Help Please

[Vypyrz]

So my 6ish month old boa has me a little worried. She refused a meal so i figured she was probably going into shed, soon enough a little while later her eyes went blue. It has now been about 2 weeks since her eyes returned back to normal and still no shed. Her skin looks all wrinkly but I can't tell if it's because of the shed or because she hasn't eaten in 3 weeks. I've tried bumping the humidity. Is there anything I can do or am I just overreacting?

I'm not sure the exact dimensions, 2x5x3 or so? Screen top lid, glass on the sides.

That is an awfully big tank for such a young boa. It is possible that your baby boa may be stressed from the size of the tank which, in addition to the humidity issues, can cause the bad/stuck sheds and food refusals. I would recommend setting your boa up in something smaller, like a 32 quart tub, with 2 snug hides, a water bowls and maybe a small branch or fake rock, and save the tank for when it is older. A tub will be easier to maintain humidity and offer a little more security, which should help with the feeding and sheds. This will also give you plenty of time to experiment with the larger tank to find out what type of heating configuration will work best for it. Here is the link to a tutorial thread that I made on setting up a tub, in case you want to look into it.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...Basics...*DUW*

If you are feeding frozen/thawed prey, then you need to make sure that the prey item is thoroughly thawed and heated. Some boas will not eat if the prey is too cool. I use a blow dryer to heat the rats up to a temperature of 99-100F right before I offer it. This is the natural body temp of live rats, and boas seem to respond alot better to it.

Here is a link to a thread on removing stuck shed. I have occasionally used this method and it has worked for me.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hed-No-problem.

Here are a few questions:
- How big is your boa?
- How long have you had it?
- How often do you feed it?
- What do you feed it?
- Could you post some photos of the tank?

[Pals BP]

That is an awfully big tank for such a young boa. It is possible that your baby boa may be stressed from the size of the tank which, in addition to the humidity issues, can cause the bad/stuck sheds and food refusals. I would recommend setting your boa up in something smaller, like a 32 quart tub, with 2 snug hides, a water bowls and maybe a small branch or fake rock, and save the tank for when it is older. A tub will be easier to maintain humidity and offer a little more security, which should help with the feeding and sheds. This will also give you plenty of time to experiment with the larger tank to find out what type of heating configuration will work best for it. Here is the link to a tutorial thread that I made on setting up a tub, in case you want to look into it.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...Basics...*DUW*

If you are feeding frozen/thawed prey, then you need to make sure that the prey item is thoroughly thawed and heated. Some boas will not eat if the prey is too cool. I use a blow dryer to heat the rats up to a temperature of 99-100F right before I offer it. This is the natural body temp of live rats, and boas seem to respond alot better to it.

Here is a link to a thread on removing stuck shed. I have occasionally used this method and it has worked for me.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hed-No-problem.

Here are a few questions:
- How big is your boa?
- How long have you had it?
- How often do you feed it?
- What do you feed it?
- Could you post some photos of the tank?

Excellent points, I missed the part about the size of the enclosure. I currently use tubs and love them, it is very easy to maintain proper heat and humidity that way. I like them so much, I am going to order some 4' slide out tubs from Freedom Breeder this coming spring for the boas that are outgrowing their 41 qt Rubbermaids. Not only is it difficult to maintain proper parameters in a larger enclosure but, as Vypyrz points out, an enclosure that is too large will stress out a little snake as well.

[mbrandner27]

Hmmm, the guy at the reptile store told me boas aren't like ball pythons and have no problem being in big enclosures. To answer your questions, the boa is a little over 2 feet long and I've had her for almost 5 months. I feed it fresh killed pinky rats. The only other time I've had a problem with feeding was the last time she shed, so I'm assuming that's why she refused the last one.

[Vypyrz]

Hmmm, the guy at the reptile store told me boas aren't like ball pythons and have no problem being in big enclosures. To answer your questions, the boa is a little over 2 feet long and I've had her for almost 5 months. I feed it fresh killed pinky rats. The only other time I've had a problem with feeding was the last time she shed, so I'm assuming that's why she refused the last one.

Most boas don't mind the larger tanks, and as they grow, pretty much need them, but sometimes the younger ones, especially if they have been raised in tubs for several months, need a little more time to adjust.
Based on what you have said, it sounds like yours is doing well in the larger enclosure, and I agree, that the food refusal may be related to the stuck shed. I would say wait a day or so after you remove the shed and offer a meal.