New boa, feeding question

[andyroof1979]

So, I just got this girl in a straight up trade for a bearded dragon. (And his very cool hide i made him). and yes, he is quite the dragon to be worthy of the trade, i still definitely got the better end though....

Now then, she was eating a ft jumbo rat every 2 weeks, i would like to switch to bunnies being as my retic will be that size in about 6-8 months most likley.

What is the best way to go about this and i have seen an argument on fb over this subject. I am sure a 3 lb rabbit every 3 weeks would be fine. Am i wrong?

She did not take the one i offered her, i assume she is still settling in as i got her 4 days ago.

[Reinz]

She sure is gorgeous Andy! Looks like a great trade to me!

That is a good looking hide you made too.

As far as the bunny, 3 lbs sounds big to start with, considering that she is accustomed to jumbo rats. You might try 24 oz to 2 lb range to jump start her.

Enjoy

[Gio]

I like the snake, and she looks pretty good. She may be a little too thick/fat down by the tail (just above the taper) but it's hard to tell.

I personally would not feed her that heavy. A jumbo rat every two weeks is way too much for her.

I'm not certain how old she is, but once they hit adulthood, the food is not put to growth if they get too much, instead it is stored.

I would go with a 1 to 1.5 pound rabbit every 4 weeks. Never feed until she is completely empty.

I think you will see a lot more activity from her when she goes longer between meals. She may actually start to forage and hunt.

She is not going to be like a retic as far as eating goes. She will digest much slower but that's OK.

What is the age and size of the boa?

If she is just a shoulder pet and not a breeder, back off for a bit and you'll be fine.

I personally feed my make locality boa .5 to 1 pound rabbits, but after a bunny, I wait a month, and his next meal is a smaller prey item like a quail or medium rat.

Then after the smaller meal, I wait about 21-23 days (roughly) and then I'll feed a large rat. Then he goes about 4 weeks and gets a bunny again.

In the winter, I use a seasonal temp drop and let him grow off his stored energy and really don't feed him from December until March. This is a 3 year old adult male though. They actually grow from not eating when they metabolize all their stored energy.

If you have a young female, she may need more but I think she was a bit overfed from the previous owner.

Nothing to worry about, but get that lower part of her body to tighten up a bit.

Feel free to ask more questions.

[frostysBP]

Everything gio said to a t.....man we need to have a beer at this next show

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[Gio]

Everything gio said to a t.....man we need to have a beer at this next show

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Monster Crew is coming on the 16th I think. There is a show in the east metro.

Sorry to go off course in the thread LOL!

Also Andy,,,

THE COMPLETE BOA CONSTRICTOR By Vincent Russo can help you out if you want to read a good book!

[frostysBP]

I know I need to pick up pigs but I'm am booked to be at weedind

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[andyroof1979]

I will get age and more info tomorrow, i am splitting tables with the previous owner to discuss some beardie breeding ventures as we have super compatible stuff to make some blazing hot dragons.

I do know that he rescued her and she was 1/2 her current weight when he got her. As well as severely neglected....like 2 small rats every couple few months.

Thanks for the input

[andyroof1979]

She is pushing 7 feet and probably 30 to 35 lbs

[Gio]

She is pushing 7 feet and probably 30 to 35 lbs

OK, good sized, but heavy for 7 feet long. I think a nice wild Suriname BCC that is 10-12 feet will go 35 pounds and be as lean and tight as a boa can be.

I would not feed her more than 1.5 pound bunnies every 4 weeks.

She is beautiful, and if you want her to live for 25+ years back off for a while.

Let her clean out completely for you, it can take a bit because they have more in them than you think, and then let her sit. I honestly would not feed her until she is roaming the cage.

You will do just fine, but get her lean!!

And BTW,,, she is not a blob, just headed to the heavy side but you can stop it with restrictions and getting her out crawling some stairs or something.

[andyroof1979]

Here is a better pic and she is closer to 6.5' still 30 lbs though. And squirmy! This girl is at her forever home as a pet