colombian rainbow boa hunger strike?

[littleindiangirl]

Well, you tried for detailed I guess.... I was hoping for more.

Rainbow boa - 30 gallon tank with climbing and a peat moss box. she is three and a half feet and has always eaten well. she shed three weeks ago and that was the last time she has eaten. in a room around 70 degrees she is kept at 75. handeld daily. rejecting pinky mice, white rats, colored rats and gerbils.

I myself think that it is time for her to be heated up to about 80 degrees or see a vet :\

Ok, Her name is Harlie and she is about 9months old. She lives in a 20 gallan tank with a container in it for her to go in. She always eats good and is out everyday. Her tank is normally kept at 75 to 80 degrees. We always put her in a seperate box to feed her in. She has never eaten in her tank. When we put the food in the box with her she smells it, rub up against it, then gets out of the box.

If she has gone off feed, first thing to do is stop handling. Remember that handling is actually a stressful activity for snakes, and going off feed is a common symptom of being stressed out.

Stop handling her until she begins to eat again.

Next, her husbandry. I agree 70 is too cool to keep a RB at all the time. I would keep her cool side around 70-75, her warm end around 80-83. If you don't provide a gradient, keep her right around the low 80's. (If you need help setting her tank up like this, say so)

I'm about to ask for the details, this is common stuff asked, so don't be offended. Your brief descriptions are not enough.

-You didn't mention substrate or hides, what are you using, what size hides? Etc etc...
-How do you measure her temps? Analog thermometer? Digital? Does it have a probe? Where is the thermometer placed?
-How are you heating her tank? Lamp? UTH?
-How do you control the heating unit? Rheostat? Thermostat?
-What brand of therm/rheostat?

-How do you measure her humidity? Brazilians need high humidity, 70-75% all the time.
-Do you use a hygrometer? If so, is it digital or analog?

-What was she eating before?
-Why did you change the prey item? Often changing prey items exacerbates the problem. Stick with one prey item...
-When you go to feed her, what steps for prescenting do you take?
-What time do you feed her? Late night?

-Have you tried feeding her in her tank?


Answer these questions as well as you can, don't leave details out, I want the full descriptions.


In the mean time, have you read through multiple caresheets? Read them, and learn. Rainbow boas are an intermediate level species, and do not forgive incorrect husbandry/handling very well, so be attentive, be thorough, and spend money to make sure this species is kept properly.

http://rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com/Care%20Sheets.htm

http://www.unicornunchained.com/snak...nbow_care.html

http://www.reptileguru.com/care-braz...ow%20boas.aspx

http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareBRB.html