Tired of begging.. my knees hurt. (Dumeril Boa Feeding question)

So I know that a few of you on here have Dumeril Boas and I was hoping and preying you guys might have some answers for me. I am determined to feed my dumb (thats right I said DUMB! :D) F/T... She will Sometimes take FK and we did that for a while, we have now switched over to F/T (EVERYONE ELSE IS ON F/T FOR CHRIST SAKE!). She has not eaten in for a few weeks now and before she would at least feign interest in the frozen rat but now she doesn't even pretend.. she just goes into her hide or backs up... she doesn't even flick her tongue out. I have tried thawing it at room temp then blow drying it to get it hot, thawing it in water and doing the same. rubbing tuna on it, dipping its head in boiling water before offering it to her, and senting with live mice. Any more suggestions.. I really dont want to have to buy/feed large rats. Thanks!

I don't know what to tell you because I am having the same problem with my Dumerils. He is the only one that flat out refuses to eat f/t. If you find a trick, let me know. I feel like we have tried everything, from leaving it in his enclosure overnight, to putting him in a pillow case with the rat overnight, to forcing him, to trying to stubborn him out (3 months without eating before we gave in and bought him live rat pups). Mine is only a little over 2 feet long and I would really like to get him transitioned before he gets big and the rats fight back.

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Originally Posted by gaiaeagle

I don't know what to tell you because I am having the same problem with my Dumerils. He is the only one that flat out refuses to eat f/t. If you find a trick, let me know. I feel like we have tried everything, from leaving it in his enclosure overnight, to putting him in a pillow case with the rat overnight, to forcing him, to trying to stubborn him out (3 months without eating before we gave in and bought him live rat pups). Mine is only a little over 2 feet long and I would really like to get him transitioned before he gets big and the rats fight back.

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Thats why I really want to switch her over.. she is already big enough for medium rats and even though I sit there ready to intervene (pencil in hand :P)... she has been bitten before. I know she is hungry the girl eats like a pig.. but when I offer her FT she just puts her face on it then goes back to her hide.. Good luck Ill let you know if anything changes!

I don't keep Dumerils, but sometimes you just have to feed them what they want. I have a few BPs that decided later in life they only want live... so now they eat live. Honestly, I'd say let them eat live for a year or so and then work on transitioning over. Once they are a little larger, you have less to worry about going off feed. At that point in time, you can work on going with fresh killed, and then f/t heated to body temp.

It may just take longer overall. Scenting techniques and leaving the f/t mouse in the tank or a dark bag/box work for some but not all. Some stubborn feeders are just that... stubborn & you have to give them what they want.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, but I felt this response would be better than letting your question go without response.

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Originally Posted by bioteacher

sometimes you just have to feed them what they want.

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I'll second this. My Dumeril's only eats fresh killed rats. The few times I have tried frozen/thawed she's refused.

But if you are set on frozen/thawed you could always stretch her feeding schedule from every two to three weeks until she's switched over. I'd also take the temperature of a fresh killed rat and try to get your frozen/thawed to the same temperature.

The best that I can offer is to make sure that you ambient temp is around 80F, a hot spot of about 88-90F, they have hides, heat the rat up to about 99-100F, pre-scent the room, and do a good zombie dance. Sometimes, leaving the prey laying a couple of inches in front of the hide over night can work. Good luck.

i had a dumerils at one time also a finicky eater .... so much so that i traded him ....... but ive heard they love chicks and quail

Just keep trying. They will eventualy get hungry and will eat. Our Dum is a trash can, but she will only eat when she wants to. She tends to only eat once or twice a month.

When it comes to live food she will eat anything you give her anytime... its the dead food she doesnt care for. We will keep holding out for a bit longer..

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I have learned that my Dumeril's will only eat live. I have heard most are like this when they're younger (relatively speaking). First time I tried a live mouse, it took her a second to become interested in it, but after a few minutes....BAM!!!