Hasn't eaten since August....

[shed_your_fears]

Hey Guys!

It's been forever since I've posted anything....but here goes...

Arie, My 5 year old Hogg Island Boa, has always been a pretty reliable eater...

She stopped eating mid-August & hasn't eaten once since then....nothing, not rats, mice, nothing.

I haven't changed anything in her enclosure, temps are the same, etc...

I wasn't too worried at first, other than the fact that she is beginning to lose weight...she was always a pretty bulky girl, but not so much now...

When I get her out, she's still pretty strong & active...but it doesn't seem like she has the same muscle definition/strength.

If she doesn't eat soon, I'll be calling the vet... better safe than sorry!

She hasn't been showing any signs of RI or mites...so I'm not sure what to think....

any ideas?

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

What are her temps/humidity/etc?  How often have you tried feeding her?  How is she acting?  I would definitely consider taking a stool sample to the vet just in case before I would actually take her there as to not stress her out more.  When is the last time she had a bm?  Are there male boas near her?  I ask since she is at breeding age and females do tend to go off feed during breeding season.

[shed_your_fears]

The ambient in my room is between 76-80, her hot side is 92. I'm not entirely sure what the exact measurement of humidity is....But I mist her daily & she just shed perfectly last week.

She mostly lays either on her warm side, or perches herself on top of her hide ( i use brand new litter boxes with holes cut in the side, flipped upsidedown)

She moves around ...sometimes stares at me when i'm in my room... (she's in a 4ft vision)

I usually try to feed her every 2-3 weeks... i've tried small & jumbo rats, mice...

She hasn't defecated for quite a while...I would say at least since november, possibly longer.

She still urinates fairly regularly...

There weren't any male boas near her until recently (except for my emerald)...

my male hoggie was on loan to a buddy...I just got him back over thanksgiving break.... so I don't think that has much to do with it...

I thought about putting him in with her....but i'm nervous because she has lost some weight...i don't want her to die

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

Are they in the same room?  I would not put them together.  I would even consider moving the male to another room or somehow making it where they can't see each other with a sheet even tacked to the ceiling for a makeshift wall.  What time of the day are you attempting feeding her also?  I know that some snakes will only eat when it's dark.  I would possibly soak her as well in warm water (like a bath).  It could be that she's constipated and that would help her.  Even kind of massage her as you give her a bath too.  I would take a stool sample to the vet but if she hasn't had one then you can't do that.

[shed_your_fears]

they are in the same room...but cannot see eachother...the Visions are stacked one on top of the other...

I almost always feed my snakes on Sunday nights at around 6pm....I like to keep a schedule...

I will soak her today & see if that helps...at the moment she is drinking.  I give them fresh filtered water every other day or so...

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

Ah well I know you know this person and have the snake on loan or whatnot, but did you quarantine that new snake at all?  I would just be careful about doing that without quarantining a snake.  I think soaking would be a good idea and also a stool sample to the vet's office for right now.  Is the male eating?

[shed_your_fears]

well, the male was eating, until i brought him home....i guess he smelled the female...

i didn't quarantine him...but i did notice when i got him back that he had a nose rub...so i took him to the vet, got some antibiotics & got him all checked out...so he's fine...

he hasnt lost any weight...i'm pretty sure he's in breeding mode...he goes nuts pretty much all day...pacing the cage

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

Ahhhh yeah.  Did you have them do a parasite check on him when you took him to the vet?  I know you've tried everything, but have you offered her live?  I don't usually condone switching back from f/t to live but if she's losing weight, it may be an option but just watch the feeder when you put it in there.

[shed_your_fears]

my only concern with live is that if she doesn't eat it...i'll be stuck with it...

although i am good friends with the owner of a local pet shop...i will see if he will take one back in that case...

should i try a rat?...i saw that someone on here mentioned using guinea pigs?...i could get those as well...although they are a little more expensive...

[snakebite33308]

i have a question on this issue, did your female hogg show any signs of swelling from tail up to mid way in her body, it wouldn't be a massive amount, just a general tightness in the area? if so she went into what is called the pre-ovulation swell and that would explain whey she isn't eating, i personally wouldn't worry unless she loses a massive amount of weight.  the only adult boa i have that has eaten since late august early september is my nine foot male, all my breeders havn't touched a single meal.