Tired of Eating Problems

This is in the way of a general rant about ball pythons as pets. So I got my son a ball python because he loves them and because he is allergic to

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anything with fur. He loves it. I admit I loved him too. I set up the cage with hot and cold hides, got the requisite heaters both uth and lamp, and even put a thermometer and set it at 92. Temperatures and humidity are at the right range, but I am tired of feeding it F/T. He goes off food for no discernable reason. He's too young to be breeding, as he is only 20 inches. I am tired of trying different techniques to try and feed it, and this is a captive bred animal (I made sure of that). I am aware these things are flighty, and knew feeding would be an issue. As a radical measure, I'm going to see how long it can go without being offered food. I don't intend to starve it, but if that happens, it's not the end of the world. I think people should really think twice about keeping these animals as pets. I'm doing this for my son, but I can't see how he will keep interest in it if it won't eat. I may switch to a dwarf red tail if this one bites the dust. I heard they don't have the same feeding problems. Thanks for listening. End of rant.

If this is the way you feel, both you and the animal may be better off rehoming it to someone willing to put in the patience to care for it, and offer a rehoming fee to ensure it goes to a proper home. Then you can put the rehoming fee toward your boa, which are much better eaters, it's true, but do require a firmer hand and get a bit bigger.

Whatever you decide, research is key. It's harsh but true... if you aren't willing to care for it, don't get it.

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Can you describe your setup? Maybe something husbandry related is making him not eat.

When you say you have a thermometer set to 92, do you have a thermometer or thermostat?

How are you measuring your temps?

Have you tried live? How have you tried to offer the f/t feeders?

I would try to get this guy eating regularly before giving up on him and letting him starve/getting another snake: and if you get another snake I would recommend a corn or king snake. I've had some slow starter ball pythons but after tweeking some things in the tub/trying other feeding methods they took to eating great.

I haven't been keeping ball pythons for too long, year or two but a couple things I have learned that might help.

First and foremost be patience, ball pythons will go off feed, it's not a matter of if, its a matter of when. As long as your husbandry is correct, I wouldn't worry about it too much about it. The longest one of my balls went off fed was close to three months, best thing you can do is keep offering on a regular schedule and monitor the weight, if you don't notice significant weight loss, don't worry too much.

Second, ball pythons make a wonderful pet, but you have to take into consideration, they are no were comparable to what someone might be use to, they are not going to wag their tail when you go to open their cage. They are very docile creatures and spend a majority of their time in hiding. If you purchased a ball python purely for being able to feed it, it just not be the right pet for you or your son.

Third, I don't people need to necessarily think twice about keeping ball pythons, not like they are a dangerous species to keep in your home, but I would recommended doing some research, they are not going to be the most exciting creature to keep per say, (i.e. doing tricks or jumping on you when you come home) :)

I would finally suggest, just evaluate, why you wanted a Ball Python in the first place, do some additional research about Ball Pythons, and see if this matches with your exceptions of keeping such a creature. Even though I rarely see mine out an about, nor do I even hold them often, I definitely find great satisfaction of housing such a creature, just a different type of satisfaction from what someone else maybe use to.

Try feeding live. Or scenting your f/t with another type of feeder.

Suggestion: Feed live. If it refuses rats, try a mouse. If it refuses a mouse, try an asf.

I appreciate your honesty. These animals are not for everyone.
If your son really loves ball pythons, is it possible to trade it for a more strong feeder? I know that the more picky eaters aren't the best pets for first time owners. I understand your frustration. But either way, please do not starve this animal willingly or experimentally. As an owner, you've taken the responsibility to care for this animal to the best of your ability. Keep offering food or rehome it if you cannot continue to care for it.

Try live... you don't have to feed frozen thawed. Definitely please rehome it... starving an animal that doesn't understand what you're doing it for is far from the correct answer.
Do tons of research before getting anything else

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Titanboa, I understand exactly where you are coming from. My son is also extremely allergic to everything (see sig below) and my husband and I got a ball python as a family pet, knowing that it would not be like having a cat or a dog. I'm also glad you felt comfortable sharing your real feelings with the forum.

Our bp is 17 months and over 1300 grams. After being an extremely good eater for a year and a half, she has turned down 3 of the last 4 rats we've offered her. I did figure out that we had been feeding her rats that were too large, since we didn't realize the 10-15% of body weight guideline was only for younger animals. Hopefully we'll get her back on schedule.

The thing that has helped us most in feeding Millie in the past has been to check the temperature of the f/t rat with a heat gun. If the rat is under 90F, she just won't eat it, but we don't want it so hot that it would hurt her. I would also suggest a digital kitchen scale to track your snake's weight and make sure the size of his meals is appropriate.

Most importantly, though, I want to tell you that while a snake may not be a "real" pet to you, it is your child's entire experience. If you cannot care for the bp, then do please rehome it. Whatever you do, though, do not teach your child that it is ever appropriate to neglect an animal by deciding to stop feeding him.

Very good input offered, and OP, I want you to know that I was absolutely not attacking you at all. You are certainly not the only person on the forum to decide that BPs aren't for them, and I applaud you for realizing before you unintentionally mistreat the animal. But I do urge you to be more proactive before "starving him out". Certainly waiting out a BP's appetite is fairly common in the hobby, but not before exhausting all other options (scenting, live, brained, etc.).

I wish you the best with your pet and your decision.

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Please give your BP away to someone who will work with it with patience. My BP is a picky eater too but I go through every measure I need to so she eats and I always will. And don't get a boa if you can't handle a BP. The feeding response is stronger but it is a more advanced snake in other ways. Just my 2 cents

I know research tells you that one of the downsides of a BP is the possibility of not eating but I am aware of how you feel. The frustration (and I was worried sick) isn't really put on the paper!

Leaving the BP without food is inhumane whether they eat what is offered or not. Food should be offered on a schedule! This is an animal, it's brain process and personality is not like a humans; at all! If you think that allowing him to starve would be, was you put it, 'Not the end of the world' then I honestly suggest that you look to rehoming this little guy. Maybe he really isn't for you :(

One of my BP's is the biggest pain in the ass you can think of, eats if and when she pleases, likes to strike at me on occasion and is just a sod. When she doesn't eat and I find the rat in the enclosure the next morning, of course I get frustrated! I take the rat out, discard of it and offer the next week.

Was the little guy on F/T from the person you bought him off? Some BP's are live feeders and switching some is basically impossible. Other BP's like their hunger strikes (one of the reasons their care is categorised at easy/medium)

I think consideration must go into whether you truly want this pet, you may have typed what you did without thinking of the implication and cruelty in letting a defenceless animal starve to death in your care through your own negligence (I am so sorry if this sounds harsh but in effect this would be what you were doing) I'm quite sure you didn't read the implications in this, such cruelty would likely lead to you not being allowed pets. If this is the way you truly feel still, rehome the poor guy and take up any extensive research on any animal you may get in the future. BP's are wonderful animals but if you don't have any patience you're going to have a hard time.

Best of luck.

Just an afterthought: is there anywhere near you (a breeder or respected small pet store with experience in BP's) who would be willing to take in your guy and get him on an established eating routine? I know in my area in the UK many people are willing to do this when they hold more experience than the owners and keep the animal until it is feeding properly. Some of these people only charge for prey items used, others will charge a fee but it may be an option which would help you and allow you to reap the full benefits of these amazing animals :)

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Originally Posted by titanoboa

This is in the way of a general rant about ball pythons as pets. So I got my son a ball python because he loves them and because he is allergic to

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anything with fur. He loves it. I admit I loved him too. I set up the cage with hot and cold hides, got the requisite heaters both uth and lamp, and even put a thermometer and set it at 92. Temperatures and humidity are at the right range, but I am tired of feeding it F/T. He goes off food for no discernable reason. He's too young to be breeding, as he is only 20 inches. I am tired of trying different techniques to try and feed it, and this is a captive bred animal (I made sure of that). I am aware these things are flighty, and knew feeding would be an issue. As a radical measure, I'm going to see how long it can go without being offered food. I don't intend to starve it, but if that happens, it's not the end of the world. I think people should really think twice about keeping these animals as pets. I'm doing this for my son, but I can't see how he will keep interest in it if it won't eat. I may switch to a dwarf red tail if this one bites the dust. I heard they don't have the same feeding problems. Thanks for listening. End of rant.

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Seeing how long something can go without food....until???....starvation?
What "techniques" have you tried?

Where did you get your bp from? Some lps will let you take it back if you're having problems. At least the good ones will. Is it being handled before you feed it? It could be stressed and you not realize it. Does your son handle it often? I know its hard. I've helped at 1 of the lps here for a bit anf when 1 of the young bps wouldn't eat I got really frustrated. It happened over and over for a month. Come to find out they were handling him right before I got there, and they didn't check on him in between. Not even to give him water. I finally got them to let me take him home with me for a couple months and I got him all sorted out. He fed perfectly, and was happy. When I returned him they thought I traded him for a different snake. What I'm saying is don't give up. Try feeding your's live, try covering the enclosure while you feed. Make sure the light is off to prevent fires. Don't let your son handle it for 3 days a week, the day before, of, and after feeding. Your bp will come around. Also go by the largest section of your bp. It might be that your feeding too small or large.

Just another thought... depending on the size of the animal, you could be waiting months for it to starve. Like, 18 months. That's the longest I've heard a ball refusing food from a breeder on here, and it still bounced back.

As with everyone else, PLEASE give that snake to someone who can and is willing to treat it properly. Most of the time snake issues are due to improper husbandry, although ball pythons do go off feeding and can be picky. If you aren't ready for that, there is no point in putting everyone through stress.
If your child really wants a pet, get it something they will and can maintain mostly on their own. I suggest african water frogs, or newts. I don't know much about other reptiles, but maybe a gecko if you've got a lot of reptile equipment already. Or just something that will eat reliably, if you're so frustrated about that.

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Originally Posted by titanoboa

As a radical measure, I'm going to see how long it can go without being offered food. I don't intend to starve it, but if that happens, it's not the end of the world.

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May not be the end of the world for you, but it will be for your snake who can't even begin to understand that it's doing something you consider wrong.

I'm not sure starving a snake to death because it won't eat when you want it to is something you want to be teaching your kid, either.

Some BP's are finicky. They will go off food at times. You either need to figure out why it might be happening (issues in the environment that can be corrected) or if everything in the environment looks good, just accept that it's going to happen from time to time. Then decide if you want to keep the animal.

Waiting until it "bites the dust" because you're frustrated at an animal for being an animal is not really an option for responsible people.

OP here. I have a thermostat with multiple digital probes. Belly heat on hot side is 91-93 in hot hide. Ambient is 85 on hot and 78 on cold. Water is changed every day. Two hides. Humidity is 55% during non- shed. It is captive bred and takes f/t but goes on inexplic able hunger strikes. I've done my research. I can't go live as my son has serious asthma. We just don't know a lot about these animals. They are not well-suited to captivity. They are nice and placid and that's why people get them, but I have 4 kids so the house is not quiet. We don't hold him when he is off feed and this is tough for my son. I just want people to reconsider these as pets. So I'm going to let him sit a couple of weeks before offering again.

Now that is said better than before. If it's male it may be due to the "season" that he is not eating, in which case you could probably hold off on offering for a couple of weeks. But please don't try to starve it out. It does not understand how frustrated we get at something that is "normal" to them.
If you take on ANY animal, you as the caregiver that brought that animal in should be willing to do whatever necessary to give that animal proper care. Some animals are not for everyone, if it's that bad, rehome him and search and research for something more suitable.


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Originally Posted by titanoboa

OP here. I have a thermostat with multiple digital probes. Belly heat on hot side is 91-93 in hot hide. Ambient is 85 on hot and 78 on cold. Water is changed every day. Two hides. Humidity is 55% during non- shed. It is captive bred and takes f/t but goes on inexplic able hunger strikes. I've done my research. I can't go live as my son has serious asthma. We just don't know a lot about these animals. They are not well-suited to captivity. They are nice and placid and that's why people get them, but I have 4 kids so the house is not quiet. We don't hold him when he is off feed and this is tough for my son. I just want people to reconsider these as pets. So I'm going to let him sit a couple of weeks before offering again.

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I know you have found that he is perhaps not for you but I wouldn't state that people should reconsider them as pets. A lot of BP's do flourish in captivity and have no problems with eating. All animals can have their problems from dogs, to horses to BP's (trust me, I've been an owner of all three at one time of another). The problem with BP's is eating and this is widely publicised, some people hit it lucky and basically purchase a dust bin who will eat anything in sight at any time other people don't get it so lucky and get an animal prone to going off food (I have both in my collection)

My first BP had major problems when I first got her and she really pushed me through the trials from a bad shed and retained eye cap, to mites off the bedding and not eating consistently to top it all off. I now have 6 and I wouldn't change that for anything. I honestly couldn't imagine my life without them now.

Leaving feed for a couple of weeks is your choice, if he still doesn't eat offer again the next week. Many of us offer on a weekly basis whether the prey is taken or refused. My problem eater has struck from the floor when the prey was left, struck from the tongs as I wiggled the prey and also taken over night when the rat was left in her hide door. She has refused more times than she has eaten though. Have you been leaving the prey item in with your BP overnight if he has refused? Or have you given up when he hasn't struck?

I would perhaps suggest, as you honestly sound like you don't want this guy, to rehome him if he won't eat and perhaps look into something like a bearded dragon or another type of lizard. These are more expensive to keep and can also stop eating because of stress but it is less likely than with a BP. They should also be perfectly fine for your sons allergies.

How long have you had your BP and how often in that time has he eaten?

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Originally Posted by titanoboa

OP here. I have a thermostat with multiple digital probes. Belly heat on hot side is 91-93 in hot hide. Ambient is 85 on hot and 78 on cold. Water is changed every day. Two hides. Humidity is 55% during non- shed. It is captive bred and takes f/t but goes on inexplic able hunger strikes. I've done my research. I can't go live as my son has serious asthma. We just don't know a lot about these animals. They are not well-suited to captivity. They are nice and placid and that's why people get them, but I have 4 kids so the house is not quiet. We don't hold him when he is off feed and this is tough for my son. I just want people to reconsider these as pets. So I'm going to let him sit a couple of weeks before offering again.

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Your research would tell you that they do go off feed and that they are like pet rocks.

You say you don't know alot about them yet you want people to reconsider them as pets and say they are not well-suited for captivity...says you.

Get a poodle.

Or

engage in this community, share and absorb information, magical things happen when you talk to people that own these "not well suited, i only own these because they are placid animals"

Post a pic too

Tricks tried include braining, setting the frozen mouse in front of cage to thaw, scenting with gerbil bedding, dipping in stock, leaving out overnight in front of hide and paper bag. He will look at the food and even touch it, but won't strike. He looks at me (I feed at night) and will begin to climb to my hand. I heat the mouse in hot water so its not cold. Fundamentally, there's too much noise in the house. He will not eat. He's in as quiet a place as I can find. I don't see the answer.

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Originally Posted by titanoboa

We just don't know a lot about these animals. They are not well-suited to captivity.

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We know a lot about them. They are extremely well suited to captivity. They've been a staple of the pet trade for 20 years and will continue to be for another 20. I would urge you to spend some time here looking into various techniques for getting the animal to eat. It needs security and it needs the prey to be recognized as food. Why is this so frustrating to you? You've spent the same amount of time and money each week by offering whether it eats or refuses. If you're concerned about the time or money, you probably shouldn't have any pets at all. A dog or a cat takes daily attention to be fed and watered and cleaned up after. Ball pythons are one of the lowest maintenance pets out there.

Can you describe your process of thawing, prepping the snake for feeding, and the offering itself? How many different techniques have you tried and what are they? I have one snake that doesn't eat F/T and a few others are spotty - when they refuse I don't worry about it. It sounds like the setup is in an aquarium - with 4 kids and a noisy household the first question would be where is the tank located and have you considered moving it to a low traffic area and covering the sides and back of the tank to give it more privacy?

Try putting a blanket around 3 sides of the tank (I use duct tape to get it to stay, and a towel over hald the top and front to create a window in front. I have a cat crazy dog and a 2 yr old that bangs on my girls enclosure all the time. My house is NOT quiet let me tell you. Also try feeding after your kiddos are in bed and its quiet. It might work. Don't be discouraged. There are a lot of people on here that are willing and able to help you. Also try warming the rodent up with a blast from your blow drier. I wish you every luck with the little guy. They can be stinkers.

You are giving up to easily. You have not tried everything yet and you do not seem to have the patience. I had a big male normal ball python in the past that would go off feed at this time of the year and would not eat again until April. I got so upset at first and I had even thought about rehoming him. What I did was triple check my husbandry and reevaluated everything I was doing. It turned out that I was not even doing anything wrong it was just this particular snake would go off feed every year at the same exact time. I did end up rehoming this beautiful boy last year but not because of him going on feeding strikes. I had to move and I could not take this snake with me. Let me tell you something, I MISS that boy so much now because once I got the past the issue of him not wanting to feed, I discovered a very sweet snake that I could not have ever imagined not having in my life. If you feel you cannot handle your snake and his feeding issues then please do rehome the animal.

I have a picky male. He'll only take the rodent if it's held in tongs and shuffled around about 6-8 inches away from him. Sometimes he'll coil it then forget about it and I have to offer again before he'll actually coil and eat.

It can be frustrating when I'm doing a late feed and just want to get to bed, but it's just his personality. My other girls eat just find without me having to do any fancy tricks.

Personally if the snake isn't sick I don't see a problem with handling the snake a bit, even if it's on a feeding strike, provided its environment, etc are alright.

My living room isn't quiet. As long as people aren't running past multiple times a day or yelling in the room/banging on things it's probably not that big of a deal.

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Originally Posted by titanoboa

frozen mouse

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Have you tried rats?

'Zombie Dance' where you hold the prey in tongs and wiggle it? 90% of ball pythons won't strike or eat inanimate objects - it's your job to animate it if you're feeding F/T.

I think the ideal place would have been in the closet of my guest room, which was not used at the time. Unfortunately, my in-laws came to stay and they didn't want it in their room (a cultural thing). It's in my son's room, who is a snorer. I appreciate the advice. I prep by putting the frozen mouse in a hot bowl of water in front of the cage. I wait till the boys are asleep, then run some hot water over the plastic bag to heat it up. I offer usually by holding the tail with the forceps, but have also grabbed it by the back of the neck. He recognizes it, will even come up to it, then turns away. Funny thing, he will stretch his neck out toward my hand, kind of saying I know you're there. But who really knows what is going through his mind. I think it will only eat if near starvation. I will cover the sides and feed a larger prey animal in hopes one big meal will stave off hunger. It can survive on one big meal for a couple of weeks. This is still a 20 inch juvenile.

My picky male wont eat anything that's wet. If he strikes and takes it into the water bowl he'll let go and ignore it. I quickly switched to using a cheap hair dryer to warm the rats before feeding.

I really don't think that the snoring is a problem. I'd be more concerned about things like banging, running, jumping, or constant foot traffic. Anything that's going to send a lot of vibration through the ground.

As long as the environment is alright, and the equipment you're using is giving accurate readouts (note that a lot of petstore equipment is low-quality and can be notoriously inaccurate, especially the hygrometers), and even then they're pretty resilient, then this is just something your snake will snap out of. It's just very frustrating.

It's a rough experience, especially for your first snake. It's nowhere near as bad as having something bitey though, which can also happen (less frequently with balls than others, mind you)...

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Originally Posted by titanoboa

I offer usually by holding the tail with the forceps, but have also grabbed it by the back of the neck. He recognizes it, will even come up to it, then turns away. Funny thing, he will stretch his neck out toward my hand, kind of saying I know you're there.

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If he doesn't take it in 15 or 20 seconds, just drop it in front of his hide and close up for the night. There's a good chance it might be gone in the morning.

Every snake is different. They all like different things as well. It will get very frustrating. None of my snakes will eat Frozen/Thawed rats. My spider ball python will not eat live or prekilled. I have found that the only way she will eat consistantly is to get a live rat kill it when I am ready to feed and put it in the tank and leave her alone for about an hour in the dark. I come back in after the hour and the rat is gone. My male Het albino is similar he wants fresh killed he just is not as pickey about me leaving the room or the lights. My big normal will stop eating for about 2-3 months at a time just because. All of the others have great feeding responses. Keep working with the snake and trying different things and figure out what it likes.

Your son's room shouldn't be an issue, in my opinion. Snoring probably won't bother your snake. I definitely recommend a RAT if you are using only mice. But you say it's on a hunger strike... how long has it been without eating? And how much does the snake weigh? (If you haven't already answered these questions)

Leap to boas!!! Lol

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O.K. After much encouragement, I tried feeding him today. No luck. I'm going to try in two weeks and if no luck, I'll give him to Petco. They have a bunch there. I'll get a corn snake. My kid wants something heavy that he can hold, but he's not quite old enough for a boa. I did my research. I just underestimated how flighty the animals are. I almost got a corn before, but was afraid they would escape. Anything is better than feeding problems, though, and corns are native.

Please don't give it to Petco. If you think it's stressed out at your house, it will really be stressed in a big-box store retail environment. They also may not take it since it's been at your house. Use the http://ball-pythons.net/forums/forum...tion-or-Wanted forum here instead if you're giving it away.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Please don't give it to Petco. If you think it's stressed out at your house, it will really be stressed in a big-box store retail environment. They also may not take it since it's been at your house. Use the http://ball-pythons.net/forums/forum...tion-or-Wanted forum here instead if you're giving it away.

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I second this. Don't give it to Petco, please. At least try to see if you can find someone from here to take it before you give it to Petco.

Op where are you located?

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Titan, if everything else about the husbandry checks out then I would point to the tank and its size as the culprit.

BPs seem to do so horribly in tanks. If you want to rule out the size of the tank being an issue, you could try storing him in a shoebox sized plastic container (put holes in it). Put a hide in there and add paper wads to block up the rest of the space.

There are some snakes that are calm and friendly but are still too stressed to eat due to the tank. They like very tight and secure habitats. A six quart shoe box is what professionals keep their babies in and it very rarely does them wrong.

Try putting him in there with the heat pad on one side and let him relax for a week. He should do you fine then.

OP here. Well I came back from Thanksgiving and decided to try and feed again as it was his usual feed day. No luck. He was moving around the tank all day without rest so I figured he was hungry. I will continue to offer at regular intervals until he eats or dies. He ate like a pig until about a month ago all frozen/thawed. Conditions haven't changed so it's not that. He is not ill but I will take him to a vet this week. I can't go live with my son's allergies, so I will let him enjoy titanoboa constrictador until he leaves this world. :( It won't be long since he is less than a year old and about 20 inches. Then I will either get a corn snake or rosy boa. Any animal that will starve itself to death is not suitable to captivity. I've worked at zoos when I was younger and know that was generally the cutoff for suitability.

Monitor your little guys weight, if he starts to lose considerable weight try to find someone around you who is willing to take him in and get him established feeding again. A month isn't too long for a fast and I have heard of much longer ones. When all else fails and if he has lost a lot of weight there is always assist feeding to consider which is usually used on very young snakes and can cause stress but it may turn to be a last ditch attempt.

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Originally Posted by Archimedes

If this is the way you feel, both you and the animal may be better off rehoming it to someone willing to put in the patience to care for it, and offer a rehoming fee to ensure it goes to a proper home. Then you can put the rehoming fee toward your boa, which are much better eaters, it's true, but do require a firmer hand and get a bit bigger.

Whatever you decide, research is key. It's harsh but true... if you aren't willing to care for it, don't get it.

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Yup

there like having a dog,daily maintenance.

titanoboa Where are you located???

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Originally Posted by titanoboa

OP here. Well I came back from Thanksgiving and decided to try and feed again as it was his usual feed day. No luck. He was moving around the tank all day without rest so I figured he was hungry. I will continue to offer at regular intervals until he eats or dies. He ate like a pig until about a month ago all frozen/thawed. Conditions haven't changed so it's not that. He is not ill but I will take him to a vet this week. I can't go live with my son's allergies, so I will let him enjoy titanoboa constrictador until he leaves this world. :( It won't be long since he is less than a year old and about 20 inches. Then I will either get a corn snake or rosy boa. Any animal that will starve itself to death is not suitable to captivity. I've worked at zoos when I was younger and know that was generally the cutoff for suitability.

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It's also winter, so he might have just gone off feed because of that. Temps drop outside, so they stop eating. Four weeks isn't that long of a fast- I had a KSB who went 6 months between feedings.

It's a little disturbing to me that you keep talking about letting him wait it out until he passes away- did you not see the people who offered to help? You could post here, or fauna, or kingsnake to try and rehome this guy. Where are you located? If you are in the Oregon/WA area, I can help with rehoming as well. Do not let this snake pass away, yes they can get fat and happy on f/t, but they are notorious for being picky eaters. If you want one who eats reliably and doesn't fast, you can talk to breeders about their adults. Usually when they are full grown, their eating habits are set so if they do have an annual fast, you can prep for it.

I know having an animal who doesn't eat is stressful and discouraging, but please don't wait him out and let him starve. Get a scale, measure him. Try a tub (if he's 20 inches long, a 15qt or smaller should do) and black it out. If he doesn't eat, wait longer and monitor his weight- these guys can go longer then you think without food.

Or just rehome him. Do the responsible thing and do not kill this snake because you can't think of a better option. People are giving you better options to try. Try them.

Also, Rosy's can be hard feeders as well. I'd personally say a King if you wanted a reliable eater (I haven't owned one, but I've heard they are trash cans and great eaters), but I just really like King's. Definitely go to a breeder and look at sub-adults/adults so you have an idea of their feeding behavior.

Please do not let this snake suffer because he isn't eating. My pied male went off food in April and only recently started eating again, so I know the frustration of watching them grow lean. If anything, I will gladly take in the snake and pay you overnight shipping. I have a small colony of well loved animals and I have rack space to accomodate another snake. No loss to you, and some money to get your son a more suitable animal.

Again, please don't write this animal off because they are being difficult. Nothing deserves to suffer because of a misunderstood problem.

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Originally Posted by titanoboa

O.K. After much encouragement, I tried feeding him today. No luck. I'm going to try in two weeks and if no luck, I'll give him to Petco. They have a bunch there. I'll get a corn snake. My kid wants something heavy that he can hold, but he's not quite old enough for a boa. I did my research. I just underestimated how flighty the animals are. I almost got a corn before, but was afraid they would escape. Anything is better than feeding problems, though, and corns are native.

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Sand boas or possibly some of the smaller locality Boa Constrictor, like the Cay Caulker honestly though red tails are not very "sit down" but they are not as active as corns either.

I know it sounds damn weird, but you have to go in there with confidence and drive, you have to want the snake to eat.

OP, where are you located? Someone would be willing to take and work with this animal immediately, I'm sure. And then you can try again with whatever species you want. Although, if small issues like this make you believe starvation is the proper means for dealing with it, perhaps you should wait.

I have acquired several "picky eaters" who just "wouldn't eat at all!" And within a week I had them pounding rats every week after. Why? I put them in a rack with proper husbandry.

Regardless, I still have my notoriously picky eater who goes off feed every two months or so despite my best efforts. He only eats live mice, won't touch a rat, and if the mouse moves around too much, he won't eat it. He also prefers white mice. (He's such a weirdo.) I've had this animal for almost 4 years. He is quite small for his age and never really packs on the pounds. He's been to the vet numerous times, and nothing is wrong. He's just picky and bent on stressing me out with his eating habits. That doesn't keep me from trying to feed him, or make me want to starve him. I just try harder. He is an amazingly sweet animal. Just because he wouldn't survive in the wild with his eating habits means nothing. He is not in the wild. He is in my care. And the day I purchased him and brought him home was a promise to him to be properly cared for for the rest of his life, as his caregiver. If a pet owner is not willing to make that commitment, they shouldn't purchase the animal. Or if they already have, they should find it a home with someone who will make that commitment. Because the animal deserves that.