I have a female boa that I bought last year. She was 2 when I got her. She was only about 2 1/2' to 3' long. (The male we got with her was a year old and only 1 1/2' long.) So they seemed kinda small. She bit me twice last year after we got her and the other day (a year later) she bit me again. Then I noticed last night that she had some swelling, like ovulation, and she hasn't eaten in 10 days. Do you thing that is why she bit me? Do they get grouchy when they ovulate? She has not been exposed to a male so she is not gravid. We were trying to keep her on the small side because of her attitude, but she is pushing 7' now. How would I keep her from getting too big. Nobody wants a big snake with an atitude. Does breeding them calm them down? Other than being mad when you take their babies.
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www.rainforest-boas.com
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Grouchy Boa
Replies (8)
Yes, that swelling could have been an ovulation, even if male is not present, they can go through the motions. Has the male been antsy, trying to get out of his cage? aka wanting to get at that delicious smelling female?
One other point, The sizes at acquisition do not sound bad, just raised slow. Of course just going off the lengths, girth and muscle tone are an important factor not listed. And 2 1/2' to 3' one year later pushing 7' - sounds like she's eating a LOT and definitely not on a diet to keep her from getting too big. At two years old can easily go to every two weeks to a month for feedings.
Lastly, keeping them on the small side works for many boas, however, there are some that are genetically predisposed to be big uns!!! Trying to keep one of those small will just make for a grumpy boa - always hungry.
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Thanks,
Dave Colling
www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)
LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders 
lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats 
Yes, the male even though in a different room as been more active lately and last night he was all over the cage. Do the other females sense it too? My other "big" girl has been roaming alot lately. They can't be hungry they eat fine on a regular schedule.
I figured they were just grown slow but but neither had real good muscle tone or girth. The male look dehydrated. (his skin was all wrinkly and looked like his meals weren't big enough. I was told he was getting rat pinks every 2 weeks. She is in the smallest "big" cage we have so she wouldn't get real big but she has a great appetite. We were feeding her to get her up to weight to possibly breed her this year. No her diet isn't keeping her small, but she is happier when she is not hungry, lol. Although she seems to always be hungry. I guess I will just have one big girl.
Thanks
Stephanie
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www.rainforest-boas.com
I have one of those genetic "big uns", kept on the same feeding schedule as other similar aged females she was nasty, always striking anytime anything moved. Once I increased her food intake she settled down significantly. (I still am just a little more careful around her though if'n ya get my drift)
Like my friend Jeff says, ya got to listen to your snakes!! Maybe not litterally, but you do have to key off of their actions.
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Thanks,
Dave Colling
www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)
LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders
lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats
She was on the same feeding schedule as another female of similar age. They were both eating the same and there is a 18" difference in length and more girth. This one would eat 4 large rats a week if I let her. I tried for a week or two and offered her a large rat every other day and she took 4 like that. 4 in 8 days. I stopped because I didn't want to cause health issues, but always seems to be hungry. I feed in a different cage beside her cage and when I open her cage to do anything she climbs out and lays in the feeding cage. Waiting for food. I do make sure someone is around anytime I do anything with her. My other big ones are so laid back and only think of food when they see it. I have learned to listen to her body language. Thanks again.
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www.rainforest-boas.com
A couple things to comment on. --
Putting a Boa in a smaller cage will not make them grow slower.
Your wrinkly male sounds dehydrated. Smaller/ appropriate sized meals increase muscle tone and give them a Squared-off look.
Are you feeding live rodents ? If so, theire is countless reasons for you to pre-kill their meals (or better, freeze them). aggression is just one of those reasons. Also move her feeding tub out of the room until meal time. They can smell real good.
To me, a Boa going from 3' - 7' within a years time is off of the charts, even for those bigger growers. Feeding a Boa that large every week is too often IMO.
It would be good to see pics of these Boas to help answer your questions.
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I have figured out that the cage doesnt control the size. The male was recieved by us in that condition. The meals they are eating just leave a small bulge after digestion. I feed prozen rats that I order online. She was being fed live when we got her, but we converted her over to p/k but her safety and to prevent aggression. (Our ball is the only one who gets live. He is picky.) I thought about moving her feeder, because even after cleaning it the smell of food is probably still their. She never strikes when I am getting her out. Just when I handle her sometimes she just bites. She doesn't hold on just nips and releases. She has been that way since we got her. When I bought her I was new to boas, not snakes, and was told that she will not eat if she is not hungry. I have learned differently. I do not have any current pictures of her.
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www.rainforest-boas.com
Glad to hear about f/t meals. If your male is dehydrated, you can take a syringe and inject warm water into his pre-killed meals - rodent water balloons if you will. I've made some prety round rats before, lol. It helps.
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We have had the male for about a year and a half now. He came with the grouchy female. He is much better now. Here is a current picture of him.
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www.rainforest-boas.com
