My Dumeril baby can't eat

[Roswell]

I picked up my new baby on Sunday and set him up at home. He seemed to settle in rather well so last night i decided to give him his first meal with me.

I offered him a f/t pinkie rat and he definitely showed interest. He struck at it 9 times, hitting it every time but not holding on or wrapping the pinkie up!

I thought maybe the prey was too small so I offered him a fuzzie rat and got the same results!!

Do boa moms teach their babies how to hunt and he didn't catch on or is something else going on? Anyone have any ideas for a way i can get him to hold on?

[dr del]

Hi,

I don't know much about boas I'm afraid but it sounds more like he still hadn't settled into his new home and was striking more as a "go away" thing rather than a feeding response.

Hang in there I'm sure some more knowledgable boa keepers will be along shortly to help.



dr del

[Roswell]

I thought that may have been the problem. So to sort of test the theory i left the mouse there and went to pick him up (risking a tag, i know). Nothing happened. I picked him and held him for a bit with no problem.

This is my first Boa. Pythons who don't eat are more my strong point. I've had more than a few problem eaters (balls) but have always been able to rectify it. Until now that is.

[dr del]

Hi,

Well , as a complete novice, all I can suggest is letting him settle in for a week with no handling and some hides in case he decides he wants to use them then try again.

Bring on the experts - you could try PM ing some of our more experienced members as well?


dr del

[Roswell]

Ill probably do just that tomorrow. I did post it rather late.

[Skiploder]

I picked up my new baby on Sunday and set him up at home. He seemed to settle in rather well so last night i decided to give him his first meal with me.

I offered him a f/t pinkie rat and he definitely showed interest. He struck at it 9 times, hitting it every time but not holding on or wrapping the pinkie up!

I thought maybe the prey was too small so I offered him a fuzzie rat and got the same results!!

Do boa moms teach their babies how to hunt and he didn't catch on or is something else going on? Anyone have any ideas for a way i can get him to hold on?

As you are finiding out, Dumerils can be very finicky eaters.

Some things that might help:

(1) If you haven't already done so, make sure that you are providing a fairly deep substrate. Dumerils are primarily ambush predators and like to bury themselves in the substrate for a strike.

(2) Dumerils tend to have weird eating idiosyncracies - for example, I had one that would only eat if the lights were out and no one was watching. If there was ambient light in the room and I tried to watch him eat, he would strike, coil and lose interest.

(3) What was he being fed from the breeder? I had a heck of a time getting ours onto f/t rodents. I had to resort to pre-scenting with anoles and then leaving them in with the snake over night.

(4) Even though he may seem to be adapting well, leave him alone for a week. Keep him out of a high traffic area and resist the urge to check on him too often. Make sure you are offering him a nice deep substrate and try again when the week is up.

[Brett89]

I don't know much about dumerils, but with balls and red tails if you don't give them long enough to settle in they won't eat. some may take 2 days some may take a week or two. and if they still don't eat, i like to dip the f/t in chicken broth and that works really good with the boas and sometimes balls. like i said though i don't know much about dumerils except that they are some cool boas.good luck with the feeding.

[Roswell]

I'll definitely deepen the substrate! and let him settle for the FULL week.


Thanks a ton for the advice!

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

My dums did that already when I tried to offer food. I usually offer boas food the first day but the dums did the same pissy striking attacks at the rats.

[Roswell]

My dums did that already when I tried to offer food. I usually offer boas food the first day but the dums did the same pissy striking attacks at the rats.

What happened?