He hasn't pooed in a couple weeks. He has been to the vet at Cornell who saw no need to deworm him. His body weight seems fine. The last mouse I tried was pretty small and he wasn't interested at all. The most unusual thing is how active he is. I've never seen him slither around so much, day and night.

I'm great. Just got a great job with awesome benefits and my own car finally. It was great getting to meet bunches of you at the NY show and I can't wait to go back.

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photo.redtailboa.net/Murtle

[Alicewave]

Ok so if I soak him, I never have before, how long and how deep and what temp etc. Also how long should I wait to feed him again? And are we sure it's ok to soak a rosy given that they're not humid lovers?
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[eddie]

Hmmm... Good question...

I would say soak like any other snake, in slighly warm nearly tepid water and for about 30 minutes at the time.

Do you suspect he may be stopped up?

Feel around the vent, just in front of it, do you feel any abnormal hardness, such as lumps etc?
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	Cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, urinary, and (usually) genital tracts of certain animal species.All birds, reptiles, and amphibians possess this orifice, from which they excrete both urine and feces

[phaedrus]

Ooo, my bad. Sorry Alice. You said rosy, I read Red Tail. Good question...I dunno. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

My RTB, tepid water no more that about 1/2 to 3/4 his own height. Usually within 15 minutes he'll go.

But, umm guys? Open for input here. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]
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[Alicewave]

Eddie, just from handling him I didn't notice any abnormalities in that region. I doubt he's stopped up since he hasn't eaten anything. And he did poop a bunch after his last feedings.
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[eddie]

Ok, then why ya wanna soak him?

Also, I can't remember, is he full grown now?

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[Alicewave]

Well I don't necessarily. You both were suggesting that I try that but I doubt it will help. He is full grown.
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[eddie]

Actually, phaedrus suggested that, I just answered ya question!
hehehe!

But he could be doing the diet thing, so let him go a little bit longer with out the smell of food
( or any being offered ) and see if that may make his feeding urge a little stronger.

Also, search on other sites to see if it may be a common thing for them to go off feed for a lil while in captivity.
They may do that as a form of weight control, but I'm not 100% sure on that.
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[Alicewave]

Thanks for the advice...but again, how long should I wait to offer again? I normally feed him once every two weeks.
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[eddie]

So he has missed just two feedings so far.
Offer again just like normal schedule since ya go every two weeks any ways.
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[SteveP]

If he's roaming and not eating, perhaps he's looking for a girlfriend? That's usually the explanation for the same activity in most human males! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] I've had kingsnakes, cornsnakes, royals, rosys etc. all seem to do that periodically. If he's pooped recently as you mentioned, in good shape and weight I think he's just a little preoccupied and would bet in the next few weeks will eat again. I'm constantly amazed how long hunger strikes can last with seemingly no ill effects.
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[Alicewave]

Steve.. thank you, I hadn't thought of that. I bet that's it! He's definitely looking for something. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] Acutally, his temps have been slightly lower from our a/c so perhaps he thinks it's breeding season (don't they breed just after winter?) Maybe I'll try making sure he is a bit warmer.

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photo.redtailboa.net/Murtle