Rainbow Boa not eating

I've only had him for about a week and a half. I fed him the first day I got him. On Wednesday I tried to feed him another f/t fuzzy, but he refused. Today I went an picked a live fuzzy(i think that's what the breeder was feeding him), but he refused that too. He just made a defensive strike at it and turned away.

I know that's its only been a week and a half, but he's is so young and tiny so I'm not sure how long he should go without eating. Any suggestions?

How are you keeping the snake? Please describe your enclosure, heating, etc.

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

How are you keeping the snake? Please describe your enclosure, heating, etc.

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He's in a 32 quart rubbermaid. Temps are 76-81 and humidty is 90+ all the time. He has a large water bowl and a log hide(he doesn't use it and prefers to burrow) on aspen bedding.

Temps need to be around 88-90...I would move him to a smaller tub also...A shoe box or maybe a 15 qt., depending on his size.

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Originally Posted by coldbloodaddict

Temps need to be around 88-90...I would move him to a smaller tub also...A shoe box or maybe a 15 qt., depending on his size.

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In the care sheet I received from Dave Colling at Rainbows R Us it says for babies temps should be around 77 degrees. Everything I've read says temps above 85 for an extended period of time could be deadly.

As far as temps go it depends on if you have a brazilian or columbian rainbow boa. Columbian rainbow boas like warmer temps than brazilian rainbow boas. Temps around 85 would be good for either type. I would consider switching to a different substrate such as cypress mulch. With the high humidity requirements of rainbow boas, aspen will more than likely begin to mold due to build-up of condensation within the tub. Cypress resists mold very well and retains a good amount of moisture to keep humidity within the proper range. It's also an excellent substrate for snakes that like to burrow.

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Originally Posted by ptate

As far as temps go it depends on if you have a brazilian or columbian rainbow boa. Columbian rainbow boas like warmer temps than brazilian rainbow boas. Temps around 85 would be good for either type. I would consider switching to a different substrate such as cypress mulch. With the high humidity requirements of rainbow boas, aspen will more than likely begin to mold due to build-up of condensation within the tub. Cypress resists mold very well and retains a good amount of moisture to keep humidity within the proper range. It's also an excellent substrate for snakes that like to burrow.

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I really like giving them cypress. I was given some advice to give them a few inches to burrow in and they do. I love cypress anyways, but it makes more sense with the high humidity requirements for BRB's.

Move him to a smaller enclosure, give him a week to settle in with no interruptions, then offer the prey item.

I just got two BRBs from David also. Thanks for the advice about cypress...I'm trying to keep mine on newspaper and I'm barely keeping the humidity up.

Jay-good luck with your baby!

your little guy may just be a little stressed. I wouldn't mess with your temps they sound good. I would switch from aspen to the cypress or a reptibark type substrate. I then try feeding they little guy in a week at night. They are really nocturnal and he may eat better for you in the pm hours.

I have had my Priscilla now for about 2 years and I have always kept her on reptibark at room temp which in my snake room is 78 to 84 depending on the time of year. She has only missed a meal a 2 or 3 times and it was always when she was deep in the blue.

Let us know how your little guy is doing.

I've left him alone for the last 5 days and he seems more active now then he was a few days ago. I will give him some more time to adjust then try feeding him. Hopefully he eats and then I will make the switch to cypress mulch after it digests. Since I'm already having trouble getting him to eat, I don't want to switch things around.

I should have also mentioned I started him out on newspaper, but after 2 days it was smelling bad and I figured I would be able to hold humidity better with aspen so i made the switch.

Thanks for the advice everyone!