First feeding Advice

[Evenstar]

Most of my boas eat off tongs: I've used my 10" tongs for my bigger guys too. I have fed off the cage floor though with success also, sometimes it just takes them a little while to find it. I picked up some super long hemostats at the show I went to this past weekend specifically for my bigger guys so I may look into that if you're not keen on the shorter tongs. I bet your girl will find the rat just fine though.

^^ This. Boas are garbage disposals. She'll get it. I use 10" tongs as well. Many of my boas have such an extreme feeding response that they come hurtling out of their tubs as soon as I open them. They hit hard and fast and have more than once left tufts of fur, or more, behind on the tongs. But I've never had one go for my hand - they do aim for that rat. Not saying a miss couldn't happen and I don't ever take it for granted and get lax when feeding these guys, but they want the rat, not your hand.

She found it. She went Into her hide with it, so I'm not sure if shes eating it. I keep the lights off because I heard they can be shy feeders.

None of my 17 boas are shy about feeding, but some do seem to like a little privacy. I have 3 in particular that will drag the rat off to their hide box to eat. 2 usually end up eating in there because they started out in the box, shoot their heads out to strike, then withdraw with the rat. One, if she's not in the box already, will actually drag the rat to the box to eat. But all 3 would eat quite happily if the box was not there. They aren't shy - I think they are being protective and possessive of their "kill". Incidentally, all 3 are females.