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arabesque questions

cm_reptiles Apr 22, 2008 10:32 PM

I got 2 arabesques that a 06 and I was hoping to breed them this year. They are small like 3ft long and are as 1in thick. They are males should I breed them in nov? What should they be eating to fatten them up?

Replies (11)

toine Apr 22, 2008 11:08 PM

Why,,would you fatten them up for breeding?

Dont do that.

Just try in November,,some do and some dont at 18 months.
-----
toine plompen,,,holland

WWW.PUREBOAS.COM

cm_reptiles Apr 22, 2008 11:14 PM

The were born 5-06 and look like my yearlings even know if you read closly they are 2 years old next month. Not 18 mths so by nov they well be pushing three yrs. I have plump females that will be ready in nov. I want them to be atlst big enough to look at my girls and not get squashed both the girls that I got are 6ft-7ft and wrigh 20 pounds. they dont even way a pound. But I love them there my first boa I spent a ton on.

LarM Apr 22, 2008 11:21 PM

Try a small rat every 7 days.
when they can handle medium rats
feed medium rat every 10 days until they
gain more muscle mass."Fatten up" is definitely
not the word you want to use.They need lean
strong muscle mass so they can get the
breeding job done.You don't want them
too big and lazy though.
Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz

cm_reptiles Apr 22, 2008 11:29 PM

How big is a small rat. like three inches? I was thinking a large mouse????

LarM Apr 22, 2008 11:59 PM

>>How big is a small rat. like three inches? I was thinking a >>large mouse????
If all you are feeding them is mice
that is why they are so small.Order frozen rats
from one of the websites who sell them.
They list the size of the rats length & grams.
Rats are a far better meal then mice.Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz

cm_reptiles Apr 23, 2008 12:22 AM

I just got the snakes last week. I aint even fed them yet. I get my rodents from rodentpro but I dunno what size they should get

LarM Apr 23, 2008 01:31 AM

Ok I see what your saying.I suppose you could
start them out on large mice.I really think
they should be able to handle small rats.Pick
the smallest sizes out of the bag at first.
Then the Boas should put a little growth on.
By the time you hit the larger of the smalls
they'll be fine.You could play it safe with
the large mice bag 50 then switch to rats.
Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz

ChrisGilbert Apr 23, 2008 07:11 AM

Fattening up boas should never be done.

You're worried about size difference?

Here's an '04 Orangetail Hypo female, she was 7' and 17lbs. pre-breeding weight.

She was fed one large rat every 2 weeks.

Here's the male that bred her this year, an '05 Leopard, under 4' and less than 2 lbs.

Most of my males are fed every 3 weeks. All breeders eat a maximum of a medium rat. The Leopard I would feed every 2 weeks, but he got a smaller meal, pre-weaned just after opening eyes rat.

Plump, fat, etc. in breeder boas is a BAD thing.

If you're looking for a place to order rats, go with The Mouse Factory. I have used a number of well known suppliers, and TMF is by far the best!
-----
Gilbert Boas
The Boa List!

cm_reptiles Apr 23, 2008 12:41 PM

My males are smaller then that. Is that what I need to get them to to breed them in nov? They were born 5-06. I intend on breeding them with my big girls. most weigh at 20 pds? won't they get crushed?

BrownsBoas Apr 23, 2008 11:46 AM

I have a sunglow male like that took him close to 24 months to reach 3 1/2' I bred him this year and was a nothing but a stud. I would try them and if they start courting you know they are ready! One good indicator that they are ready is if they are leaving sperm plugs in the cage or water dish. Keep an eye there weight through the breeding season, if they start to look a little thin and worn down pull them out and offer a meal. Don't sacrifice there health for a litter. Good luck to you!

Al Brown/Brown's Boas

cm_reptiles Apr 23, 2008 12:39 PM

Is that a breeder?

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