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At what age do boas stop growing?

the2nd2runner Mar 12, 2008 01:28 PM

I've got a long tailed peruvian boa. I've had her for nearly 3 yrs, shes almost 4 yrs old. The thing is, is that she is really quite small. Maybe 30 inches. The reason for this is my fault, she was on a very light feeding schedule. Approx 1 small rat every other week and recently for the last 4 or 5 months they were mice instead. Basically food that was too small, and too infrequent. I want her to get to a healthy size and an adult body. My question is; is her potential over? Say if I fed her a very nice size rat every single week, would this get her up to adult size or just make her obese?

Replies (11)

Jonathan_Brady Mar 12, 2008 01:53 PM

that's not an inappropriate feeding schedule, once every other week and if the prey item was close to the girth of the animal, it's not undersized.
If your boa is truly 30 inches, I would have it checked for parasites.
You could step up the freeding frequency or size of the food, but I'd hold off on stepping up both at once. Wait till you know she can handle one or the other for now.
As for the growing time, I've heard of boas catching up at 7 or more years old, so hopefully yours can too. Also keep in mind that boas grow their entire lives, just MUCH more slowly after maturation.
So in summary, I'd increase the size of the prey, have her vet checked for internal parasites, and love your boa no matter what size she attains!
jb
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Jonathan Brady
"Sarcasm is angers ugly cousin" -Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson) in "Anger Management".

Morgans Boas Mar 12, 2008 01:53 PM

Snakes never stop growing, they just slow down as they get older. Your Boa does sound small for its age, but your not feeding too infrequently, just maybe too small of meals. I'm not saying to stuff it full, but just enough to leave a small lump in its tummy for a day or two. I feed neonates every 7 days. 6 month old - 18 mo every 10 days. After that males every 2-3 weeks, and females every 10-14 days maybe less when older, and also depending on breeding times and such.
I personally like it when my males stay small.
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I'm just the snake room janitor

Morgans Boas Mar 12, 2008 01:55 PM

Female? Lot's of times Boas are mis-sexed.
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I'm just the snake room janitor

AdamBotond Mar 12, 2008 03:18 PM

I would also mention that Tumbes boas (Boa c. longicauda) are often very slow growers. These snakes in my collection are almost 3 years old and about 40 inches (with normal feeding schedule). However, 30 inches at age 4 seems to be a bit short.

Regards,
Adam
Boaconstrictor.hu
Boaconstrictor.hu

ChrisGilbert Mar 12, 2008 03:22 PM

Longicauda do grow slowly, but if your boa truly is that small at that age there may be an underlying cause. Parasites can often prevent growth.

Your feeding regimen is not at fault, that is a good schedule.
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Gilbert Boas
The Boa List!

AbsoluteApril Mar 12, 2008 03:30 PM

Others have already responded about the feeding, I just wanted to agree that they do not stop growing, just the rate of growth slows. I adopted a 9 yr old boa in 1998, she was just a tad over 5'. 10 years later and she is getting close to 8'. (She also had her first litter when she was 14 years old, 34 babies, no slugs or stills.)
-April
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

agirlnamedrita Mar 12, 2008 06:37 PM

We have a redtail we bought from a guy...he says the snake is not quite 2 years old...but if you look at the picture I say no way...that the snake has to be older than that....her last shed skin was 88 inches long and she is thicker than a large McDonald's cup
Image

agirlnamedrita Mar 12, 2008 06:38 PM

let me try the pic again...lol
Image

agirlnamedrita Mar 12, 2008 06:39 PM

here is another one
Image

ChrisGilbert Mar 12, 2008 09:34 PM

Some people think Boas are Burms and stuff them full of food to grow them quickly. You'll know if this is the case if you ever have trouble getting it to breed, and it dies early, and excessive fat deposits are found in the necropsy.

No 2 year old boa that is healthy would be that big.
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Gilbert Boas
The Boa List!

agirlnamedrita Mar 12, 2008 11:17 PM

The guy we got her from got her from another guy...so we don't know the real history of the snake...we DO know that the previous owner never handled her and only fed her once a month

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