My Red Tail is growing really fast

[BallPythonChick]

I got her in the end of February of this year, and she was born in November 2011. When I got her she was about 2 and a half feet long, now she is over four foot. She has shed three time's since I got her and I feed her once a week with small rat's.

The pet store I got her from were feeding her hoppers, which were to small for her, so I fed her adult mice instead at first and she quickly became to large for those.

I really have no problem with how fast she's growing, but I'm confused of why? Is it because I'm feeding her to much?

She is on Aspen bedding. Hot side temp is 85 degree's. I recently had to buy her a larger sterlite bin because she out grew the old one.

I'm pretty sure she is a Colombian, but I'm not 100% sure though.

[scooter11]

A year old boa that was only 2 1/2 feet long? Sounds like he was under fed. All of mine were well past that at inner a year old.

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[DooLittle]

A one to two year old boa should be on a 10-14 day feed schedule, imo. Even as babies they should be on a 7-10 day. Slow growing your boa is the best for it. They have a slower metabolism. They also should be fed a prey item that does not leave a noticeable lump. The rapid growth could be from feeding weekly. I would definitely space out to at least 10 days. Also, boas need much more room than a ball. I would not keep her in a tub for very long.

[Daybreaker]

I'd cut it back to 10 days personally: some of mine went through some massive growth spurts even when fed the same size not any more frequently.

[BallPythonChick]

A one to two year old boa should be on a 10-14 day feed schedule, imo. Even as babies they should be on a 7-10 day. Slow growing your boa is the best for it. They have a slower metabolism. They also should be fed a prey item that does not leave a noticeable lump. The rapid growth could be from feeding weekly. I would definitely space out to at least 10 days. Also, boas need much more room than a ball. I would not keep her in a tub for very long.

I feed her small rat's that aren't thicker than the widest part of her body. I feed her every 8 day's, but I will space it out to ten. I got the biggest sterilite tub I could find, and will be switching her to a tank once I have enough money for one. Luckily the tub is really big so it will do for a little while.

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A one to two year old boa should be on a 10-14 day feed schedule, imo. Even as babies they should be on a 7-10 day. Slow growing your boa is the best for it. They have a slower metabolism. They also should be fed a prey item that does not leave a noticeable lump. The rapid growth could be from feeding weekly. I would definitely space out to at least 10 days. Also, boas need much more room than a ball. I would not keep her in a tub for very long.

I feed her small rat's that aren't thicker than the widest part of her body. I feed her every 8 day's, but I will space it out to ten. I got the biggest sterilite tub I could find, and will be switching her to a tank once I have enough money for one. Luckily the tub is really big so it will do for a little while.

[NormanSnake]

I feed her small rat's that aren't thicker than the widest part of her body. I feed her every 8 day's, but I will space it out to ten. I got the biggest sterilite tub I could find, and will be switching her to a tank once I have enough money for one. Luckily the tub is really big so it will do for a little while.

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I feed her small rat's that aren't thicker than the widest part of her body. I feed her every 8 day's, but I will space it out to ten. I got the biggest sterilite tub I could find, and will be switching her to a tank once I have enough money for one. Luckily the tub is really big so it will do for a little while.

T8s from Animal Plastics work well. I have a 5 1/2 foot female that's in a T8 and she's got a LOT of room to grow into it.

[scooter11]

A one to two year old boa should be on a 10-14 day feed schedule, imo. Even as babies they should be on a 7-10 day. Slow growing your boa is the best for it. They have a slower metabolism. They also should be fed a prey item that does not leave a noticeable lump. The rapid growth could be from feeding weekly. I would definitely space out to at least 10 days. Also, boas need much more room than a ball. I would not keep her in a tub for very long.

Am I the only one who finds something wrong with the fact that a year and a half old boa was still Being fed Hoppers? And at that size it was not being fed every week. That boa should be on small rats every 10-14 days at the least. I've kept boas for going on 12 years. None of them were power fed or over fed for that matter. This boa has been extremely under fed. A healthy boa being fed properly a year and a half old should absolutely be bigger than two and a half feet and eating larger prey than a hopper.

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[BallPythonChick]

Yes, I know. I wasn't feeding her hopper's though, the pet store was. Right after I got her I switched him to adult mice, and then soon after to small rat's which seem about a good size for her right now.

[scooter11]

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was blaming you. I meant the pet store, that seriously irritates me.

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[Evenstar]

Am I the only one who finds something wrong with the fact that a year and a half old boa was still Being fed Hoppers? And at that size it was not being fed every week. That boa should be on small rats every 10-14 days at the least. I've kept boas for going on 12 years. None of them were power fed or over fed for that matter. This boa has been extremely under fed. A healthy boa being fed properly a year and a half old should absolutely be bigger than two and a half feet and eating larger prey than a hopper.

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And this is probably precisely why this boa is on a major growth spurt. It was under fed and is now catching up thanks to being properly fed (well, mostly). I agree with what's been suggested so far - go to a 10 day feeding schedule for a couple of months, then I'd go to every 2 weeks. If you feed your boa appropriately, he'll eventually slow down and not grow too fast.