Finally took the leap :)

[PorcelainxDoll]

I have been saying for months and months that I wanted a boa, and today I finally got one! Her name is Amelia Rose.
She is a 1 year old 3-4ft long normal BCI "female." I think she is female, but will be having a friend pop her for me once
she is out of quarantine to know for sure. I got her from the Live Oak reptile expo here in San Antonio, Texas.
I held her and I fell completely in love. She is being treated for mites as a preventative. So far she is a doll.
Even going into shed she is inquisitive, and curious. I can't wait to enjoy her for the years to come..

Now for some questions. They guy I got her from said she was on Adult Mice.
To me that seems kinda small for a 3-4 ft boa.
Should I move her to small rats?

Actually I think that is the only question I have right now.

Now for some pictures. I will post more after she sheds, and settles down. So she is a little dull and dark in these pics.
Typical boa pics, shes halfway out of the shot Ignore my stupid faces please my friend and I were being dorks.

[DooLittle]

Congratulations! When you feed her, you want to feed a meal small enough that it doesn't leave a noticeable lump. Boas metabolism is slower. But judging her size in the picture, I would think she could eat something larger than a mouse.

[Physician&Snakes]

At her age and being female I would go ahead and swap her to a medium rat every other week if you buy in bulk, but if you just buy a few weeks at a time then small rats every week would be fine. Do not worry too much about the "slower" metabolism, at this stage she is going to start getting in some extra muscle that is going to burn some major fat. My 8ft adult female eats an xxl rat every two weeks.

[jason_ladouceur]

I personaly prefer to feed boas small meals more often as apposed to larger less frequent meals. I've got 6' females that eat 1 and occasionally 2 medium rats every week. At her size I would probably use either smalls or even large pups weekly. As has been stated boas have slow metabloisms, but they also have huge apitights so it's really easy to over feed them. She's been on mice up till now and she's looks about perfect as far as body wieght goes. Remember rats are far higher in fat then mice. Just feed her a relatively small meal weekly and moniter her weight. If she looks thin up her food a little, if she starts getting chubby back it off. She should always have a square muscular body shape. Far to many bread loaded shaped boas out there.

[PorcelainxDoll]

So I guess I will start her on Small rats. I buy these anyway for my bp and I can see if it leaves a lump in her. If it does ill go down to lg pups?
At her age would I feed weekly or bi weekly?
Should I wait to feed after she sheds?
What can I use as a hide for her?
Right now temporarily she is in a 3ft x 2ft x 1ft tub. I know not ideal but she was last minute purchase.
She has a hot spot of 90 and ambient of 78-80. A large water dish. And she is on paper towels for the time being since she is being treated for mites.
Does all this sound about okay for right now until a few months when I can buy her a big boa enclosure?

1.0 Ball Pythons(Twizzler)
1.0 Cat (Loki)

[Physician&Snakes]

So I guess I will start her on Small rats. I buy these anyway for my bp and I can see if it leaves a lump in her. If it does ill go down to lg pups?
At her age would I feed weekly or bi weekly?
Should I wait to feed after she sheds?
What can I use as a hide for her?
Right now temporarily she is in a 3ft x 2ft x 1ft tub. I know not ideal but she was last minute purchase.
She has a hot spot of 90 and ambient of 78-80. A large water dish. And she is on paper towels for the time being since she is being treated for mites.
Does all this sound about okay for right now until a few months when I can buy her a big boa enclosure?

1.0 Ball Pythons(Twizzler)
1.0 Cat (Loki)

The set up sounds fine. The minimum for her, in my opinion, is a small rat every seven days. I maintained roughly 20-30 adult boas plus seasonal offspring for almost 8 years and that is what experience has taught me...some one else does it different and also has pristine specimens. I always let my personal boas decide on their own, my female was always voracious, therefore I fed her well...my male was never so therefore he did not like frequent feedings. Both are beautiful adults now with well rounded physiques...do what you and your animal is comfortable with. I started biweekly feedings at the 5-6ft mark.

[DooLittle]

My boas seem to like it a bit cooler I have noticed. I would try feeding her every 10 days and see how that goes. I have fed mine in shed. Just not while they are totally blue. Boas (at least mine) take longer to go through the shed cycle than balls do.

[PorcelainxDoll]

You guys are awesome.
About how long will she be okay In the tub I have her in?
Right now she has the complete pink belly but no blue eyes yet. I know shes going into shed though because she is a little wrinkly and her eyes are getting a little milky.
I will try to feed her in about 5-10 days unless she is completely in blue.
Any other advice you experienced boa owners can give to me would be greatly appreciated

1.0 Ball Pythons(Twizzler)
1.0 Cat (Loki)

[Physician&Snakes]

You guys are awesome.
About how long will she be okay In the tub I have her in?
Right now she has the complete pink belly but no blue eyes yet. I know shes going into shed though because she is a little wrinkly and her eyes are getting a little milky.
I will try to feed her in about 5-10 days unless she is completely in blue.
Any other advice you experienced boa owners can give to me would be greatly appreciated

1.0 Ball Pythons(Twizzler)
1.0 Cat (Loki)

You have a little while, but i would go ahead and buy one for the sake of productivity. Boa master has a sale with free shipping on these I believe...
http://boamaster.com/products/4ft_ec...ing-138-3.html

[satomi325]

If a boas is round, that means they're being over fed. Their body should be a more square shape, not round. Whoa! Bi-weekly fed adults sounds way too much if you're feeding the appropriate sized prey. Obesity is very common in boas, so I agree with Jason. Small rats are a good start. Weaned rats is the alternative size if the small is too large.

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