Feeding

[R3trO]

Today i fed my 3 1/2 foot boa 2 f/t weanling rats. I'm trying to go back to frozen thawed. I just dropped 2 rats in there and it's been like 4 hours and she still hasn't eatten them. Before she was on live and she would go after them all the time. Will she eventually eat it or do i have to shake the rat. I don't really like shaking the rat because of the speed that the snake strikes frightens me.

-Andrew

[tatdaddy]

Re:Feeding

Hey R3tro,
Make sure that the rat is warm. I take mine and heat them up by running hot water over them for a min or so.
You might have to shake the rat around a litte. If you don't have tongs you can use BBQ thongs or a pair of long plyres. Another trick is to put the rat and the snake in a pillow case ond put the in the cage over night. If you do this put the bag in the middle of the cage that way it won't get to cold or two hot. Hopefuly this will help
If not I am sure someone else will offer more advice.


TAT 8)

[Red]

Re:Feeding

What you need to do is get some rubber tipped tongs or somthing... That way you are a way's away from the rat it self thus making it safe...
I jump somtimes still... But it will go away with time... and after a while you may not need to offer it to the snake to get it to eat.... That just takes time somtimes... Grap the rat by the tale with the tongs and wiggle it around... if that does not work try to lay in down and drag it by the snake... And another trick is to gently tap the boas nose with the rat... This trick does not work on some of the more shy snakes... But boas respond to it well...
Goog luck...
Eric aka...Red

[redtailedmel]

Re:Feeding

i have a boa that is the worlds PICKIEST eater, if that rat isnt at the just so right temp he wont even touch it i can leave him in a box with that thing for days(which i wouldnt do thats kinda gross) and the rat would still be there. but when i thaw my rats i place them in a bowl with cold water leave em for like 30min-1hr, put them in hot water for about 30 minutes i do that several times till the rat is nice and warm and it really smells good LOL, i found that if the rat isnt warm enough to emitt that nice rat smell he thinks im sticking something in there he doesnt need and hides from it. i just figured that trick out after pulling all my hair out it might work for you.

[BadBoyJay]

Re:Feeding

I agree, the rat needs to be warm. And If she dosen't eat it by just placeing it in there, like everyone said, use tongs, but if you can't do that, what I do is hold the rat and use the top of my rubbermaid container to place in front of my hand and drag the rat along the bottom of the cage in front of her, that always works for me and I've never been tagged. Hope this helped. Good Luck.

[___LEE___]

Re:Feeding

i totally agree with everyone here but i fresh kill my rats and then i just hold it above the snake by the tip of the tail and BOOM!!! took me a long time to not jump when they strike at the prey and i do use tongs as well .

LEE

[BMoore]

Re:Feeding

When I thawed a fuzzy out for my little boa, I just lightly tossed it in front of his face since he took forever to find it. Once it was close to his face, he finally ate it. But this was my first time feeding frozen/thawed. I pre-kill, like LEE does.................

**Beth**

[Guest]

Re:Feeding

Yeah, I pre-Kill same as LEE & BMoore, and drop the rat in and she takes it right up.

best of luck R3tr0

[mylesd]

Re:Feeding

Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents worth. I have a colombian RTB that is about 8 months old. I just moved it up to adult mice. The shop I got it from fed live prey. I switched to frozen and did inot have any problems. I feed it in a cooler and it has never failed to eat. I still jump also when it strikes as it is lightning fast. About it's third feeding, I had put the mice in the cooler first and then tried to put the snake in with it. Dang if the snake didn't strike from my arm, so there I was, back half of snake coiled around my upper forearm and the front half of the snake coiled around it's dinner. Had a heck of a time getting him unwound from my arm so he could eat. But anyway, I love it to death and it is growing rapidly and is very healthy. It lovers to coil around my pony tail and lay across the top of my head. Take care and enjoy.

[WRKNSTNX]

Re:Feeding

i might as well chime in, i thaw out my frozen rats in hot tap water for 10 mins, and with my tongs i feed her the rat sopping wet and she luvs it. never turned down a meal

[BadBoyJay]

Re:Feeding

I soak mine in a bucket of hot water for about 30 mins. Make sure that the part which takes longest to thaw, which is the belly, is completely thawed. The good part of soaking your feeder in warm water and feeding your snake with the rat wet like that is its also a good part of hydration. The snake will absorb the water thats in the rat. 8)