Sick Boa Question.

[Grin]

I'm no snake expert but i think there might be something wrong with my baby boa.
Every Sunday she eats, last Sunday she wen't after food but then stopped. Try'd a couple days later and still no luck and so on...
I haven't seen no poop since her last meal either, and her tail seems so lifeless. Doesn't curl the tip of her tail which is odd for boa's.

Anyone have any ideas or might know whats wrong?


Please & thanks!

 

[ZergFront]

Maybe get her X-rayed. Seems odd that both her tail and maybe(?) her colon isn't functioning normally at the same time.

 

[TreeGuy]

No need to become too worried yet, most boas can go many months without eating,
but that's not to say you shouldn't try to fix it.

First thing you need to do is double check that her enclosure is getting up to temperature.
Make sure that you have hiding spots on both the hot and cool end.

Most feeding problems can be related back to incorrect temperatures,
this is very common going into the winter because of changing house temps, drafts and what not.

Often giving them a good soak in warm water will help them pass their last meal.
Simply place the snake in a container with just enough water to almost cover the snake, but not so much that it can't get it's head above water.
An hour or two in warm water will almost certainly solve the problem.

If you need any clarification, or have more questions feel free to PM me.
I've been working with snakes for over 10 years, everything from Bothrops to boas and I'll gladly give any advice I can.

Cheers

 

[Grin]

she passed away next morning before we were able to take her to the vet.

Her tank always remand between 85-90F, fresh water always available and paper towel at bottom.
I can say when we purchased her from a breeder at a reptile show not to long ago she was infested with mites.
took us a couple of times getting arid of them.

 

[Anonymity82]

she passed away next morning before we were able to take her to the vet.

Her tank always remand between 85-90F, fresh water always available and paper towel at bottom.
I can say when we purchased her from a breeder at a reptile show not to long ago she was infested with mites.
took us a couple of times getting arid of them.

sorry. That really sucks. Wish I could help...

 

[TreeGuy]

Really sorry to hear that. Losing snakes is the worst part of the hobby, but stick in it.
Sometimes the triumphs make the troughs worth it.

 

[kaitala]

she passed away next morning before we were able to take her to the vet.

Her tank always remand between 85-90F, fresh water always available and paper towel at bottom.
I can say when we purchased her from a breeder at a reptile show not to long ago she was infested with mites.
took us a couple of times getting arid of them.

Sorry to hear of your loss. Did you contact the breeder at all? They might make good on that. Then again, if the snake had mites, you may not want to receive any more animals from them again. I don't know if the breeder told you it's "normal" to have mites, but it most definitely is NOT normal for a snake to have mites, and they shouldn't be selling animals (much less bringing them to a show to infest other breeders collections) that could be carrying mites.

 

[the toe cutter]

Actually it is quite common for all reptiles to have mites and ticks, nearly all reptiles in the wild have some sort of external parasite it is only in captivity when they become a problem since there is no where for the snake to essentially get rid from them. I have been keeping snakes for 20 years and have my share of mite outbreaks and if treated in time there are little to no side effects from it. The most common issue with snake mites,or Ophionyssus narticus, infestation on captive reptiles are neurological problems relating to eating disorders, improper shedding and occasionally some blood disorders like anemia can result from a big infestation and in the case of Boas this also allows the possibility of IBD to get into the snake. Ophionyssus are especially difficult to get rid of in captivity since they can move over 70ft per day, which means by the time you see them on your reptile they could have moved through MOST of your house and the life span of these particular mites is usually around 40-60 days making it a very difficult little bugger to rid your self of. But since they are specialist feeders, if you treat the snake immediately you are essentially removing the mites food source they will eventually die out. There are also predatory mites that feed on Ophionyssus naricus that i have heard some people using with great success, those are Hypoaspis miles and eat all of the eggs, larvae and adult Ophionyssus very quickly and do not feed off of anything else. Typically I use Provent-a-mite after cleaning the enclosures and that works really well, you just have to treat for about 60-90 days to ensure that the Ophionyssus life cycle is complete and there are no more present in you home. I know that this is a little late but more for future refference. Anyone keeping reptiles for a while knows the agony of mite outbreaks and it sucks big time, but you just have to be proactive in getting rid of them quickly and there will be relatively no ill side effects. Sorry for your loss but I hope it doesn't deter you from keeping or enjoying these awesome animals.