Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wondering if it is normal for a male Eastern to grow larger faster than a female. Every other species of boas and python seem to be the exact opposite. I have a pair that is a little over a year old and the male is roughly 3 to 6 inches larger than the female. I try to feed them both equal amounts, but it seems the male will always eat and the female is sporadic. I understand that if you feed one more, naturally it will grow faster.I guess what I'm asking is why won't my female eat on a regular schedule.

Temps, humidity, substrate are the exact same

Anyway just wondering if this is normal or could be some underlying problem

Thanks

It sounds like you have completely normal indigos. Unlike boas and pythons, and many other species of snakes, male indigos far surpass females in overall size and girth (and growth rates). Other exceptions are rattlesnakes and other vipers (and a handful of other species). I have found that males tend to be automatic feeders while females go in streaks (and as you mentioned, will tend to refuse food more often). Of course, there are always exceptions but your indigos are doing just fine.

Rob Carmichael, Director/Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation (IL)

Males certainly grow faster and attain a much larger size than females. Boa and python folks often don't understand that the trend is usually opposite in colubrids than boids.

My females don't seem to go off feed, but they just don't grow as fast, and just get fat if fed as much as the males.

I'm sure your snakes are fine

I have a 8/02 hatched pair. For the longest time the female was a little bigger than the male. In the last three months the male has shot past the female in size despite almost identical feeding histories. I would say it's normal.

I have a pair of 2 year olds, male's almost 5 feet, female's a little over 3 feet she'll eat 1 mouse or baby rat where HE will eat 3 at a time..........

my big 6 & 1/2 foot adult OTOH would eat Pizza crust if you offered it to him

Cheers

Dean