Boa feeding questions

Hey guys! So the boyfriend and I just picked up a little BCI girl. We're super excited to have her, but we've never had a boa and are used to caring for balls so I just wanted to ask a couple questions.

Does the same 10-15% of body weight rule apply for feeding boas?

Can we feed her on the same schedule (ie. weekly)?

Lastly, I wanted to know 'how' to feed her. As in, should I leave her in her enclosure, like I do my pythons? Or do boas get more aggressive this way? I know some snakes do. I don't like the idea of taking her out and causing unnecessary stress. I have been reading around, but haven't found any info regarding the specifics of feeding. Any opinions from experience would be appreciated!

I try to keep my boas meals slightly smaller than I would if I had a ball python of the same size...if that makes any sense :rolleyes:

Because boas have such a strong feeding response, they have a tendency to get overfed. I fed once a week until mine was a year old or so then changed (recently) to a 10 day feeding schedule. Boas are AWESOME, I demand pictures ;)

Edit: Just wanted to add that I feed my boa in his enclosure, he does have a VERY fierce feeding response but I have avoided getting tagged. I just dangle the f/t rat with the tongs and he hits it, HARD, and coils within seconds.

I follow the same weight rule with my BCI, but don't feed her as often as I do my balls. They have a much slower metabolism if you will, in that they put on weight and can become obese very easily. For instance, as youngsters instead of feeding every 5 days like I would a ball, I fed every 7, and then once she hit 500 g I put her back to every 10-14 days.

I also found it was easier to keep her weight at a good spot by feeding her mice instead of rats, but either is really fine for them. It's up to you what you prefer to feed.

As far as feeding inside/outside the enclosure, I've found it much easier to feed in the enclosure considering how strong boas' feeding responses are. I'd have a tough time getting my girl out of her tub and into a feeding tub, then back in, considering she's usually still on the alert the day after feeding day anyways :P I also found it useful to have a snake hook around just in case she decides she feels like having a snack when I want to clean her cage, just so that I can let her know it's not feeding time by stroking her with it or moving her with it if I need to.

I fed my boa tonight for the first time and it took a lot of zombie dancing to get him to strike but when he did, he just grabbed the F/T mouse and started swallowing with no coil. I think he's a pretty smart little bugger! I use the 10% rule I hope that's okay.


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