My Rosy Boa doesnt eat well and sleeps too much

Question
QUESTION: I have a Rosy Boa that is about 4 months old.  He measures about 9-10in long.  It seems that since I've gotten him, he wont eat on his own.  We've been forced to force feed him.  The problem is not so much that, but he sleeps way too much.  It seems that he is always sleeping.  You pretty much have to take him out of his cage for him to be active.  Is this normal for a snake?  And can you give me any advice to train him to eat on his own?  Thanks.

ANSWER: Hello Genesis,

It is normal for then to sleep allot.

I may ask that you stop force feeding. I had a snake I purchased through a breeder that did not eat for eleven months. When he did take his first mouse he had not stopped eating from that time. For me I would not force feed any of my snake until I noticed a great deal of weight loss. I had a hatchling that did not eat for the first 2 1/2 months. I did not worry to much. Just last week she ate her first mouse. It takes time and patients. By force feeding you are stressing him out and could be contributing to a life of force feeding. Once the snake gets used to this they think this is the way they are meant to eat and will rely on the owner to feed them.

I am sorry about my suggestions, but they will only help you in the long run.

Eric Rovegno

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It's been about 2 months or so since I've last force fed him, and he still refuses to eat.  It might be the type of food I feed him maybe?  I've been offering him frozen pinkies (obviously I thaw them and heat them with a blow dryer to make it seem alive) but he won't eat them.  I would think that for a young snake he should be eating more.  

Do you have any idea?  Maybe a change in diet?  Find live pinkies?  Something?  Snake experts at PetCo say that if he doesn't eat by his 2nd month, to force feed him, but I'd still rather we find a way to make him eat on his own.  Any suggestions?

Answer
Hello Genesis,

I would suggest live prey. They will tend to react to the movement of a live mouse better. If you would like to feed frozen thawed you should start that after he is eating with no problem and then wait about a year.

Do you notice a great deal of weight lose? If you do then you should continue force feeding, but as I said this stresses the snake out and they get used to it and think this is the way they should eat. You then have to force feed all the time. Keep offering a prey item every week, for the next month. If he has still not eaten then force feed him again. This time keep offering a prey item every week for the next two months. I will almost bet he will take it.

Baby snakes are touchy little critters. They sometimes require patients. Here is a little trick. Buy a Tupperware shoe box with a tight lid that locks or something you can put a large rubber band around with holes in it. A small plastic critter tank works well somthing like a hermit crab cage. Really anything that is small with tight quarters and has a lid that can be locked down. Place him in there with a live fuzzy mouse over night. In a spot that is warm and quiet. Do this for a few nights. Try not to use a mouse that is big enough to bite. A small fuzzy is ideal....

Hope this helps,
Eric