I have a boa constrictor who has always eaten healthy, but now he wont eat at all and its been a month, why??

Question

last he ate was 2 live mice a month ago, he usually eats 2 live mice every 10-12 days, he is shedding now and has for about a week now, his eyes look "silver"

Answer 1

Don't worry about him. And don't try to help him shed his skin - you can't! Shedding his skin is more of a natural seperation process that occurs from the inside - bathing will not speed it up, it will only make it harder on him to sluff off the remaining pieces of skin that are left after you remove some of the parts that are already 'seperated' - he needs to be able to slide out of the skin when it is all ready to peel away.

He will return to eating normally when the shedding is completed. Snakes always stop eating a couple of weeks before a major shed and won't eat for a week or so after. Just be patient - everything will be fine.

If for some reason he goes over a month AFTER the skin is shed and doesn't eat - THEN call your vet.

Answer 2

I would say it is because he is getting ready to shed. My girl won't even think about eating when she is in shed. Also check your temps and husbandry. If this are good then just wait until he is out of shed and try again. If you feed f/t or p/k try a live one. Sometimes snakes that won't eat(for whatever reason) will take a live(just make sure you supervise the animals the ENTIRE time the mouse/rat is in there.) NEVER leave the mouse/rat in there for more then 15mins and NEVER unsupervised.

If after this he doesn't eat you might want to take it in to check for illness or internal parasites.

Answer 3

check your temps and humidity levels. It may help to spray the cage from time to time with water to raise those levels and help him shed. When did he last poop? You'll want to make sure that he has heat at the proper levels so he can digest the food and pass it. A warm bath may help with loosing any stool that may be impacted in him.

Many times they won't eat when they are in shed, even a week before you see any signs of it. Mine doesn't have a problem with eating even while in shed, but my cornsnakes are pretty picky and won't eat when they are in shed.

Answer 4

I had a ball python who didn't eat for an entire year. Freaked me out - I checked on him several times throughout the day always thinking he would be dead. I just kept offering rats until he finally ate one day. The vet said that snakes sometimes do that and you can try force feeding, but be sure to get professional advice first.

Answer 5

How often does he usually eat? Is it big? Big snakes sometimes only need to eat once every 4-6 weeks. Has he shed his skin lately? Sometimes when they're about to shed their bodies get all screwed up. Otherwise, it might be sick. You might want to take it to a vet if you're worried about it.

Answer 6

He's probably getting ready to shed!!!!

My boa did the same, and all you can do for him is keep his tank moist and keep the heat on. Keep plenty of water in there, and make sure the temperature is above 80! keep the humidity high!

Answer 7

You have a boa constrictor and you don't realize your snake is in shed? Wow, you really did your homework. And there should be no reason to be feeding a boa live. They should take prekilled or frozen/thawed no sweat, especially when young.

Answer 8

some of them stop eating when its time for them to shed ....if it gets to b a problem u might have to take it to the vet and let him or her ues a syringe to feed it...u might want to give it a good bath and see if u can help the shedding process ....they also get sick just like any other animal!good luck!

Answer 9

Maybe he's still digesting his last meal. If the meal was large, this process can take a while. What did you last feed him? Maybe you should take him to the vet.

Answer 10

Has anyone in your family recently gone missing? Perhaps he is not hungry!!