Average size at just over a yr and a half?

I have a male BCI who I got as a rescue, his living conditions were deplorable with the prev. owner and they were not feeding him but 1 pinky a month. He is 1 and a half about now or over, and sits at just under 4 foot, I am wondering, is it possible his prev. owners could have stunted his growth? It seems as though he should be bigger, but them again, I could be wrong. Whats your boas average size at this age?

Well the only comparison I can give you Jeanne is with Rauri, who was as far as I know never underfed. He's about 2 years old, perhaps slightly older and just hit 6'4" last month. He is shedding on about a 6 week schedule at this point.

I don't know with BCI's but with Kyna our ball python that was underfed all her life, once she got on a decent regular food schedule of appropriate sized prey she grew amazingly fast....both in length and girth. We've had her since July 05 and she's catching up fast with the size of most female balls her age (she's just past 2 years old).


~~Jo~~

Thanks for responding Jo! Hmm it does seem that maybe his growth was stunted possibly. Since being with me, he always gets fed weekly an appropriate size meal, and though he has grown alot since I have had him, it just seems he should be bigger than what he is.

That isnt terribly short for a year and a half. He might just stay fairly small. Sounds like he is doing great with you!

Sounds like he hit the motherload when you took him in Jeanne, good for you!

I'm not expert on the growth patterns of snakes, or what long term issues occur with underfeeding a growing young snakes, but instinctively I'm just thinking that as long as he's appropriately girthy for his length (not fat or skinny) and otherwise very healthy, he's probably okay now that he's with you.

It's wonderful you took him in Jeanne, there's just nothing like watching a snake blossom under good, consistent care is there! :)


~~Jo~~

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Originally Posted by jglass38

That isnt terribly short for a year and a half. He might just stay fairly small. Sounds like he is doing great with you!

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Well, if he stays small, thats fine with me too, it wont change that he is actually my favorite snake in my collection. He just seems smaller than what I think he should be, but like I said, maybe not. I guess individual growth rates vary from snake to snake, but it still seems he should be bigger. Anyone else with a boa this small? Could I just have the "runt" of his litter?

Jo~ he is definately not under weight or anything like that, he has some good girth to him now. When I got him he was a noodle dude, he had been with the prev. owners for just over 3 months and in that time, they had only fed him 3 times (pinkies) mind you, cause thats what the guy had on hand cause he breeds corns. He also had no heat sources at all, and his cage was filthy and his water looked as if it had not been changed in months. Was really gross actually. They said he was nippy, but he has never ever tried to bite me or anyone else since I have had him.

Jeanne,

I have a female who's four or five years old and only 5'5''. She, too, is a rescue/adoption. She wasn't fed properly for a good couple of years, and also has multiple spine deformations. I spoke to a vet who believes both of these are reasons she could be so small.

I don't think your guy is behind, though. Boas grow rapidly during the first year or so of their lives, but then start slowing down a bit (I believe they continue to grow throughout their lives, though the difference is negligible after about three or four years of age). It's possible he wasn't able to grow as much during his first few months because he wasn't fed properly, and so his quick growing phase was shorter than other boas. Now, in his slow down phase, he's a little behind. Doesn't mean he won't keep growing---and maybe catch up at some point :)

Good luck with him, he sounds great!

jeanne, i would say hes doing good for his age. my male was 4' when i got him, and he was a lil over 2yrs old. my females a huge exception, shes just over 1.5 yrs old and is close to 6'.

Thanks for replying Lynn and Jason. It is good to know he seems to be fine. I was over obsessing I guess. I guess cause I have not actually been around boas till I got mine, I was just not sure of normal or average growth.

Awww Jeanne how could somebody treat any snake like that, let alone these lovely bci's! I know Ruari's just a big old sweetie and it seems most are very easy to care for successfully. Rotten humans!

Glad he's doing so well for you and he's a personal favorite. When we got Rauri to foster I was more interested in getting him out of his previous owner's care fast and didn't really care much for columbians. Rauri has sure changed our minds and come spring we'll have a new little male bci after Rauri heads to Becky (well it is technically Luke's snake LOL). They just slither right into your heart.


~~Jo~~