Sand boa climbed!?!

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

Are you using anything for ambient temps? They like it warmer than BP's.

Also that does seem a little small/skinny for an adult male, I personally feed once a week (while he eats). What are you feeding?

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I have a heat lamp, with the weakest bulb I can find, that I have on during the day. I thought about upping it to once a week but everyone said "Noooo! Sand Boas only need fed every other week!!" So I was sitting like.... but he's tiny? I feed him thawed pinkie mice, same as I've fed since I got him. Since I've had him he's only grown in length, but not girth. He was about 8 or 9 inches when I got him two years ago (and he was supposed to be about two when I got him). But the breeder assured me he was just a slow grower, and also said he was a picky eater. But he hasn't at all been a picky eater for me. So I wonder if I just got him from a bad breeder...? But I read they were slow growers, so wasn't concerned. But a pinkie mouse is just big enough to give him a little lump in his body.

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Originally Posted by mischiefneko

I have a heat lamp, with the weakest bulb I can find, that I have on during the day. I thought about upping it to once a week but everyone said "Noooo! Sand Boas only need fed every other week!!" So I was sitting like.... but he's tiny? I feed him thawed pinkie mice, same as I've fed since I got him. Since I've had him he's only grown in length, but not girth. He was about 8 or 9 inches when I got him two years ago (and he was supposed to be about two when I got him). But the breeder assured me he was just a slow grower, and also said he was a picky eater. But he hasn't at all been a picky eater for me. So I wonder if I just got him from a bad breeder...? But I read they were slow growers, so wasn't concerned. But a pinkie mouse is just big enough to give him a little lump in his body.

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Is the bulb in the viv / rub ?

If so does it have a cage or guard around it ?


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Originally Posted by mischiefneko

I have a heat lamp, with the weakest bulb I can find, that I have on during the day. I thought about upping it to once a week but everyone said "Noooo! Sand Boas only need fed every other week!!" So I was sitting like.... but he's tiny? I feed him thawed pinkie mice, same as I've fed since I got him. Since I've had him he's only grown in length, but not girth. He was about 8 or 9 inches when I got him two years ago (and he was supposed to be about two when I got him). But the breeder assured me he was just a slow grower, and also said he was a picky eater. But he hasn't at all been a picky eater for me. So I wonder if I just got him from a bad breeder...? But I read they were slow growers, so wasn't concerned. But a pinkie mouse is just big enough to give him a little lump in his body.

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Pinkie mice are way too small for an adult sand boa, and they have zero nutrition basically just water and fat. Snakes need the bones hair etc for a complete diet. I'd suggest switching to fuzzies asap and trying to make your way to a small hopper, especially if you are feeding every other week. That could also help with the climbing behavior, the little dude is probably hungry

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Is the bulb in the viv / rub ?

If so does it have a cage or guard around it ?


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It sits on top of the mesh lid.

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

Pinkie mice are way too small for an adult sand boa, and they have zero nutrition basically just water and fat. Snakes need the bones hair etc for a complete diet. I'd suggest switching to fuzzies asap and trying to make your way to a small hopper, especially if you are feeding every other week. That could also help with the climbing behavior, the little dude is probably hungry

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But wouldn't fuzzies be to big for him? A pinkie already leaves a little lump. He's only slightly bigger around than a pencil. I'm even wondering now the breeder knew how old he was. I'm starting to think he's younger than I was told. I'll start thawing a pinkie out to feed him today, though he may or may not eat it. Hit tail looks like he's about to shed.

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Originally Posted by mischiefneko

But wouldn't fuzzies be to big for him? A pinkie already leaves a little lump. He's only slightly bigger around than a pencil. I'm even wondering now the breeder knew how old he was. I'm starting to think he's younger than I was told. I'll start thawing a pinkie out to feed him today, though he may or may not eat it. Hit tail looks like he's about to shed.

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Even at like 4 months mine was already on fuzzies. I'm sure he can probably take one down no problem, and that should help with growth as well. From what I've seen, snakes don't really grow very much when they're only eating pinkies. Pencil sized for a ksb even a year old is VERY thin

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Just to clarify, I am referring to mice, not rats

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

Even at like 4 months mine was already on fuzzies. I'm sure he can probably take one down no problem, and that should help with growth as well. From what I've seen, snakes don't really grow very much when they're only eating pinkies. Pencil sized for a ksb even a year old is VERY thin

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Okay, I'll pick up some fuzzies while I'm out today and cross my fingers this helps. I mean he's a big bigger than a pencil but I can't think of something about his size to compare it to. But I had a feeling something was wrong, but I was doing what I had read on ksb care websites so I figured maybe he was just small. I feel so bad :(, hopefully now I'll switch him to bigger meals and he'll grow more properly... Either the breeder didn't know his age or was just starving him then passed that knowledge onto me.

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Originally Posted by mischiefneko

Okay, I'll pick up some fuzzies while I'm out today and cross my fingers this helps. I mean he's a big bigger than a pencil but I can't think of something about his size to compare it to. But I had a feeling something was wrong, but I was doing what I had read on ksb care websites so I figured maybe he was just small. I feel so bad :(, hopefully now I'll switch him to bigger meals and he'll grow more properly... Either the breeder didn't know his age or was just starving him then passed that knowledge onto me.

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Sounds good, please keep us posted. Would love to see some pics!

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Originally Posted by mischiefneko

Sneaky sneaky snakes. I was so worried when he fell, though someone else said there's was nothing I could have done for him not to. I'm going to try and block that rim with something so he can't. He looked so squished under the mesh!! I was worried he was actually squished, I forgot snakes are pretty much muscle and can do that.
I feel for that pet store. Do you know what kind of boa? I would love to know. I know snakes aren't the brightest, so I sometimes hover mom around my babies when they're out. I just worry so much about my scaled babies. My ball python is pretty active for his species, so having him out is a bit of an ordeal. It's always watching him and trying to support him, while trying to allow him to explore as he wants (within reason). Jasper will usually curl up in my hand and watch tv with me.

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Well, snakes are pretty flexible but sometimes they actually hurt themselves too. I remember (on another forum) that someones snake died from pushing thru
the gap in a plastic cage (a "critter cottage" with the vents like a "comb"...some of the "teeth" were broken...it was awful & gruesome) so I totally "get" worrying.

That pet store boa was many years ago in another state, & no sorry, I don't recall any more than that...not the specific kind. They weren't the best pet store :rolleyes: -
they often sold w/c imported snakes with mites & other issues, so I can't say that falls were the only thing their boa suffered from.