Constricting...

Okay let me get this straight...you are feeding a baby RTB pinky mice?

yea a pinky mouse is way to small for a boa, hatchlings are usually started out on rat pinkies at the smallest

my bps, back when i fed f/t, they never constricted the food, just gulped it down. but now that i started feeding live, they do constrict (lol, duh)

your snake knows what he's doing :)

My Colombian didn't do much constricting this most recent feeding. He used only half a coil to give the prey a little "hug"-type thing, and then just went to town swallowing. I feed f/t, so I suppose he was just making sure it was really dead and wasn't going to "surprise attack" him.

Also, he was born 7-7-06. He's eating hopper mice, so as others have said, just because he looks tiny, don't underestimate his ability to swallow larger prey. He takes his hoppers like a pro. ;)

Just restating what others have said, pinkies really do seem too small. I'd start with at least big fuzzies or "crawlers" for baby boas.

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Originally Posted by Rakshasi

My Colombian didn't do much constricting this most recent feeding. He used only half a coil to give the prey a little "hug"-type thing, and then just went to town swallowing. I feed f/t, so I suppose he was just making sure it was really dead and wasn't going to "surprise attack" him.

Also, he was born 7-7-06. He's eating hopper mice, so as others have said, just because he looks tiny, don't underestimate his ability to swallow larger prey. He takes his hoppers like a pro. ;)

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My male was born 4-12-06 and already on small rats. I couldn't imagine a b.c.i. eating pink mice. I have heard of corn island boa neonates starting on pinky and fuzzy mice though

Heck my daughter's milksnake ate pinky mice when she was a baby. She's only a small yearling and she won't even look at pinky mice anymore and happily snarfs down a big fuzzy mouse weekly. I expect that BCI isn't constricting because that's a very undersized meal for it.

Well, when i got him, that is what they told me he was eating. I am going to use up the pinkeys that i have, and then go ahead and get some fuzzies or hoppers for him. If you measure their food by their girth size, he should be on what i am giving him. But, for a BCI, it does sound a bit small....

He may be underweight from being on a diet of pinkies, which could be why his girth is so small. Bump him up so he can get some growth... I'd personally feed 2 pinks instead of one if I didn't want to lose money on the pinks I already bought. One really does not seem like enough if you actually want it to put on some weight.

yes, i am quite eager for him to grow up. I will feed him 2 pinkeys a week, untill they are gone, and then i'll get some fuzzies/hoppers.
Thanks for the suggestions!

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

My male was born 4-12-06 and already on small rats.

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They grow up so fast. :) Around when did you start feeding small rats?

Also, I agree with what Rapture stated. He could very well be underweight from being fed such small meals.

It's definitely a good thing that you decided to feed him at least 2 pinkies until they're gone. My snakes would turn their noses up at a pinkie! Even the smallest one (mexican black kingsnake). He even has to eat 2 pinkies, or he's completely unhappy with me.