Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just wanted to get some opinions this as I have kept pythons for years but am fairly new to boas. I purchased a baby RTB a year ago. She is just shy of 4 feet (about 45 inches now). The widest part of her body is about as thick as an average sized banana. I measured her monthly and she averaged about 2 inches of length per month.

I was under the impression that the general rule of thumb is that once they defacate, you can feed again (presumably once a week or so). That's how it's always been with my pythons. However my boa goes about once every 3-4 weeks. For the first 10 months I was feeding her about once a week, despite this. Out of concern, I recently cut the feeding down to every 2-3 weeks (2-3 small rats). She then averaged about an inch of growth per month and now she defacates only once a month. Temps/humidity are good. So my questions are- have I been underfeeding her? Is her length normal for a 1 year old female? I want a large boa but have concerns about overfeeding as I obviously don't want to decrease the lifespan of the snake.

The best way to get a large boa is to buy a python. To force size on a boa is a death sentence. Just like it is with people.

Having said that, there are large boas out there. But, it's generally believed that large boas are the result of genetics, not feeding - just like with people. REALLY large boas are the result of feeding genetically large boas lots of food. Once every 2 weeks is an excellent schedule for a boa. Since you're coming from the world of pythons, it may bear mentioning that you don't want to give your boa a really large meal every time you feed - just like with people. Something approximately the girth of your boas body (a touch smaller actually) is more than enough.

jb
-----
What's written above is purely my opinion. In fact, MOST of what you read on the internet is someone's opinion. Don't take it too seriously

Jonathan Brady
DeviantConstrictors.com Site received a complete makeover! Check it out!

Thanks for the response. When I mentioned I wanted a large boa, I didn't mean it in the sense that I got it to powerfeed it in hopes of making it into a monster. I meant more that I wanted to end up with a large healthy boa. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks for the info. I'll continue my previous feeding regimen.

>>The best way to get a large boa is to buy a python. To force size on a boa is a death sentence. Just like it is with people.
>>
>>Having said that, there are large boas out there. But, it's generally believed that large boas are the result of genetics, not feeding - just like with people. REALLY large boas are the result of feeding genetically large boas lots of food. Once every 2 weeks is an excellent schedule for a boa. Since you're coming from the world of pythons, it may bear mentioning that you don't want to give your boa a really large meal every time you feed - just like with people. Something approximately the girth of your boas body (a touch smaller actually) is more than enough.
>>
>>jb
>>-----
>>What's written above is purely my opinion. In fact, MOST of what you read on the internet is someone's opinion. Don't take it too seriously
>>
>>Jonathan Brady
>>DeviantConstrictors.com Site received a complete makeover! Check it out!

Glad to see more people catching on to this train of thought. I cringe every time I read about people feeding their boas weekly or even every 10 days. Do that with boas and they'll live half their expected longevity...IF you're lucky that is.

Mine get fed no more then 2 weeks apart, usually 3 weeks apart, even my neonates.

Rick
>>The best way to get a large boa is to buy a python. To force size on a boa is a death sentence. Just like it is with people.
>>
>>Having said that, there are large boas out there. But, it's generally believed that large boas are the result of genetics, not feeding - just like with people. REALLY large boas are the result of feeding genetically large boas lots of food. Once every 2 weeks is an excellent schedule for a boa. Since you're coming from the world of pythons, it may bear mentioning that you don't want to give your boa a really large meal every time you feed - just like with people. Something approximately the girth of your boas body (a touch smaller actually) is more than enough.
>>
>>jb
>>-----
>>What's written above is purely my opinion. In fact, MOST of what you read on the internet is someone's opinion. Don't take it too seriously
>>
>>Jonathan Brady
>>DeviantConstrictors.com Site received a complete makeover! Check it out!
-----
Sublime Boa Constrictor

You're definitely NOT underfeeding her... in fact I would classify that as overfeeding......

I only feed boas under 1 year of age every 14 days..... after a year... they go to every 3 weeks or less..... I would never feed any snake weekly... that is far too often and will cause obesity
-----
Marc Duhon
Lafayette, Louisiana
SURINAMBOAS.COM
kaiyudsai@SURINAMBOAS.COM

it does sound like you are feeding more than you need to, but every 7 days can be Ok if you are feeding smaller prey (no larger then the girth of the boa).
I've heard from good sources that feeding babies every 4 to 5 days is ok - 3 month old boas to yearlings or subadults every 7 days and then switching to every 14 days or even once a month for adult boas.

enjoy your boas!