Behira - 2016 Female Ivory Ghost - First BCI

Thank you!

I'd rather be a helicopter Snarent than oblivious. Much worse things, yes.

However, I am probably also cognizant that I saved Yafe's life because I did intervene. That's emotional, feeling I saved him to a large extent, true or not. However, intervening may not help Behira, or change anything, or make it so things need to be changed, and it may just run its course.

BTW - If you didn't see, I edited my post above to include her last year of sheds.

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Originally Posted by dakski

...BTW - If you didn't see, I edited my post above to include her last year of sheds.

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BTW, I edited my post too, :D

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I guess all you can do is "wait & see" when you stand accused of being a "helicopter snarent". :D I can think of much worse things to be, lol.

So it's really only been the last few sheds that were so close together?

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Yes, the past 3 sheds happened in about a 60 day period.

I had a nice talk with Tommy Carpenter, from TC Reptiles, today. He is Feliz's breeder and does locale boas mostly.

He felt that Behira could be hormonal, but also, wanting to grow. He thought feeding every ten days was a good idea and to give her some time and see if she has a growth spurt.

I appreciate everyone being concerned and helping me cope with the stress here, but maybe I am looking for something that isn't there and being a helicopter Snarent?

Either way, I'll keep soaking her every few days, feeding every 10 days, and track her weight, sheds, etc. as I always do.

Hoping this is me blowing things out of proportion.

Behira was back in blue a few days ago and due to eat 2 days ago. I offered and she happily nailed and ate her rat. I do not usually feed animals in blue, but given what's going on, wanted to keep her strength up and offer anyway. It was a slightly smaller meal and I do not think it will impact her ability to shed.

Behira shed last night. That's 17 days since last shed. All I can do is feed every ten days and hope for the best.

She happily eats and this time, seemed a little less red, but who knows. She seemed less red last time.

She's looking good and has good body definition. I'll keep being optimistic.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/prd5WnZ.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/LJY1JpU.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/FSSBTqO.jpg

I think she's just "messing with you"...;) She loves all the attention. :snake: (& don't tell her this but she looks great)

As you say she still looks healthy dave

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I think she's just "messing with you"...;) She loves all the attention. :snake: (& don't tell her this but she looks great)

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I hope you are correct! I think she looks great too. She's also acting fine, eating, etc. Just so weird.

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

As you say she still looks healthy dave

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Thank you Rich. She sure does. However, I am now feeding a medium rat every 10 days, not 21 days. Of course, if this is her saying, "I want to grow!" then that should definitely help.

Maybe this is just her body's way of doing a growth spurt? I guess only time will tell? Don't you just love a good mystery? ;)

I went to the NY Reptile Expo today in White Plains, NY today.

Katie said I couldn't come home with anything live, but I did...............over 200 living things! Roaches and mealworms, etc. for the geckos :). Katie got a good laugh out of that, as well as an, "ewwww." Not her favorite things.

No new pets/reptiles however. I was good.

I did see Gil, from Boakings, Behira and Jeff's breeder, and the vet tech and one of the vets from the reptile/exotics vet. Everyone asked about Behira, but reiterated, RELAX! She's pounding food, looks great, etc.

The vet said she spoke to several other vets and herpetologists from zoos and they all think this is a hormonal phase/growth spurt. Everyone said, "If she stops eating, let us know, but this should pass."

I bought Vin Russo's new book and spoke with him briefly to follow up on my previous email. He couldn't argue with that either.

Good body definition, pounding food, even in blue, and acting normal other than the shedding.

I am going with it!

Dave, that is truly wonderful news & very reassuring! :gj: It really all makes sense too...you hardly give snakes a CHANCE to be sick, & have to be content to worry
when they're excessively healthy. ;)

BTW, congratulations on your self-restraint at the Expo...I'll bet they had some real ugly animals there. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Dave, that is truly wonderful news & very reassuring! :gj: It really all makes sense too...you hardly give snakes a CHANCE to be sick, & have to be content to worry
when they're excessively healthy. ;)

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Awww, thanks. However, yeah, I need to relax a bit. It was very reassuring.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

BTW, congratulations on your self-restraint at the Expo...I'll bet they had some real ugly animals there. :rolleyes:

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OMG - they were all hideous.

:sarcasm:

I should say hideoussssssssssss. :)

Liked a few trans-pecos, but no new additions :(. There is well known breeder who has killer Bairds and Trans-Pecos - blonde, normal, etc. SOOOO CUTE.

I also fell in love with a 2014 Male Suriname BCC who was total sweetheart. Gil from Boakings raised him from a baby but never found the right female, so he is selling him, and wow was he beautiful and chill.

I think when Katie said, "NO NEW REPTILES!" that included a 6FT 15 pound boa, sweet or not!

Here's our own Phillydubs holding him. He (Phillydubs) is 6'3" for reference.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/Kiilgvd.jpg

That's awesome, Dave. I'm glad you've gotten some reassurance on Behira. Hopefully it helps you breathe a bit easier. She's in good hands, my friend.


Nice Phil sighting too!!! I half sarcastically asked Katie if she felt like taking a drive...she literally laughed out loud when I told her where, hahaha. I guess I shouldn't press my luck with two new animals in just over 4 months (well, once the new guy arrives). Hahahahhaha.

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Originally Posted by dakski

...

Liked a few trans-pecos, but no new additions :(. There is well known breeder who has killer Bairds and Trans-Pecos - blonde, normal, etc. SOOOO CUTE...

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Yeah, rub it in...you sure know how to torture me, don't you? :rofl: Just out of curiosity, which breeder are you referring to? It's not like I need more snakes, but I might
check out their site pics for a little self-torture. :snake:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Yeah, rub it in...you sure know how to torture me, don't you? :rofl: Just out of curiosity, which breeder are you referring to? It's not like I need more snakes, but I might
check out their site pics for a little self-torture. :snake:

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I do! LOL.

https://www.facebook.com/The-Captive...15386981882534

Awesome Trans-Pecos and those Bairds - the colors he gets, wow.

Antoine Burke is the breeder and I really nice and knowledgeable guy.

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Originally Posted by dakski

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/Kiilgvd.jpg

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That is one beautiful boa!!!!


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kam

That is one beautiful boa!!!!


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Sure, rub it in! :).

I hope he finds a really good home. He was really both stunning and calm as can be.

That really is a stunner dave,you really was a good boy, not coming home with that

Good you caught up with philly.be cool to meet some of your fellow forum mates

That's good you managed to speak with loads of breeders to give you bit reassurance about behira Dave.
That really is a good book, sure you will plenty of good reading hours with it, great reference book too


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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

That really is a stunner dave,you really was a good boy, not coming home with that

Good you caught up with philly.be cool to meet some of your fellow forum mates

That's good you managed to speak with loads of breeders to give you bit reassurance about behira Dave.
That really is a good book, sure you will plenty of good reading hours with it, great reference book too


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Agreed Rich on the reassurance and great to catch up with a few forum mates today.

Of course, I started reading Vin's new book tonight and it says sheds of less than a month apart usually mean a sick snake!

Seriously though, when I spoke to Vin today he was surprised both the white blood cell count and the stool where low and negative, respectively. Also, the vet said she would repeat tests and/or prescribe an antibiotic IF things got worse or she stopped eating, etc. We are nowhere near that as far as I can tell with her devouring her meals and even in blue.

Will power can be tough sometimes. I really did like that BC, but I don't think it's meant to be right now. I really love my collection and am spending the time I want with them (handling), cleaning, etc. Space is also a commodity I am short on now. Plus, with my health, no need to push it. The last thing I want is too many animals and not enough time or energy. I have a job and other hobbies and it's not my job (reptiles), nor do I want it to be. Yes, we are only talking one more snake, but it's never really only one more, right? Important to draw a line somewhere (and that's a personal thing).

However, I really do like a good sized boa. Cannot wait for Behira, Jeff, and to a smaller extent (literally, not figuratively), Feliz, to get there. It's going to be a while though. Jeff's just about 1, Feliz is 2 1/2 and Behira is about 3 3/4 years old.

I used to be nervous about bigger snakes and it wasn't until just before I got Behira that I even handled any Boa. If I had to do it all over again, not sure I would do anything different, as I love the variety of the collection, but I might have started sooner with the boas.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dakski

Agreed Rich on the reassurance and great to catch up with a few forum mates today.

Of course, I started reading Vin's new book tonight and it says sheds of less than a month apart usually mean a sick snake!

Seriously though, when I spoke to Vin today he was surprised both the white blood cell count and the stool where low and negative, respectively. Also, the vet said she would repeat tests and/or prescribe an antibiotic IF things got worse or she stopped eating, etc. We are nowhere near that as far as I can tell with her devouring her meals and even in blue.

Will power can be tough sometimes. I really did like that BC, but I don't think it's meant to be right now. I really love my collection and am spending the time I want with them (handling), cleaning, etc. Space is also a commodity I am short on now. Plus, with my health, no need to push it. The last thing I want is too many animals and not enough time or energy. I have a job and other hobbies and it's not my job (reptiles), nor do I want it to be. Yes, we are only talking one more snake, but it's never really only one more, right? Important to draw a line somewhere (and that's a personal thing).

However, I really do like a good sized boa. Cannot wait for Behira, Jeff, and to a smaller extent (literally, not figuratively), Feliz, to get there. It's going to be a while though. Jeff's just about 1, Feliz is 2 1/2 and Behira is about 3 3/4 years old.

I used to be nervous about bigger snakes and it wasn't until just before I got Behira that I even handled any Boa. If I had to do it all over again, not sure I would do anything different, as I love the variety of the collection, but I might have started sooner with the boas.

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I really think that's a good call with helding back, lol
There's no point in it having to be a chore to keep up on husbandry etc , hobbies are supposed to be fun and I know you give a 100% care to your animals. Especially with behira at moment, fingers crossed she will stop soon and her hormones settle down and get back into a regular shed cycle

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by dakski

...Of course, I started reading Vin's new book tonight and it says sheds of less than a month apart usually mean a sick snake!

Seriously though, when I spoke to Vin today he was surprised both the white blood cell count and the stool where low and negative, respectively. Also, the vet said she would repeat tests and/or prescribe an antibiotic IF things got worse or she stopped eating, etc. We are nowhere near that as far as I can tell with her devouring her meals and even in blue...

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That's always been my understanding too, but hey, they used to think the world was flat, y'know? Now it looks like there can be more than one cause for this phenomenon, making it that much more crucial to have a vet who's good at diagnosing the difference between sickness & raging growth hormones. We're all still learning things about :snake:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

That's always been my understanding too, but hey, they used to think the world was flat, y'know? Now it looks like there can be more than one cause for this phenomenon, making it that much more crucial to have a vet who's good at diagnosing the difference between sickness & raging growth hormones. We're all still learning things about :snake:

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I am an investor by trade, and often look at things quantitatively. Looking at Behira quantitatively it seems she must be sick, certainly from the perspective of the frequent sheds. Not so much from the eating perspective. However, what are the odds of such an anomaly in shedding?

However, qualitatively, it's a different story. I had her out this morning and same old sweet Behira. Great muscle tone and strength and vibrant color. She's acting normal except for the shedding. Even Pounding food with zest.

I am taking this in stride now and giving it time. I am letting go of my scientific and quantitative data and going with my gut and with the vet, etc.

Look at her - she looks great!

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/CEZ5qal.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/tjhCuv3.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/X6JMxXl.jpg

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Originally Posted by dakski

Sure, rub it in! :).

I hope he finds a really good home. He was really both stunning and calm as can be.

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I think you should get it. And if doesn’t work out I will send you my address.


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Behira looked a little less red yesterday than she did this time after last shed (4 days), I think anyway. Who knows. She was her normal awesome as I had her out for a bit.
Tonight she nailed and devoured another medium rat.

I am happy every time she eats. Makes me believe she's keeping her strength up and the food could help her fight off anything that could be going on, or not :). Either way, I am glad she is pounding food. If it is hormones, etc. and she needs to grow a little bit now, I know I am giving her what she needs. If not, she hasn't been overfed, so I do not believe this hurts her at all, and I will slow down the feedings when the shedding issue is clearly resolved.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/lIHoaed.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dakski

Behira looked a little less red yesterday than she did this time after last shed (4 days), I think anyway. Who knows. She was her normal awesome as I had her out for a bit.
Tonight she nailed and devoured another medium rat.

I am happy every time she eats. Makes me believe she's keeping her strength up and the food could help her fight off anything that could be going on, or not :). Either way, I am glad she is pounding food. If it is hormones, etc. and she needs to grow a little bit now, I know I am giving her what she needs. If not, she hasn't been overfed, so I do not believe this hurts her at all, and I will slow down the feedings when the shedding issue is clearly resolved.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/lIHoaed.jpg

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Really glad she's still eating

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

Really glad she's still eating

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ME TOO!

She's really nailing her food and she seems to be looking for food more too.

I had Behira out tonight. She's looking good and feels strong. She's alert and active (except for when she fell asleep hanging from neck for 10 minutes :)).

It's been 12 days since her last shed. She's darker, and her belly is getting pink again, as are her sides a bit. However, she's not in blue yet. She was at 12 days last time. Who knows, but I'd be happy with a longer duration between sheds.

In the meantime, as documented here, she's nailing rats and seems to have grown a little. I haven't gotten a present from her in a bit, so I cannot give an official weight yet, but I will.

Here are two pics of Behira chilling with her papa.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/GTvqhN5.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/F9PbcAx.jpg

Behira came out of blue today and absolutely clobbered a F/T medium rat tonight.

I'll report when she sheds again, but everything else is status quo with her.

Behira shed last night. That's 18 days. She hasn't dropped any waste in a bit (1 month - not a big deal and no sausage butt, etc.), but I decided to weigh her anyway.

Dry on 1-26-2020, she was 1,680G.

Today, with, I imagine quite a bit of waste in her, she weighed 2,010G. I don't think she has 330G of waste in her, but we will see when I weigh her dry, hopefully soon.

I think she has grown in the past month with the new feeding regiment. That tells me she is doing okay.

Still some redness around her tail after shed, but again, it was a perfect shed.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/djcvOBx.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/fI5Drlq.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/b60Wn5p.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/shO02Jw.jpg

Really glad she's doing OK dave, good news she hasn't lost any weight.
I love her glossy white belly on the pics

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

Really glad she's doing OK dave, good news she hasn't lost any weight.
I love her glossy white belly on the pics

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We will see when she finally drops a bomb, but I am pretty sure she's gained if anything. When I got confirmation I will post. However, I am feeling good about her at the moment, well except for the shedding. However, she seems to be overcoming that with extra food intake and staying healthy otherwise.

She's still my sweet girl and he pounding food and hopefully gaining weight has caused me to calm down a bit too.

My grandmother used to say, "Don't cry until you are cut." Unless she stops eating and growing, I am going to be cool and calm and continue to love her and care for her normally (except for the extra feeding for now).

Or, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" :gj:

Good news on Behira.

She dropped a bomb, and dry, weighed 1,820G. That's well over 100G more than her last dry weight. She still looks and acts fine and I am relieved to see she's put on substantial weight with the new food regiment.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/eZ9t8PC.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/SFN3WEx.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/FO3d5WG.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/964Wu8n.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/Tupk0T7.jpg

Behira eats tonight but I had the DSLR out and bothered her for a few in tank pictures. She didn't mind.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/Fy2MdL3.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/XuGSe4X.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/Mn3qRe6.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/g8sKEPd.jpg

If anyone was worried about Behira's appetite, don't be.

https://vimeo.com/395862065

Gimme that rat! Nom nom nom!

She reacted like I do when the restaurant takes to long with my food. Gimme nowwwwww....


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I had Behira out for a bit today. It's been 13 days since she shed last, and she is doing well. She's been gobbling down rats every 10 days and is growing like a weed, from what I can see, and from what her last weight said.

https://i.imgur.com/X5qU9G7.jpg?1https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/hgj6UQg.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/oj2OyK6.jpg

She's just a typical "teenager"...she can't wait to grow up! :D

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

She's just a typical "teenager"...she can't wait to grow up! :D

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Let's hope that's what it is!

Eating - Check

Normal Waste - Check

Growing - Check

Normal Behira/Boa attitude (or lack there of) - Check

Until she gives me a reason (other than the shedding) to worry, I am just keeping her fed and happy.

As you know, I will keep everyone posted.

oh look how pretty and big your girl is getting! She looks great

Good news on Behira.

Today is day 16 since shed. She's been shedding at 17-19 days and going into blue at 10-12 days. She just went into blue today.

Maybe the cycle is starting to slow a little?

Too early to tell as we will need a few shed cycles for definitive evidence, and then would want it spread out even more. However, I'll take it.

Fingers crossed Mr dave

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Behira shed this afternoon. I'll post pictures soon.

That's 21 days. That's the longest in a while between sheds, but only by 3-4 days. She'd been shedding at 17-18 days. Not sure that means anything.

Either way, she will eat tonight. She was due Sunday, but I held off thinking she would shed by today. So she'll eat tonight and next Sunday. That's the plan anyway.

I'll keep everyone posted.

This is the only time in 2020 that I've fed my boa to date. He ate 2 days ago. Your boa WILL NOT drop weight. You have a healthy snake and if you read through the COMPLETE and MORE COMPLETE BOA CONSTRICTOR books you'll likely see the "seasonal Changes" part.

My boa hasn't had a meal since October and that is completely normal. Holding some waste is also normal.

That boa looks great from what I see in the pictures.

I'd slowly space out the feedings she's old enough. She'll do great.

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Originally Posted by Gio

This is the only time in 2020 that I've fed my boa to date. He ate 2 days ago. Your boa WILL NOT drop weight. You have a healthy snake and if you read through the COMPLETE and MORE COMPLETE BOA CONSTRICTOR books you'll likely see the "seasonal Changes" part.

My boa hasn't had a meal since October and that is completely normal. Holding some waste is also normal.

That boa looks great from what I see in the pictures.

I'd slowly space out the feedings she's old enough. She'll do great.

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Gio,

Thank you for the post. I just realized how many posts I've had on Behira since she started shedding about every 3 weeks. I imagine you didn't read through all of it, so I'll summarize here for everyone's sake.

I agree less is more with Boas.

Having said all that, her breeder (BoaKings), Jeff Ronne, Vin Russo, Tommy Carpenter, my vet office (3 vets), have all encouraged me to feed her more often as the shedding is a little worrisome. No one seems to know for sure what's going on with that, but it does take energy for her to shed frequently, and the consensus is that this is either hormonal or she wants to grow right now.

She had been on an every 3 week schedule, and I pushed to every ten days. That is temporary. Also, any signs of losing her preferred lean body shape and that will be spread out again.

I know you are an authority here on Boas and really appreciate your post. I just want to make sure we are on the same page and that you know I am not acting quickly or recklessly, but rather listening to those with great knowledge on the issue and even the guy who wrote the Boa books, Vin.

The waste issue is non-existent, I was just interested in getting a dry weight on her.

Thank you again and continue to share your thoughts.

David




I got a few pictures of Behira with Katie and it's always great to see the love of my life with the animals, especially Behira.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/03Yfrp1.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/fInULFm.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/Xm9rDbK.jpg

Behira matches Katies hair real well...:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dakski

Gio,

Thank you for the post. I just realized how many posts I've had on Behira since she started shedding about every 3 weeks. I imagine you didn't read through all of it, so I'll summarize here for everyone's sake.

I agree less is more with Boas.

Having said all that, her breeder (BoaKings), Jeff Ronne, Vin Russo, Tommy Carpenter, my vet office (3 vets), have all encouraged me to feed her more often as the shedding is a little worrisome. No one seems to know for sure what's going on with that, but it does take energy for her to shed frequently, and the consensus is that this is either hormonal or she wants to grow right now.

She had been on an every 3 week schedule, and I pushed to every ten days. That is temporary. Also, any signs of losing her preferred lean body shape and that will be spread out again.

I know you are an authority here on Boas and really appreciate your post. I just want to make sure we are on the same page and that you know I am not acting quickly or recklessly, but rather listening to those with great knowledge on the issue and even the guy who wrote the Boa books, Vin.

The waste issue is non-existent, I was just interested in getting a dry weight on her.

Thank you again and continue to share your thoughts.

David




I got a few pictures of Behira with Katie and it's always great to see the love of my life with the animals, especially Behira.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/03Yfrp1.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/fInULFm.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/Xm9rDbK.jpg

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Hi,

Sorry, I just read some of the latest stuff in this thread and apologize that I have not followed the whole thread. Tommy Carpenter and Vin Russo advice is to be followed over anything I've stated.

The boa looks great to me from the photos you've posted.

I hope all turns out as it should. Reptiles can be very strange and there isn't an overabundance of studies on them.

Thanks for at least looking at my post, but I think you are a few steps ahead of my comments.

Best of luck and I'll try to stay more current.

The retic forum was my stomping ground for a while. That's over now and I'm back to the areas I enjoy most. Boas and carpets.

Keep the updates coming.