feeding problem

[frost]

hey guys, i have a new red tail boa that wont eat. he moving around and seems alert and looks like he wants food but wont go for it.i know there are a few things one can do to increase their chances of their snake eating but i cant remember them.

 

[Logie_Bear]

When I got my boa he would only eat live. It was a long process switching to f/thawed.

How old is your red tail / how long have you had it/ any signs of a shed coming on?

 

[frost]

hmm i was thinking that thats what he was feeding on and was dreading having to do it. i've had him about a month. he shed a week or so ago.im not %100 on the age but im guessing around half a year old.

 

[Logie_Bear]

Well, some things you can try (some are a little grizzly) are braining the rat , heating it to 'body temp' with a blow drier or pre killed (buy a live rat... Hold it by the tail and with force hit it against the corner of a wall). The last option is not fun, especially if your like me and love rats. If you live anywhere near a co-op you can try chicks. My boa goes gaga for chicks, even if they are thawed. The rodent switch was the hard part.

 

[frost]

thanks i tried heating it up, haven't tried braining but i have done it to a few of my other pets. and i did breed them for a while and feed them after i killed them.(i hate rats) im not sure if i have a co-op anywhere around me but i will look for one.i did have frozen chicks a little while ago that i got from a rodent vendor at the expo i go to and all my pets loved em. thanks for the advice.=]

 

[dragonmetalhead]

Another trick that has been known to work it to pierce the skull cavity of a dead rodent and let the snake smell the brains, which apparently act as an attractant. I have had some success with this technique with my old sand boa and I have had friends have success as well.