Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently came to the realization that I had been unintentionally underfeeding my 2 year old Red Tail. Although he looks pretty healthy, I'm pretty sure that he's too skinny. I've been feeding him a single mouse every week, and have recently moved up to 2 mice a week. But its pretty clear that a rat is much more appropriate (I previously thought a rat was too big for him to handle... I was way wrong).

I feel really bad. Are there going to be any long term health issues as a result of this? And will he eventually regain the size that he lost from the underfeeding?

Thanks in advance, and I hope that everything is ok with him.

My guess is he will probably live longer than most, but he will never attain his original maximum size potential.
Feed them what they can eat without getting fat. In other words, feed them as much as they feel like eating (within reason), as long as they put all of it into increased length and not increased girth. I'm more on the side of larger meals, farther between. Frequent small meals not so good. Fatty liver.
You have to increase cage size as they grow, or they will just get larger in diameter (fatter). Healthy boas look long and lean.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

I think you have probably done him much more good than harm, we tend to feed our boas way way too much and too often!!!

At two years of age he probably should have been on rats a little while ago. A basic rule to go buy is a barely visible lump at midsection just after feeding.

It is truly so much healthier to have them muscular than to have obese animals. So do not feel bad, he will probably live longer because he is not fat.

I have Peruvian and Suriname redtail males that I only feed once or twice a month, these are adults. My sub adults are fed evry 10 days or so, and you will find alot of boa keepers do the same.

Hope this eases your unwarranted for guilt...you have actually done the right thing.
Joel Thomas

Thanks so much. I was really concerned because I kept seeing all these pictures/videos of really thick snakes, and mine just is not that big. But I feel much better now, although it does appear that a shift to rats is needed.I will definitely follow the "bulge" rule, and make sure that he's getting just enough.

Appreciate the comment, definitely cleared my conscience.