Young Boa's Eating Please Help - Where Responsible Reptile Keepers Connect!

Python05 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 05:48 AM

My Salmon Boa "Knot" she is about 4 months old. Is it common that they struggle eating? Meaning I dangle the mouse and she hits it and raps on it. Then she looks around for the head bites the side of the mouse then moves it around some more. Some were in there she leave the mouse I pick it up dangle again and it seems this prosess goes on till she hits the mouse by the face then she can figure out the rest from there. Is this common with young boa's???:cursing:

ssjsmits · #2 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 06:02 AM

If she's striking and constricting, I'd just leave her alone. Sometimes it takes awhile for the snake to search for the head. I'd just leave her alone. She knows what she's doing.

ssjsmits · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 06:03 AM

Or is she just letting it be and moving away from it?

danktat · #4 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 07:23 AM

I have a boa that constricts a dead rat for 15 minutes or more. I have one that doesn't even hit, just crawls up and begins to swallow immediately. I have one that hits and constricts all in like 2 minutes and then spends 20 mintutes attempting to find the head and sometimes just swallows it backwards. As long as it eats just leave it alone.... they all have thier own way of doing it.

He will be fine.

rocknrolldoll · #5 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 10:39 AM

Yah just give the little one some alone time, my new snake (well he's 3years) was hesitant to eat the first time at my place. If you just got the baby you could wait a few more days and try again. That way it will be more comfortable and hungry. If you've had her for a while just go with leaving her and her dinner alone for about 15 to 30 mins.

Python05 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 04:29 PM

She hits constricts and kills the rodant. Then she looks for the head for a long time. A couple of times she gave up on it and crawled away so I picked it up and showed it to her and she hit it again. She did eat once she hit the head so she didn't have to figure out were it was but she just seems confused on how to eat.

Python05 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danktat

I have a boa that constricts a dead rat for 15 minutes or more. I have one that doesn't even hit, just crawls up and begins to swallow immediately. I have one that hits and constricts all in like 2 minutes and then spends 20 mintutes attempting to find the head and sometimes just swallows it backwards. As long as it eats just leave it alone.... they all have thier own way of doing it.

He will be fine.

Can't they die from eating the mice/rats backwards?

danktat · #8 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Python05

Can't they die from eating the mice/rats backwards?

That is a myth. I have had a few over the years that did it all the time.

It does make it more difficult to swallow as the hair or fur of the animal grows toward the back but it isn't a health concern.

Python05 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssjsmits

If she's striking and constricting, I'd just leave her alone. Sometimes it takes awhile for the snake to search for the head. I'd just leave her alone. She knows what she's doing.

I sometimes feel she just gets distracted on what she is doing since she looks around at me or my lady to see what we are doing. When I bought her she got distracted and the pet owner had to refeed her and then put her in a paper bag so she couldn't see anything and then she ate fine.

ssjsmits · #10 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 04:13 AM

My suggestion then is after she strikes and constricts, leave the room and let her be. I never watch my snake eats. I like to think of it if the roles were reversed. Would you want an audience watching you eat by yourself?