Hello,

I think your schedule is pretty good...I don't think I would ever give my 4 foot boas 2 large rats....that just seems way to much for mine...but I don't understand why your boas take 3 years to hit 6 feet long? I have mine on a 7 - 10 day schedule and they all get about the same size meals for their age...and some will grow like weeds...some like they are taking growth hormones...lol...and then there are those that seem to be alot slower growers....they are perfectly healthy they just stay smaller for a longer time before the growth stage kicks in...
But unless you have Central American smaller types...or dwarfs ...I would say that within 2 years to 3 years most boas should be at the 6 foot mark and yes some get there at 18 months....not all at 18 months have the needed breeding weight...they look like long sticks...you know that tall skinny kid in high school...lol...or when in 5th grade you had that one kid that didn't seem like he was ever going to grow...lol....Well some boas bodies will grow and mature faster than others....I could talk about female growth hormones but then I might get booted off this site...lol...
Anyway maturity is not Mentally....like humans we think maturing mentally and emotionally....
With Boas or all animals for that matter ....when the body reaches physical maturity it is ready to do excactly what God created it to do....REPRODUCE!!!

Mamals in the wild have their babies in the spring and most....not all but most will be mature by that same callendar year in the fall READY TO REPRODUCE!

There are exceptions to every rule...but we are talking boas anyway...If you have a female that is 6 foot or bigger at 18 months....and she has at least 10 pounds on her going into your breeding season schedule....then why not let her reproduce?

Take care. Andy Federico







I think it could be possible, but....

That would depend on what someone "might" consider power feeding.

I'm sure everyone has different ways and amounts they feel is a normal feeding. Some will feed a meal that leave little or no lump in their snake. Others will feed the most they feel their snake can handle at each feeding.

Here's an example of how I feed. I don't consider how I feed my boas power feeding.

In the beginning I'll feed my boas 1 pinky rat every 4 days. I'll do this for up to 10 feeding or until their second shed. Once they've had their second shed I'll space their feedings out to every 7 days. I also increase their food size to 1 fuzzy rat(10 day old rats). I continue this size of food until their third shed. Normally they can take larger, but I like to keep their food on the smaller side. Normally they don't need an increase of food size after the third shed, but a few of them might need 2 food items. After the 4th shed I'll increase the size of food again. Normally they can take weaned rats at this time, but I don't go quite that large. I'll give mine 3 week old rats pups. I'll give them 2 at a feeding at this point. I've also changed them to every 10 days. Every time my boas shed I determine if they need their food increased. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. By the time they're 4 feet they're only getting 1 large rat every 10 days. By the time they're 5 feet they're getting the maximum amount of food they'll ever get. That amount is "2 large rats" every 10 days. My boas have never and will never eat any amount larger than that. They just don't need that much food. On average it takes my boas around 3 years to reach 6 feet. They're well muscled and heavy.
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