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#1055657
Addicted
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Need some suggestions 
Well,come to find out the new central american i got has not eaten in 3 weeks.I went back to the store today to talk to the so called reptile guy and was told he has not been able to get it to eat since they got it in.i have tried fuzzy mice and pinkies but with no luck,does anyone have any suggestions for this situation.If i can’t get it to eat very soon i am going to return it,if it is sick i want to get it out of my house asap.Most of my snakes have been well established when i got them so i am new to this situation. Should i return him,get a pinkie pump or try for a few more days to get him to eat,i don’t want to put my other snakes at risk.
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11/10/06 05:59pm
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#1055680
Thyroidless
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Message To: Addicted In reference to Message Id: 1055657
Need some suggestions
Neonates often have feeding problems. Try mice hoppers and rat pinkies. If youre feeding frozen/thawed, try live. If that doesn’t work cut open the rat (not the live one!). If youre feeding during the day try night, If hes shy leave him alone for awhile, or overnight, with his prey. You may try dethawing the rat in chicken broth. Of course the last form of action is force feeding. Some boas just won’t eat... our local petshop had one die on them that refused too long, they tried forcefeeding but I really don’t think they had any idea what they were doing.. so if it goes that far I’d consult a vet or someone with experience so you don’t do more harm than good.
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11/10/06 06:14pm
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#1055704
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Message To: Thyroidless In reference to Message Id: 1055680
Need some suggestions
I’v tried dangling a mouse pinkie around him,and then leaving it in overnight but no luck.tonight i tried dangling a mouse fuzzy but no strike so i’m going to leave it in overnight.I’m not sure where i would get live mice that small around here but i will look into it tomorrow.i was told once that you could aggravate them into striking and then they sometimes will continue to eat after the defensive strike but that did not work,why i don’t know because he strikes at everything but food.thanks for the info it’s a big help i have never had to deal with this before.
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11/10/06 06:31pm
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#1055715
Thyroidless
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Message To: Addicted In reference to Message Id: 1055704
Need some suggestions
Good luck. You may want to try cutting the rat/mouse open to get the scent out. When our big girl went off feed something similiar worked for us. She only eats live so we obviously couldnt cut the rat open, but put rabbit blood on the live rat and she took that no problem with all else failed (Though the rat wasn’t too fond of it). Keep trying, hopefully something will work.
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11/10/06 06:40pm
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#1055777
Addicted
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Message To: Thyroidless In reference to Message Id: 1055715
Need some suggestions
I just called every place i could think of for live fuzzies but nobody has them.Probably a stupid question but i am out of options for finding live,where could i find live fuzzies besides pet shops.
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11/10/06 07:55pm
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#1055790
KittyJ
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Message To: Addicted In reference to Message Id: 1055777
Need some suggestions
Have you taken him to the vet to see if he is healthy? Maybe there is another reason why he hasnt eaten? But if he is a boa, cant they eat full grown mice when they’re born? I’d be feeding small mice. The move a bit more and that’ll get him started :) G’luck!!!
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11/10/06 08:08pm
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#1055802
Addicted
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Message To: KittyJ In reference to Message Id: 1055790
Need some suggestions
I just got him last night so i am going to try to get him to eat for a few days,and there is no way he could take anything down larger than a fuzzy mouse.take a look at my post under new central american,he’s tiny.
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11/10/06 08:20pm
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#1055820
HGF
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Message To: Addicted In reference to Message Id: 1055802
Need some suggestions
You might also want to try a rat pinkie. They are about the same size as fuzzy mice, and thats what mine was started on. In addition to being more nutritious, perhaps the new smell may entice him. Good luck, keep us updated!
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11/10/06 08:38pm
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#1056128
Lori77
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Message To: HGF In reference to Message Id: 1055820
Need some suggestions
I’ve never tried this with a boa, but it works great with baby balls when they go off feed......Crumple up a bunch of newspaper into balls and put a BUNCH of them in the enclosure with him. Don’t pack it completely full, but put plenty in there to give him lots of places to hide and feel secure. Don’t handle him for a week. Try feeding him after a week and then hopefully you will have some luck. Remove the newspaper balls a few at a time each day, until they’re all gone. Good luck!
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11/11/06 02:23am
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#1056171
Milos2904
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Message To: Lori77 In reference to Message Id: 1056128
Need some suggestions
I had the same problem when i got my little guy, he didn’t eat for nearly 6 weeks - first though check that the temps are up high enough - 92 in the warm end, and that he has PLENTY of places to hide. Don’t try and re-feed him once he’s refused a meal for a full week, and during that time don’t handle him at all and just leave him to settle. Also try putting the food in warm water so that it’s a more ’life-like’ temperature. The paper ball idea sounds great too - good idea Lori! wish someone had suggested that to me. I guess if he’s a small snake in a big enclosure he could be scared and defensive, and you can’t defend yourself with a mouth full of food! Good luck with him - i know how worrying it is...
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11/11/06 04:22am
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#1056450
Florida boy
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Message To: Milos2904 In reference to Message Id: 1056171
Need some suggestions
Quote: I’ve never tried this with a boa, but it works great with baby balls when they go off feed......Crumple up a bunch of newspaper into balls and put a BUNCH of them in the enclosure with him. Don’t pack it completely full, but put plenty in there to give him lots of places to hide and feel secure. Don’t handle him for a week. Try feeding him after a week and then hopefully you will have some luck. Remove the newspaper balls a few at a time each day, until they’re all gone. Good luck!
I’ve been doing that with my new arrivals. Works great.
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11/11/06 01:02pm
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#1056456
Florida boy
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Message To: Milos2904 In reference to Message Id: 1056171
Need some suggestions
If you have a feed store around you you can probably get a chick. That may spark a responce. Another thing i have found that works is to , open the cage and put a pre killed item on the oposite side the snake is on. Wait 10 minutes(works best if snake is hide) and then open the cafge and dangle the rat. Works for me everytime. That gets the sent out there and them interested and then the dangleing rodent gets them to strike. You havent been handleing her at all right? And your only offering every 7 days right. (I didn’t read the tread too good)If your offering often you will just stress the boa out and make it not want to feed. Sometimes i will get a responce by touching the boas nose with the rat but more often then it working it scares them.
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11/11/06 01:11pm
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#1056543
Coop
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Message To: Florida boy In reference to Message Id: 1056456
Need some suggestions
You said you just got him last night. Why wouldn’t you wait the normal one week period to get him to eat? I mean you seem to know your stuff, but why try to feed a snake you just got?
He’s probably stressed out enough by the move.
I know we’ve had our differences in the past but, seems like you’re rushing him to eat.
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11/11/06 02:41pm
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#1056666
Forsaken
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Message To: Coop In reference to Message Id: 1056543
Need some suggestions
Seriously, same to my boa Mervin..he’s still not eating live nor frozzen. He usualy eats frozzen but since winter hit here he stopped eating. I got his temp up but he moves from it to the cold side..He’s only 3 years old 4.11feet. I’m thinking of taking him to the vet, but some people say its normal for a boa to do that. I got my little girl here and she ate like a pig! Maybe its the breeding season.
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11/11/06 04:27pm
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#1056800
Addicted
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Message To: Forsaken In reference to Message Id: 1056666
Need some suggestions
Great advice guys I’m sure i can get him to eat with all the info i got,I would let him settle in for a bit before offering food but he has not eaten in 3 weeks or maybe a little longer.I thought it would be good to get something in him.If you think i should still wait let me know.
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11/11/06 06:15pm
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#1057084
Addicted
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Message To: Addicted In reference to Message Id: 1056800
Need some suggestions
Well,I’m new to dealing with neonates so should i try to feed or wait a week.i just figured that since it had not ate in some time that i should try to feed,am i wrong?
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11/11/06 11:10pm
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#1059029
Coop
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Message To: Addicted In reference to Message Id: 1057084
Need some suggestions
There’s no harm in trying to feed right away , but don’t keep trying every day. I try to feed the first day and if they eat great, if not I wait a full week to let them settle and try again. I only offer food once a week. If they don’t eat they miss a week. I don’t try every 2 or 3 days. Sunday’s feeding day and they eat or wait till next Sunday.
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11/13/06 04:07pm
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#1059116
Nelson jacobson
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Message To: Coop In reference to Message Id: 1059029
Need some suggestions
Addicted eny thing new about the little dude?
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11/13/06 04:49pm
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#1059136
Addicted
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Message To: Coop In reference to Message Id: 1059029
 Need some suggestions
He’s an eater,I’m sure the pet shop just did not know what they were doing.They could not get him to eat for 3+ weeks but last night,only 2 days after i had him he chowed down 2 live fuzzies.I drove about a hour to get them and got home around 6:00 pm then dropped the little buggers in.not being too optomistic i figured they would just be dead when i went to bed around midnight but much to my surprise they were gone.the little guy was just sitting up high on a branch staring down at a little pool of blood where two babies used to be.thanks for all the great tips i will remember all that next time i get a picky youngster.
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11/13/06 05:01pm
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#1059143
Nelson jacobson
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Message To: Addicted In reference to Message Id: 1059136
Need some suggestions
glad to hear
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11/13/06 05:05pm
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#1059205
Addicted
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Message To: Nelson jacobson In reference to Message Id: 1059143
 Need some suggestions
Thanks nelson,i might be getting the scrub this weekend too.I just talked to the guys a minute ago and they assured me he had a really nasty temper,so hopefully i won’t be posting any bit pics either.This would be my first experience with a snake that just wants to bite all the time.
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11/13/06 05:36pm
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#1059614
Florida boy
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Message To: Addicted In reference to Message Id: 1059205
Need some suggestions
Just so you know. When you get a new boa baby or adult you should allow it a week minimum to calm down and settle in. No matter how long it’s been since it ate.
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11/13/06 08:52pm
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