how often do you feed

[raisnok]

ok here is my dilemma

i was feeding my rtb once a week a large rat, she was doing fine, it wasnt leaving a lump(i know it doesnt have to leave a lump)

so the last week of july i couldnt find any rats in my usual places, so i bought her a small rabbit she did fine with it it left a lump , but the lump was there for 3 weeks and then she pooped..... i know its not good for a lump to be there that long....

i mentioned it to a breeder friend and he suggested i feed her on large rat a month and she will do fine.

so im wondering does anyone else feed one large rat a month?

or should i stick with feeding once a week?

next time i will buy 2 mediums

[Neal]

I'd say stick with a large rat a week, or you can switch to a 10 day schedule. What I used to do is feed weekly, then every 3 weeks I'd skip a meal. I know people that have just fed every other week with no incidents, but I wouldn't do that.

I'd say a 10 day feeding cycle or every 3 weeks skip a meal

[Evenstar]

If your snake is eating large rats that don't leave much of a lump, than it is large enough to be fed once every 2 weeks. I would go to a 10 day schedule for a month, then go to a 14 day schedule permanently.

In my honest opinion, I don't like to go longer than every 2 weeks. I would prefer to feed slightly more often and use a smaller prey size than the other way around. Most people don't feed their boas rabbits unless they are monsters. Large adult females will often be fed 2 large or maybe jumbo rats every 2-3 weeks and they do quite well with that. Once my boas are taking small rats, they go on a 10 day schedule (if they aren't on that already). Once they move up to mediums, they are on a 14 day schedule.



** While boas do have very slow metabolisms and it is easy to overfeed a boa and less is generally better for them, there are limits to that. One large, or even jumbo, rat once a month is NOT enough for a boa under normal circumstances.

[jben]

I feed most of my boas every two weeks an appropriate sized meal, except my 3 yr old male, he gets one med-lg rat every four weeks. All of my boas have great muscle tone and have the "loaf of bread" look. Personally, I wouldn't feed a boa of any age weekly, especially when they're eating a large rat.

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[jben]

"One large, or even jumbo, rat once a month is NOT enough for a boa under normal circumstances"

Evenstar, I disagree with this comment.

Here's a good read on feeding
http://www.deviantconstrictors.com/i...t/feeding.html

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[Gio]

"One large, or even jumbo, rat once a month is NOT enough for a boa under normal circumstances"

Evenstar, I disagree with this comment.

Here's a good read on feeding
http://www.deviantconstrictors.com/i...t/feeding.html

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There a lot of different ways to do things. I think JB from Deviant Constrictors was talking about his male BCC that only ate 15 meals a year. That may not be "normal circumstances" to Evenstar as that schedule is more geared toward keeping a male breeder boa on the smaller end or at least that's what I got.

This link has some great info as well. As you see Gus is a proponent of the "noticeable lump" where others are sometimes more in favor of no lump or a barely noticeable lump. He also says feed your boa when it will take food, which I like yet I also know boas will almost ALWAYS take food so its got to be done correctly.


http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/care_raisingboas.htm

I am finding JBen's "loaf of bread" comment is a great way to gauge how your feeding is going. If that is what you snake looks like, then you are probably on the right track.

I'm still learning a lot about the boa feeding regime. I purposely run temps to the higher end of the "acceptable" range and feed more or a bit more frequently than what a male breeder would be fed. I do use a night drop, and plan to adjust my winter temps to what Gus Rentfro has posted up.

My temps/feeds will imitate the seasonal changes.

Vin Russo also has great feeding info and feels boa grow more when they are not eating.

My goal is to SAFELY grow the largest male I can get within it's genetic potential but not sacrificing health or longevity.

I got my fella on April 23rd and he was on small rats every 14 days, because the guys at Legacy Reptiles considered keeping him for a breeder. They advised to move to a 10 schedule. I've been on smalls since that time. I noticed a lot of glass hugging and heavy, frequent feeding response behavior from him so we moved to 7-10 days throwing in some 11-12 stints.

After speaking to Jonathan Brady of Deviant Constrictor on another board, I decided to try mediums every 10 days. I did not like the initial outcome and decided to back down to smalls again. There is no lump with smalls so I decided I'd do it every 7 again. I did not like that schedule so the last feed was 2 smalls which seemed perfect. I'm going 10 days until the next feed and then maybe drop 1 small into the mix again and go 7. I like JB's use of quail as part of the boa diet.

As you can see there is a lot of variation. I think really looking for that loaf shape will be a great indicator of how the feeds are going.

I plan to really watch what others do and do some trial and error here. A lower fat item like quail seems like a good idea and I may start that in the spring.

I'd be very curious to REALLY see what boas do in the wild. I think they take some prey that is huge by our feeding standards, but then end up not eating for weeks. I think when the season changes and food is plentiful they eat when they can, and just like the Rio Bravo site says, when temps drop and the rain season ends food is more scarce.

I have no idea what I'm answering here now LOL!

But I think the best way to gauge your boa's feeding is by their look/shape and their behavior that you observe. I'm starting to figure my guy out now and I think I've found 2 smalls and a 10 wait is about perfect for now.

[jben]

[/QUOTE]

But I think the best way to gauge your boa's feeding is by their look/shape and their behavior that you observe. I'm starting to figure my guy out now and I think I've found 2 smalls and a 10 wait is about perfect for now.[/QUOTE]

:thumbup::thumbup:

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[raisnok]

thanks for the replies i will start feeding a large rat every 10 to 14 days i will see how she does.

thing was with the large every week on the third week she would normally refuse to eat then i was left with a rat.

i kind of thought every week might be a little to much .

[jben]

thanks for the replies i will start feeding a large rat every 10 to 14 days i will see how she does.

thing was with the large every week on the third week she would normally refuse to eat then i was left with a rat.

i kind of thought every week might be a little to much .

Trial & error my friend. Start with one large every two weeks & just watch how she's putting on weigh. If she's gaining too much weight then just bump her to every three weeks until you figure out what schedule works for her.

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[Gio]

Trial & error my friend. Start with one large every two weeks & just watch how she's putting on weigh. If she's gaining too much weight then just bump her to every three weeks until you figure out what schedule works for her.

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Yep, there is the phrase trial and error. Once you read your snake you'll get the hang of it. The Rio Bravo site does tell you about seasonal feeding and there are some instances where even boas may refuse.

You'll get it dialed in!!

Best to be lean in any event.