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What Do You Think?!

reptilicus81 Feb 17, 2007 06:27 PM

I "borrowed" my brothers BCI because he wasn't properly caring for the animal. He is about 4-5 years of age, 6 feet long and 7 pounds. He is quite thin, as it appears he has eaten maybe 2-3 rats in the last year. He had no heat or light, and was being kept in a large enclosure in the basement of my parents house (~70 degrees). He will be a pretty snake if I can fatten him up. It is amazing what these animals will survive through!






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Thanks,
Amy
www.myboids.4t.com
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1.14 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball pythons
0.0.1 Sinaloan Milk Snake
0.0.1 Plains Garter
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
2.0 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Mid-Baja Rosy Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
My list is too long, so I'll stop here!

Replies (10)

mack1time Feb 17, 2007 06:52 PM

nice pastel, good thing you saved him he looks very thin
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2.2 Columbian common boas (Zeus, Athena, Aphodite, Hades)
1.1 Corn snakes (Appolo, Boreas)
0.1 King snake tri striped cal morph (Helios)

reptilicus81 Feb 17, 2007 07:03 PM

I am surprised he isn't much worse to be honest. I'll have to post before and after pics in a couple of months haha!
-----
Thanks,
Amy
www.myboids.4t.com
----
1.14 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball pythons
0.0.1 Sinaloan Milk Snake
0.0.1 Plains Garter
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
2.0 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Mid-Baja Rosy Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
My list is too long, so I'll stop here!

Jonathan_Brady Feb 17, 2007 07:56 PM

his weight looks perfect to me. A male that size will probably do well on an appropriately sized rat every 3 weeks or so. Not having more info on this animal, is it possible your brother was keeping him in the basement to "cool" him for breeding season or just to mimick a seasonal cycle?
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Jonathan Brady
"Sarcasm is angers ugly cousin" -Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson) in "Anger Management".

reptilicus81 Feb 17, 2007 08:13 PM

Thanks Guys,

To answer the question about "cooling"....No,
He couldn't fit the large enclosure in his room, and that's why the snake was in the basement. The light was burnt out and has been for quite some time, which is why there was no light. He doesn't have any heat pads for him, so he was not getting any additional heat.

I breed several species of snakes, but my brother does not have the means or the time to attempt this. Regardless to whether or not he is too thin, I don't believe that 2-3 medium rats per year is the proper feeding schedule for a boa his size, and he shouldn't be dropped to a high of 70 even during a cooling season, at least in my opinion. You may be right, his weight might be fine after all! But a few rats won't hurt!


-----
Thanks,
Amy
www.myboids.4t.com
----
1.14 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball pythons
0.0.1 Sinaloan Milk Snake
0.0.1 Plains Garter
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
2.0 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Mid-Baja Rosy Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
My list is too long, so I'll stop here!

boaphile Feb 17, 2007 07:33 PM

Sounds like substandard conditions but, the animal in the picture looks to be in the prime of health, very beautiful and the perfect weight for a male. Not the least bit thin if you ask me.
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boapaul Feb 17, 2007 07:56 PM

Looks like the only thing he's missing is the sex

ChrisGilbert Feb 17, 2007 08:38 PM

His weight looks good, males should be lean. One proper sized meal every 3 weeks is all a good male needs.

TnK Feb 17, 2007 10:26 PM

I also agree theres nothing wrong with that animal outside of
a good measure of assumption.
Get him good and fat on a few rats and he will never breed.

Out of the pan and into the fire ?

TnK

reptilicus81 Feb 18, 2007 11:05 AM

The animal is not being used for breeding, so his weight is not an issue. My goal is to not see his spine, I am not looking to create an obese snake
-----
Thanks,
Amy
www.myboids.4t.com
----
1.14 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball pythons
0.0.1 Sinaloan Milk Snake
0.0.1 Plains Garter
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
2.0 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Mid-Baja Rosy Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
My list is too long, so I'll stop here!

Slithering_Serpents Feb 19, 2007 03:37 PM

I'd say that is a real lucky boa that you came along! It could be any kind of not doing well and a vet check up wouldn't be a bad idea. It's amazing it is still alive.

Good for you for rescuing it,
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Caden Chapman
slithering.serpents@gmail.com

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