Starve Your Boa Into Shape!

[RockyTop]

I was looking at info for RTB husbandry, and ran across this guide on redtailboas.com

http://www.redtailboas.com/general_c...eral_care.html

It has this quote:

How large will my red tail boa constrictor become?

Red tail boas will generally grow to an average length of 7 or 8 feet and can live to ages of 25 to 30 years in captivity. Your actual size will be directly proportional to the amount of feeding. For example, you could feed your boa a smaller sized rodent every two weeks, and the boa may never grow larger than 4 1/2 to 5 feet. On the other hand, if you were to feed aggressively, then your boa may achieve a size of 10 feet or longer. There have been reports of 12 foot boas weighing 80 pounds!

I underlined the part I was curious about.

Is that true? It seems a bit... odd, that a care sheet is recommending you to starve your animal to stunt growth. I mean, if you can't afford to properly house and take care of your animal, you shouldn't own one imho.

Just wondering if others have heard this and their thoughts. I personally would never do this.

[mainbutter]

Bad advice.

If you go to china, everyone is short (statistically).

It's because they eat like people in china, not exactly the best nutrition people can eat.

The same principle applies to snakes. It can work to a certain degree, but it's not guaranteed to work, and it's certainly not the best thing for their health.

[singingtothewheat]

Terrible advise!

[mr. s]

I have heard this about snakes, and it sounds a little off, but the range of healthy eating varies as well as the difference in a healthy size. I would agree though, never take on a pet that you may not be able to house in the future.

[Wh00h0069]

Yes it is true.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

Thats not starving when its a boa though.. Wh00h0069 will tell ya. The top boa breeders will say the same thing. The first thing I ever learned about boas (the big boas) is that less is better. They metabolize differently. Once they hit a year old or so, every other week is ideal. 2 years and up, especially the locality dwarf boas, do best on 12 to 16 meals a year. Appropriately sized of course.

A boa fed a rodent the size of the snakes mid section, every week, may look healthy but its mostly fat. (adults, not babies) These will usually not breed well (if at all). A slow fed boa builds muscle. Breeds better. Lives longer.

Its entirely ture. BCC, BCI, BCS etc etc.. Entirely different from other snakes when it comes to feeding.

[Tim Mead]

True statement as Eddie agreed, Not only does it apply to Boa but any other snake as well..A burmese need not be a monster if fed per schedule..This is one of the many great features of snakes..While one could call it stunted another will say maintained for longivity..If one is out to achieve size on an animal it is best to do so before 18 months of age..While the animal is a "baby" per say ..Feeding and growth an everlasting debateable topic that boils down to ones intentions or goals..

[mainbutter]

It's important to recognize the difference between feeding for longevity and underfeeding.

Many snakes in captivity are overfed by loving owners.

Many are also underfed by dis-interested owners.

Both are bad I think we will all agree, but feeding specifically to reduce size IMO often borders on underfeeding. I don't feed for any particular size, I feed for the health of my snake.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

It's important to recognize the difference between feeding for longevity and underfeeding.

Many snakes in captivity are overfed by loving owners.

Many are also underfed by dis-interested owners.

Both are bad I think we will all agree, but feeding specifically to reduce size IMO often borders on underfeeding. I don't feed for any particular size, I feed for the health of my snake.

Agree.. And this is usually obvious by the shape and condition of the body. You dont ever want to see a protruding spine, folds in the skin, inibility to shed etc.. Keep in mine most of these big boas should have more of a rectangular or square shape to their body as opposed to round like BPs. More muscular than alot of other snakes.