First bad feed response

Today is feeding day for my two redtails and BP. My Columbian Redtail boa male is about 6 months old and his feeding response was perfect as always. My BP female is 6 months old and same thing, perfect feeding response. But, today my 1 1/2 month old Lipstick Sunglow Redtail boa had issues with her feeding response. It's the 4th time she has been fed. When we got her she had only been fed once and they had her on mouse fuzzies and said she was ready for rat fuzzies after her second feeding. She did fine on a rat fuzzy and that is what I gave her today as well. She had been doing great with feed response. She struggled with the first strike or two but she would get it and coil instantly. Today, she had interest in it but nothing. I left it in her feeding container with her and its been a few minutes and she still hasn't touched it but is still looking at it. I noticed the other day her eyes started to haze and thought she was going blue getting ready for her second shed and figured thats why she might not be eating right now. But today her eyes look fine and she has not shed. Is this normal behavior for a baby redtail boa? We didn't get our male until he was about 4 months old and I don't have as much experience with a baby redtail boa. What should we do if she doesn't eat the RF within the next hour? When should I try feeding her again if she doesn't eat and is it normal that her eyes were hazed one day and today they are not and no shed.

It's a myth that feeding snakes in their enclosures causes aggression. In fact, you're much more likely to get bit while moving a snake in feed mode and when your boa is a huge adult (like mine), you won't really want to be moving it around much. ;)

Their eyes do tend to clear up before they shed. And it is possible that she may not want to eat while in shed. Mine will eat any day, but they're all different.

Since the rat has been sitting for awhile (I'm assuming), just throw it out.

Just wait till you see a shed before trying, and feed her in her enclosure. :)


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I have some snakes (including my two red tails) that will only eat when I leave the rat with them for a while. I usually give them a few hours at least, then toss the rat.

Thank you for all the advice! I got her to eat a very small hopper. I think the rat fuzzy was too big. It was a lot bigger than the previous rat fuzzy she ate. I am really glad she ate the hopper mouse. I worry about her missing a meal because she is a baby redtail boa and I know she needs her nutrients. If she had not eaten the hopper, would missing a meal affect her at all? Thank you again for the advice.