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Hey just a quick question. My Columbian female is 45" long. Thats just 3" under 4 feet. The care sheet on redtailboas.com says they will average 7-8 feet in total length witch means my female is already half her adult size correct? She is as far as I can tell from an 05 litter. Is her size ok or would it seem she is eating to much? My male is also from an 05 litter and he is only 2 feet in length
My Research and Collection

You ever drive by a school yard full of kids? Their not all the same size, some are bigger because of their genes some just eat more. Others are just content as they are and will come in to their own on their own time.

Snakes are the same way, in a sense. I have had yearlings over 4'. Females that just liked to eat. Males from the same litter were now where near her size. Same goes with her sisters.

The guidelines in the caresheets are just that guidelines not rules. If an animal wants to eat and obviously has no remaining lump from the previous meal, let them eat. If they want two crawlers vs one hopper let them have that. Its nature there are no rules.

I have never seen a case of obesity in snakes but I'm sure it exsists so you still want to feed in moderation. But you don't want to starve the animal.

She may be a lttle big for her age but her genes maybe telling her she is supposed to be 10' when she gets fully grown. You never really no.

I have an 02' female that is around 9' and would eat a goat if I let her. I have an 04' male that I have to constantly try and feed hoping he will take a meal. You just never know for sure. After you have them awhile you will get the hang of knowing what they want.

Enough of my rambling.
Hope that helps
Jeremy
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"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

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Yearling boas average between 3 ft. to 4 ft. My boas average size at 2 years is 4 ft. I feed mine every 10 to 14 days and do not feed them when they are in shed. I think and have heard it is much better to feed and grow boas slowly.
Maybe your boa is a 04 and not a 05. But anyway you may want to slow down on her feeding. Unless you are trying to raise her up to breed her as soon as you can. Once every two weeks is good.IMO.
Chuck

Ok cool that was my next question. Also on the site it says Boas 1-2 years of age and 3-4 feet should go from feeding every 7-10 days to feeding every 14 days, They say that a feeding schedule such as this will yeald adults that are smaller, in the 7-8 foot range witch in my current situation sounds a lot better than 12 feet to be honest. Thanks a million.
My Research and Collection