Tired of Eating Problems

[NH93]

Your son's room shouldn't be an issue, in my opinion. Snoring probably won't bother your snake. I definitely recommend a RAT if you are using only mice. But you say it's on a hunger strike... how long has it been without eating? And how much does the snake weigh? (If you haven't already answered these questions)

[hypnotixdmp]

Leap to boas!!! Lol

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[titanoboa]

O.K. After much encouragement, I tried feeding him today. No luck. I'm going to try in two weeks and if no luck, I'll give him to Petco. They have a bunch there. I'll get a corn snake. My kid wants something heavy that he can hold, but he's not quite old enough for a boa. I did my research. I just underestimated how flighty the animals are. I almost got a corn before, but was afraid they would escape. Anything is better than feeding problems, though, and corns are native.

[bcr229]

Please don't give it to Petco. If you think it's stressed out at your house, it will really be stressed in a big-box store retail environment. They also may not take it since it's been at your house. Use the http://ball-pythons.net/forums/forum...tion-or-Wanted forum here instead if you're giving it away.

[200xth]

Please don't give it to Petco. If you think it's stressed out at your house, it will really be stressed in a big-box store retail environment. They also may not take it since it's been at your house. Use the http://ball-pythons.net/forums/forum...tion-or-Wanted forum here instead if you're giving it away.

I second this. Don't give it to Petco, please. At least try to see if you can find someone from here to take it before you give it to Petco.

[Crazymonkee]

Op where are you located?

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[Slashmaster]

Titan, if everything else about the husbandry checks out then I would point to the tank and its size as the culprit.

BPs seem to do so horribly in tanks. If you want to rule out the size of the tank being an issue, you could try storing him in a shoebox sized plastic container (put holes in it). Put a hide in there and add paper wads to block up the rest of the space.

There are some snakes that are calm and friendly but are still too stressed to eat due to the tank. They like very tight and secure habitats. A six quart shoe box is what professionals keep their babies in and it very rarely does them wrong.

Try putting him in there with the heat pad on one side and let him relax for a week. He should do you fine then.

[titanoboa]

OP here. Well I came back from Thanksgiving and decided to try and feed again as it was his usual feed day. No luck. He was moving around the tank all day without rest so I figured he was hungry. I will continue to offer at regular intervals until he eats or dies. He ate like a pig until about a month ago all frozen/thawed. Conditions haven't changed so it's not that. He is not ill but I will take him to a vet this week. I can't go live with my son's allergies, so I will let him enjoy titanoboa constrictador until he leaves this world. It won't be long since he is less than a year old and about 20 inches. Then I will either get a corn snake or rosy boa. Any animal that will starve itself to death is not suitable to captivity. I've worked at zoos when I was younger and know that was generally the cutoff for suitability.

[Naom9Anne]

Monitor your little guys weight, if he starts to lose considerable weight try to find someone around you who is willing to take him in and get him established feeding again. A month isn't too long for a fast and I have heard of much longer ones. When all else fails and if he has lost a lot of weight there is always assist feeding to consider which is usually used on very young snakes and can cause stress but it may turn to be a last ditch attempt.

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

If this is the way you feel, both you and the animal may be better off rehoming it to someone willing to put in the patience to care for it, and offer a rehoming fee to ensure it goes to a proper home. Then you can put the rehoming fee toward your boa, which are much better eaters, it's true, but do require a firmer hand and get a bit bigger.

Whatever you decide, research is key. It's harsh but true... if you aren't willing to care for it, don't get it.

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Yup

there like having a dog,daily maintenance.