baby boa still hasny shed yet

[rockstarbass1]

The other day someone I'm friends with gave me a hatchling hypo jungle boa. It has a tail kink so thats why I got it. It was born 6/20/13. It hasn't shed yet and I don't know for sure if its eaten. Some of her litter mates have and I think others haven't. He said just keep humidity up and hope for the best. I think he had doubts about this animal. But I want to help it any way I can. Any advise?

[Willie76]

That snake was let go wayyy too early...tail kink or not. That's just plain irresponsible breeding. It should have shed and fed at least a couple times and feeding well before being released/sold. With that said, some shed right at birth, some take a while. I would really read up on Boa care and maybe some of the breeders can chime in to help with getting the little guy to eat.

[rockstarbass1]

Hrs a very responceable breeder. He wouldn't of kept it. The kink is right by then vent and he even said it might not make it. When I say got he gave it to me. He hasn't sold any others. I've gotten many snakes from him and hs a good friend and taught me a lot. Basically he would of let nature take its path with it and I said I'd take it and he said here I want to give it that extra little help. I've just never bred boas before so I didn't know if there was any trick.

[Evenstar]

That snake was let go wayyy too early...tail kink or not. That's just plain irresponsible breeding. It should have shed and fed at least a couple times and feeding well before being released/sold. With that said, some shed right at birth, some take a while. I would really read up on Boa care and maybe some of the breeders can chime in to help with getting the little guy to eat.

Agreed. Baby boas can take up to 6 weeks to shed for the first time. And no responsible breeder would let a baby go until it had shed and eaten at least 3 times. Or given up on this baby so soon.

Hrs a very responceable breeder. He wouldn't of kept it. The kink is right by then vent and he even said it might not make it. When I say got he gave it to me. He hasn't sold any others. I've gotten many snakes from him and hs a good friend and taught me a lot. Basically he would of let nature take its path with it and I said I'd take it and he said here I want to give it that extra little help. I've just never bred boas before so I didn't know if there was any trick.

Sorry, based on this info, I have to disagree. If he's taught you a lot, he should have taught you about the baby shedding - that's boa breeding 101. A responsible breeder would have told you up front that there is no trick to saving a baby with a severe kink. The baby will either defecate on its own or it won't. If it does, it'll live. If it doesn't, it won't. There's really nothing you can do to help it. It would have helped it more to stay with the breeder in a stable environment until it did shed, eat, and defecate. It would have had a better chance of success. A responsible breeder would have known that.

I am not bashing you or your friend, no matter what my comments may sound like. But facts are facts and you asked a question. I hope you can take some constructive criticism from this and not get too upset by my words. I hope this baby's kink isn't so bad that it cannot survive and I hope it will shed soon for you so you can attempt to feed it.

A couple of words of advice on feeding (which is the best advice I can offer for this situation). First, try a LIVE mouse pink for it's first meal. Start small and the live prey will entice a better feeding response. Second, if that first meal is successful, wait a full 7-10 days before offering another meal. Hopefully the baby will defecate before it's second meal.

[rockstarbass1]

I guess I just shouldn't of posted this. Of I can find a way to delete it I will... I can accept criticism And helpful comments. But by no way am I new to snakes.I've had them for over 10 years now and have 21 myself. From boas to balls to green tree pythons and carpets. I've never breed snakes before as I myself don't know if I am ready. As for my friend in his defense I don't understand how he is irreaponceable breeder for giving someone with aalot of bo expierence a snake that hasn't been established yet and most likely won't make it? When you have 200 babys just hatched and 200 more breeder or almost breeder size snakes you usually let nature take its course. You don't have time to deadicate to a snake that has a high chance of making it. The point in not selling a snake until it shed and has eaten is to ensure it is established and won't parish with the new owner. Because that makes you look bad and stealing someones money. I asked him for it when I knew the odds of its outcome. Like stated all of its siblings are not even for sale yet. Nor does he ever sell anything without getting 3 meals atleast and shed. MY pourpose for the thread was just to say what I got and to see if I should attempt to feed before it sheds basically. Obviously you cannot make a snake shed and can only provide higher humidity for it attempting to help. The snake most likely won't make it. Won't be able to reproduce and wasn't easy to sex and it wasn't even 100% positive of the sex. I figured and so did heit would stand a better chance in my snake room with 21 other snakes I tend to and handel daily then in his with 400 that he doesn't have time to handel every one daily. And let it not make ot and end up in his freezer. If he was that irreapobceable he could of just let what ever happen happen and then made it into monitor food....

[nick654377]

I got a baby boa from bob clark. he was born in feb, I got him the end of march. he is just now going into shed for me for the first time. the funny part is he is a powerful eater. he takes one hopper mouse a week and once a month I give him two.

[xFenrir]

Nevermind, I don't wanna start any fights.

[xFenrir]

Nevermind, I don't want to start any fights.

[rockstarbass1]

Go for it... flame away. I basically rescued this animal and people want to talk shot I think its funny. It woulda been damn monitor food possibly but everyone here with 3 snakes knows it all... lol guess this forum isn't as useful as I thought. And yeah it makes perfect sense someone with thousands of dollars worth of baby snakes should put main focus on a snake with birth defect that would be worth a few hundred but might be worth 20 with the issue. So please explain what the point in breeders holding back a snake jntill it sheds and eats a few meals........who can answer that?

[rocknhorse76]

Not gonna flame you at all. In fact, I commend you for taking the little guy in and trying to give it a chance. Best of luck, and keep us posted on its progress.