size vs weight

[kjhowland]

I've seen various discussions concerning the proper size prey for your animal. I've seen setting size based on the width of the snake, I've also seen 10% of the snake's weight. I've been feeding multiple fuzzy mice due to a throat problem. Now he has outgrown his throat problem.
My problem is how do you know the width of frozen feeders when you buy them over the net? My snake is a year old and weighs about 225 grams. I don't want to powerfeed, but give a healthy diet. Last week I feed him a F/t from petco that was labeled small rat. He ate it, but I feel it might be a little bit large as a regular meal. Any thoughts.

[aaramire]

The snake is a year old and only weighs 225 grams? I have three month old snakes that weigh that much!!! He is big enough to eat small rats weekly at this point, and I would try to get weight on him asap because it sounds like he is either very skinny or has stunted growth because he has been fed too little. If you could please post some pictures so we can see his condition that would be great.

[kjhowland]

Definitely not skinny The breeder had told me that his snakes were on the small side. I bought him in May at approx 120 grams. Pix soon

Direct quote from the breeder "our females we have raised slow and they have large litters but the babys are on the smaller size."

[kjhowland]

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/m...d/IMG_0248.jpg

older picture
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/m...wland/sb16.jpg

[starmom]

Hey there!~ Good to hear from you again and so good to know that your guy seems to have outgrown his throat issue!!!

When my yearling boas were 225g I was giving them weanling pups every 7 days. I get my rats from The Mouse Factory and their rat weanling size is 35g.

Those yearling boas are now in the 700+ gram range and are eating small rats that weigh 55g.

[kjhowland]

thanks Starmom. I going to the expo in New Hampshire tomorrow. Hopefully I can pick up some feeders.

[aaramire]

Hey I just wanted to apologize, I didnt see that this thread was about boas! Sorry

[kjhowland]

Hmmm a boa thread in the red-tail boa area. That's ok aaramire, no apology needed.

[Rakk101]

Mine at that size are also eating right in the range starmom said, I get them from rodent pro but have bought from mouse factory before also both are very good.

[Mike Schultz]

I don't weigh my prey items. I follow the "width of the snake = width of prey" rule of thumb and my snakes are nice and healthy