Red Tail won't eat.

I've never had this problem where my boa doesn't want to eat. He's usually really good and will take down a rat in less than 5 seconds.

I just started feeding him live large rats and on the third week i had to give him a small rat cause thats all that was available and the rat was in his tank for 1 whole day.

What should i do, or what should i be looking for?

Did you leave a live rat in the enclosure all day? That's not a good idea...

If he's going in to shed, he may not eat...I know that's the only time mine refuses a meal.

Yeah i left the rat in all day, which i know is a bad thing cause he could hurt my snake. But i think he was fine cause the rat was a small so everytime he went near the snake or touched him the rat would back off.

i don't think he is shedding cause his eyes seem to be normal colour and not a hazey blue.

He's about 2 years old now, so would him not eatting have anything to do with his age? i'm to sure about breeding times with boa's and if they take a break on feeding or not.

I'd just try again next week, honestly not enough time has passed to worry. Maybe the rat smelled different.

ok thanks for the advice.

nice looking snakes you have as well. is that an albino red tail you have?

Thank you, yes he's a Kahl strain albino, I love him, he's got an attitude lol.

beautiful. and yes i can see that a bit in your pic where he wants to eat the camera. lol

LOL yeah...he was really snippy when I first got him, now he's just bigger and demands respect, which he gets, and in turn he doesn't bite me :P

lol thats good though, you can both come to an agreement... I had the same problem with mine, i got him when he was a year and half from a friend of mine. my buddy never cared for him properly and never really handled him much so he was a hand full at first but not is getting better.

I can see you have a small petting zoo at your place. lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vascoll

I've never had this problem where my boa doesn't want to eat. He's usually really good and will take down a rat in less than 5 seconds.

I just started feeding him live large rats and on the third week i had to give him a small rat cause thats all that was available and the rat was in his tank for 1 whole day.

What should i do, or what should i be looking for?

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Since you just increased his prey size and he is 2 years old, try putting him on a 10-14 day feeding schedule. He will need a little more time to digest the larger prey.

As Vypyrz said you could back off and feed every two weeks (or even three now that he is on large rats). Also, you should switch over to frozen/thawed or at least prekilled...and NEVER leave any size of live rodent in the enclosure. That is just asking for trouble.

If you are feeding him one large rat every week, you are feeding him too often, which is why he is refusing him to eat. He should be on an every 14 day diet for large rats. Also, feeding him such are large live prey item may not be a good idea. If he will take f/t, I highly suggest switching.