Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What would be the optimum way to feed your male boa to get max growth in short time?? I know a lot of people don't agree with this, but am wondering if there is a relatively safe way to achieve more than average growth.

Reasons being...I have a 1.0 65 gm '05 jungle boa and would like to get him ready for late next season.

Thanks for any advice.

>>What would be the optimum way to feed your male boa to get max growth in short time?? I know a lot of people don't agree with this, but am wondering if there is a relatively safe way to achieve more than average growth.
>>
>>Reasons being...I have a 1.0 65 gm '05 jungle boa and would like to get him ready for late next season.
>>
>>Thanks for any advice.

He dont just have to have the weight but the age also an believe me if you can get the weight on him without regurges you definatley aint going to get the age on him!Feed him like he should be fed an one day at the correct age he will reward you with no problem at all,without powerfeeding him an shortening his life span!I dream of the day when I can even think about affording a jungle an I know when that day comes I definatley wont be power freeding him!Just my .04 cents,Eric [Hypoboa]
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E&C's Exotic House of Reptiles

The reason I say that is because you might not want to push your Jungle too hard in the beginning. From my personal experience, newborn baby Jungle Boas do not respond well when pushed too hard initially. Once they get out of that "newborn" stage, they seem to respond much better to slightly heavier feeding schedules.

Were you hoping to breed him in the 2005/2006 season or the 2006/2007 season? I would count the 2005/2006 season out because he will probably be way too young/small to breed. However, with regular, steady feeding, you shouldn't need to power feed him in order for him to get to breeding size in the 2006/2007 season. He might not be ready to go in the early part of the season but I see no reason why you couldn't realistically expect him to breed around early 2007.

If he were my snake, I would feed him religiously - meaning, don't skip a feeding. If he refuses to eat, there is nothing you can do about that but don't "forget" to feed him one week and feed him double the next week. We have found that consistency is important to growth. If you plan on feeding him on a slightly heavier schedule like once every 4 to 5 days, I would recommend fairly small meals to the point where you can't see or can only barely see a small bulge after he eats.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Thanks,
Celia
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Celia Chien

www.BoaConstrictorMorphs.com

Celia Chien Photography

www.ExoticsByNature.com
www.BallPythonMorphs.com
www.CornsnakeMorphs.com

It's not about size it's about being sexually mature. Ed Lilly has bred a 14/15 month old jungle male and he seemed to be ready, not sure if he was producing sperm yet (I'm sure he is)but the female ovulated a few weeks back. I know of allot of people that have had successful breeding with 18 month old males without power feeding. You asked if there is a safe way to power feed so I assume you know the serious risk to your boas health. Not worth it. I would think the 05-06 season is out of the question but the late 06-07 season you may have a good chance with out the power feeding. Good luck with you boas and post some pictures. Later

-Dylan
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True Redtails

I'm sure he'll be 3.5 - 4 ft in a year or so without trying to stuff him, and thats all he realy needs to be. Just feed him normaly when he's ready to breed he'll let you know on his own.
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Ed Lilley, www.constrictorsnw.com

Are you nuts?? Feed him normally, don't even try to breed until he's ready.

If you really want to shorten the time you have him....send him to me and I'll see to it he's well taken care of.

my $.02
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Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife
0.2 kids
4.12.100 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.1 Ball python
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)
1.0 BCI albino het stripe
1.0 BCI salmon hypo
0.1 BCI ghost

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Does anyone else notice a significant growth difference in boas that are exclusively fed rats versus mice? Mice seem like the most likely candidate for feeding young boas. But I believe the rats will put on size quicker. Does anyone agree? I have an 04 ghost right at 54" only fed pre-killed rats once a week never mice or frozen thawed. I am not sure the pre-killed versus thawed has anything to do with it but have read that the cells break down and change after being frozen and thawed. And don't get me wrong I love to feed f/t just happen to breed my own rats so...My advice would be if he's not eating rats switch him and you've got a better shot at maximizing growth.

PRE-KILLED: A food item formerly alive but not anymore!