Boas and hides

[Dark Lady Kat]

Isis - February 2011 baby currently 752g 40in and she eats a 150-200g rat once every 2 weeks without leaving any lump at all which is 20-25% her body weight she refuses anything smaller or larger than that range BCA - Bolivian

Osiris -April 2011 baby currently 642g 36in and he eats 150-200g rat once every 2 weeks leaves a barely there lump that you cant even see after a few hours BCA - Bolivian

Nephyths - March 2011 baby currently 776g 36in she eats 150-200g rat once every 2 weeks no lump at all Waiting on papers for conformation of origin

these weights taken 11-15-12

my fingers apperently didnt work with my brain they are all 2012s not 2011s

[martin82531]

I'm starting to think she has been underfed....

Here is the dates that I got from the feeding card. (for the most part the size of prey is not mentioned)

Born 04-30-2011

Feed Dates:
06/14/11
06/21/11
06/28/11
07/05/11
07/13/11
07/30/11
08/06/11
09/04/11
09/16/11
10/02/11
10/16/11
10/30/11
----------
03/25/12
04/22/12
06/03/12
06/16/12
07/01/12
08/06/12
10/5/12 - rat pup
12/22/12 - rat pup
----------
01/01/13 - rat pup

I was able to weigh her today and she came in at 420 grams. Please let me know your thoughts.

Thank you!

[Dark Lady Kat]

I'm starting to think she has been underfed....

Here is the dates that I got from the feeding card. (for the most part the size of prey is not mentioned)

Born 04-30-2011

Feed Dates:
06/14/11
06/21/11
06/28/11
07/05/11
07/13/11
07/30/11
08/06/11
09/04/11
09/16/11
10/02/11
10/16/11
10/30/11
----------
03/25/12
04/22/12
06/03/12
06/16/12
07/01/12
08/06/12
10/5/12 - rat pup
12/22/12 - rat pup
----------
01/01/13 - rat pup

I was able to weigh her today and she came in at 420 grams. Please let me know your thoughts.

Thank you!

I would say she has definitely been underfed regardless of size she was fed just the frequency alone screams underfed I would offer her one appropriate size meal every 7 days, I would say small rats would be good then get a new weight on her every 4 weeks and up the food if necessary. It took me 4 months after I got her to get my underweight baby starting to actually pack on the weight.

[martin82531]

I would say she has definitely been underfed regardless of size she was fed just the frequency alone screams underfed I would offer her one appropriate size meal every 7 days, I would say small rats would be good then get a new weight on her every 4 weeks and up the food if necessary. It took me 4 months after I got her to get my underweight baby starting to actually pack on the weight.

Thank you for your help. I do have one more question. From my understanding boa's digest much slower than balls, she just had a rat pup 1/1/2013, should I wait seven days from then to feed a small rat or would I be ok feeding one today. I just don't want to push it.


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[Daybreaker]

Thank you for your help. I do have one more question. From my understanding boa's digest much slower than balls, she just had a rat pup 1/1/2013, should I wait seven days from then to feed a small rat or would I be ok feeding one today. I just don't want to push it.


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I personally never feed my boas less than seven days: I'd wait till 1/8 at least.

[martin82531]

I personally never feed my boas less than seven days: I'd wait till 1/8 at least.

Ok, thank you for your advice. I will wait until then before feeding.


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[xFenrir]

I gave my girl hides: she sat on them. So I took them out. Now if she feels like hiding she burrows in her aspen.

[reptileexperts]

In regards to the hides discussion my 7' BCI has and uses his 2'x1'x10" hide box quite heavily ever since I got it for him. When he was younger he would always use the hides as a spot to chill on, but never went under it. Now during the day you won't find him out of the hide unless there are rats in the room, or it's a particularly cool day he may move to directly under his RHP... During the night though he is all over his cage :-)

My Adult BCI is eating a Medium - Large - Jumbo rat in random frequency. I don't keep him on a set schedule. When he was young I fed him weekly, but every now and then would skip a week due to a shed. Right now he averages a meal every 10-18 days. When he eats a larger meal I give him around 18 days, when he gets a medium rat (which is pretty much a Large rat by a lot of standards) he gets another one after 10 or so days. Really just watch his attitude, girth, and fecal spots to figure out when it's a good time for him to feed. Last thing you want is an Obese snake. . . The retics on the other hand in contrast, anything under 1 year old feeds every 4 days on a meal that is about 20% their body weight. They put on serious growth in their first year. Unlike boas which are typically more drawn out growth with a slower metabolism.

[DooLittle]

I wouldn't say she was too underfed. Most people only feed their boas every 7-10 days, I would not go any sooner than 7 days. That picture isn't that great, but she doesn't really look too thin to me. Looks like there was some 7 day feedings, and some two week ones, not ideal, but not terrible. Boas should not be round like ball pythons. They should have that square/rectangular shape. And yes, their metabolism is slower than balls.

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[Evenstar]

I wouldn't say she was too underfed. Most people only feed their boas every 7-10 days, I would not go any sooner than 7 days. That picture isn't that great, but she doesn't really look too thin to me. Looks like there was some 7 day feedings, and some two week ones, not ideal, but not terrible. Boas should not be round like ball pythons. They should have that square/rectangular shape. And yes, their metabolism is slower than balls.

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Exactly. She does not appear underfed at all. Why do you think she has been? Just because of the dates on her feed card? That isn't all-telling. The previous owner could have missed recording a feed-date here and there or skipped on purpose due to shed. And it appears that she's been fed every 10-14 days or so. Many many breeders start their neonates on a 10 day schedule from day one. My babies are going at 7, 10, or 14 days right now. Boas' metabolism is much slower than most snakes - don't feed more frequently then at 7 days. Feeding a few days later is better than sooner.

Seriously, then best way to tell if your boa is getting enough to eat is to simply moniter her body condition. She should look nice and lean and slender. As Reptileexperts said, the very last thing you want is a fat snake. She will be happier and healthier if she's fed less often and kept nice and lean and fit.