I am in the process of trying to rescue a 10yo boa from a family that has kept it in a 40g tank and has fed it nothing but mice. Needless to say, the boa is small. Maybe the size of a large male ball python. My question is: do you think that if this boa is properly cared for and well fed, it might continue to grow and thrive? OR do you think too much damage has already been done to stunt it's growth and i'll end up with the worlds smallest redtail?
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Dave
Phila, PA
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Question about possible stunted boa
dnreptiles
May 17, 2009 12:41 AM
Replies (2)
boaphile
May 17, 2009 08:31 AM
As long as the Boa has normal body weight, it's perfectly fine and not stunted. Reptiles do fine on a light diet and will very likely have the potential to live longer than most Boas raised under the type of conditions that most people raise their Boas under. That is where over feeding and a made race to breed is the run. That is a far more unnatural way for a Boa to live it's fundamentally shortened life.
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Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK
Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site
PHFaust
May 17, 2009 08:35 AM
>>I am in the process of trying to rescue a 10yo boa from a family that has kept it in a 40g tank and has fed it nothing but mice. Needless to say, the boa is small. Maybe the size of a large male ball python. My question is: do you think that if this boa is properly cared for and well fed, it might continue to grow and thrive? OR do you think too much damage has already been done to stunt it's growth and i'll end up with the worlds smallest redtail?
Continue to grow yes. Get the full massive size, probably not. I have a now 6 year old boa that I received last year here. I think she is a total of 4 foot in all. About the girth of a brat. She continues to feed only on 1 XL large mouse every two weeks. Short of a history of URI's she is reasonably healthy and is thriving.
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Cindy
PHFaust
