When empty of food, desert rosy boas are tolerant of a wider range of temperatures. That is typically how we feed them. Many specimens will eat dead mice left in their cages, Large females may even feed on small rats. One appropriately-sized rodent per week is an adequate feeding schedule. Adults typically do not feed during the winter months.
Rosy boas have long jaws and are capable of swallowing quite a large prey item.
Snakes that are distended from too-large meals should not be handled, nor should they be subjected to temperature extremes. For their first meals, most newborns begin feeding on live pink mice that are simply left in the cages. Once they have begun to feed, most rosy boas subsequently readily accept dead mice as food, either thawed or fresh-killed. We strongly recommend that in normal circumstances rosy boas be fed only dead prey. A hungry live mouse may attack and damage or even kill a rosy boa if left unsupervised.