Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I took my two friends in today just to make sure they are healthy. I had fecals done on both and they are clean and clear. I explained to the vet that i did have a concern though with my salmon who is approximately 3 1/2 ft and 922 grams.She is 12 months old. I feed her one medium rat a week and she gets a sizeable lump from that. My concern is that her skin is loose around her neck and when shes coiled up her skin folds more than my albino's does. The vet told me that she looked well hydrated and well fed. It's not extreme at all but it also doesn't look quite right to me. She has shed a week ago so you can rule that out. At night she often lays in her water. The vet mentioned that i could feed her more, i just don't want to over do it. I guess i wonder in a perfectly healthy boa what is normal as far as some loose skin. In the picture you can sorta see some of it, in her neck when she in a different position it can drape down a little not wrinkle like an acordian(sp?) im trying to give you a picture in your head. Can you visualize it? Maybe im overly concerned, i don't know. Any feedback? If i need to include more info let me know. Thanks for your help.

And, keep in mind...........This is just my thinking here.

I think if your feeding is putting a real noticable buldge on your hypo......It's too big for it at this time. Each boa is different. Some can take more feedings.......Others can't. I have two female boas that are over a year old and not even close to being how big your snake is. I have just "upped" them to weanling rats. They might be able to go one more size up........But, that would be pushing it. So, to me, you are feeding too large of a prey item and too often. It really is hard for me to judge without seeing the animal in person. But, that is my guess.

The wrinkled neck could also be from feeding a prey item that is too big. Now, if you are doing it somewhat often, it might just not be going back to its normal look.

One thing I do know about feeding boas that are larger to a boa is this. (And, I speak from personal experience here) It is not a good thing. Nor, is it healthy for the snake in the long run. Basically, when you feed a boa an oversized meal you are stretching not only it's stomach but it's musculature. If you keep doing this.........You end up with a "flabby" boa. And, it has poor musculature. It took at least a year to two years to get the boa I had done this to back to a normal muscular state. It is also my belief that feeding boas prey that is a little larger than the diamter of their thickest part is the best way to have them grow.
Hope this helps.
John
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"To be the best..........You must lose your mind."

Hmm you might be right. I did not do that with my Albino and he does not have that problem with extra skin. I will give it a shot and see what happens. Thanks for your time and input.