Issue?

My boa, who normally goes to the bathroom weekly hasn't eliminated yet. It's been over a week and lately I've been giving her soaks, but nothing.
Otherwise she is healthy and normal. Her viv is normal, nothing out of the usual

She is well hydrated too.
The last prey item I gave was a smaller than normal medium rat

Just give her some time and she will leave you a nice stinky present soon. They don't poop on a schedule, they go whenever they want or they may even hold it until they shed. Lol whatever they want to do :) so don't worry, she will poop eventually.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

Just give her some time and she will leave you a nice stinky present soon. They don't poop on a schedule, they go whenever they want or they may even hold it until they shed. Lol whatever they want to do :) so don't worry, she will poop eventually.

---

Is it possible she absorbed everything she ate?
Still no presents.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ispitroseas

Is it possible she absorbed everything she ate?
Still no presents.

---

That may be the case, how old is your boa and how often/what size meals are you feeding her? She may just be at an age where she is using everything to grow so nothing is being eliminated as waste.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

That may be the case, how old is your boa and how often/what size meals are you feeding her? She may just be at an age where she is using everything to grow so nothing is being eliminated as waste.

---

She's a 6' 4yr old. I gave her a smaller than normal rat. She is on medium/large rats every 2 weeks

Well you've got her on a good feeding schedule and the size sounds good, I think she is just saving it up and will poop eventually. I still wouldn't worry too much about it. Going a while without pooping won't hurt her or compromise her health in any way. But please keep me updated. I know she will go when she gets good and ready lol.

It's weird that I'm the only one that has commented so far. I can't believe the boa experts haven't chimed in yet,

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

It's weird that I'm the only one that has commented so far. I can't believe the boa experts haven't chimed in yet,

---

Yeah, but having someone is nice.
I'll definitely will keep you updated!

Haha true, I'm glad I could be of some help :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ispitroseas

My boa, who normally goes to the bathroom weekly hasn't eliminated yet. It's been over a week and lately I've been giving her soaks, but nothing.
Otherwise she is healthy and normal. Her viv is normal, nothing out of the usual

---

You live in Detroit. It's cold and even if you don't change anything with your husbandry and lighting, snakes will sense the seasonal changes. This is the dead of winter, metabolisms slow, and so does activity.

I have not read through all of the posts here, so there could be some other variable involved, however if you read the book

THE COMPLETE BOA CONSTRICTOR by Vincent Russo, you will come to a chapter where he speaks of seasonal changes, less activity, and less interest in food. These changes will often slow metabolism down, which in turn can spread out the time of elimination after a meal.

I can't recommend that book enough to anybody interested in boa constrictors.

There is also no set rule that a snake will take a dump every Tuesday. As mentioned they go when they go.

If you enjoy "soaks", that is fine, but if your husbandry is on, they are not needed.

Another boa expert, and when I say expert, I mean a world authority on boa constrictors, says continued soaking is NOT usually a good idea. I'm not going to go into all of his reasoning, but Gus Rentfro should be listened to. A bath now and then is OK, but not necessary.

Do not be nervous unless you begin to see other issues appear things will happen naturally.

Update; I think she absorbed it. The rat was small and she seems super active, not like she's working on something.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gio

You live in Detroit. It's cold and even if you don't change anything with your husbandry and lighting, snakes will sense the seasonal changes. This is the dead of winter, metabolisms slow, and so does activity.

I have not read through all of the posts here, so there could be some other variable involved, however if you read the book

THE COMPLETE BOA CONSTRICTOR by Vincent Russo, you will come to a chapter where he speaks of seasonal changes, less activity, and less interest in food. These changes will often slow metabolism down, which in turn can spread out the time of elimination after a meal.

I can't recommend that book enough to anybody interested in boa constrictors.

There is also no set rule that a snake will take a dump every Tuesday. As mentioned they go when they go.

If you enjoy "soaks", that is fine, but if your husbandry is on, they are not needed.

Another boa expert, and when I say expert, I mean a world authority on boa constrictors, says continued soaking is NOT usually a good idea. I'm not going to go into all of his reasoning, but Gus Rentfro should be listened to. A bath now and then is OK, but not necessary.

Do not be nervous unless you begin to see other issues appear things will happen naturally.

---

Also thanks for this. I'll be getting some literature on boas!