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Cloud, Colombian BCI
I'm a new member here, so I figured I'd introduce my little guys individually. Unfortunately, due to an incredibly crazy situation Cloud is not with me right now. I have very promising word he'll be coming tomorrow, though! I'm so excited, it's been 3 weeks since this all happened and I miss him terribly. All I get to see of him is when I got to mix up his bedding and give him water, and so I have no recent photos of him.
This will probably be a lengthy read, but I'll make it up with lots of photos!
Cloud Strife is my almost 2.5 year old male boa (gender based off of several palpations I did when he was young and age based off of when I got him as I don't have a birth date), and he is now nearly 6ft. I got him from a local pet store on Aug. 2, 2011, before I learned of how bad pet stores can be. He was 2.5ft at the end of the first year I had him, but he grew quickly during his second year. I started him off on 1 rat pinky every 7 days. After awhile he began to look worringly skinny to me, so I shortened it down to every 5 days. At that time he was just getting started on fuzzy rats or two pinkies. Since I bred my own feeders at that time, I just based it off of when they first got a velvet covering of fur. He's always stayed lean, no matter how much he's fed, so I stuck to a weekly feeding. I have been trying bi-weekly feedings again because he appeared to be holding weight better, and I've noticed a significant decrease in muscle tone but not weight. Since my whole breeding stock (2 females and 1 male) died, I've been having to buy from a pet store because S/H for bulk is murder. I'm also not in a good spot for finding local rat breeders, but there are quite a few meat rabbit breeders. I do feed him on a weight basis rather than than sizing the food next to him though, which is usually a weekly schedule from what I can tell. The method has a name, but I can't seem to remember it. :/ My projected feeding schedule for when I get him on rabbits is 2-3 weeks and I may mix in a few rats every other feeding.
This is what he looked like as a baby, showing his weight. I have very few photos from 2011 and this is the best that shows his skinniness:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psf7981328.jpg
Here he is from above a few days later, near the end of November 2011:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7a9e35d6.jpg
The first month I kept him in a tank, at which point he was switched to a Sterilite tub. He stayed there until he was about 5ft, and he got moved into a custom-built 6x3x2 (length x height x width) wooden enclosure, where he will remain permanently unless he gets over 8ft which is highly unlikely. During his second year he was growing an average of 2-3in every 2 weeks, and he's now growing 1in every month or so. I did take my snakes to the vet every once in awhile to weigh them while I didn't have my own scale. It was funny when I came in one day and the vet assistant had this serious look on her face and said, "You do realize Cloud has more than doubled his weight since you last brought him?" She seemed relieved when I laughed and said, "Well, he has grown over a foot in the past 6 months." I think she thought I had been horribly starving him before or something. XD He's very cooperative when it comes to measuring him. I just put him up against a wall and he stretches out along it. My other two on the other hand....
Some progression photos:
The day I brought him home. Sorry for the quality; I hadn't learned of the macro setting yet. :P
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0994d3e5.jpg
A few weeks before his first birthday, at 2.5ft and during one of his dark phases:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7317138a.jpg
A year and 2 months, at around 3ft during a light phase:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9b4ab4bb.jpg
A month before his second birthday, at around 5ft:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psdfa92316.jpg
From October, he's just over 5.5ft:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3d84ef80.jpg
From the Middle of December:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7fbf0cdd.jpg
I do have better photos, but these show how much he's changed. :)
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Here are a few recent photos, from today. He's just starting a shed cycle, so he's looking a bit scraggly. At some point I'll upload some of my favorites I've taken of him, he's usually such a great model.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psc37b5982.jpg
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7f5c10f6.jpg
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
What a handsome fella you have there.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kam
What a handsome fella you have there.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks! He's definitely my favorite (but don't tell the other two that :P ).
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Secret is safe with me.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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From 2013:
I've got quite a bit from last year, so I'll split the photos up into several different posts.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps356d2e1d.jpg
In a cherry tree:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps143f2837.jpg
I let him climb a fair bit up this tree, but because we didn't have a ladder at that time, I didn't let him get out of arm's reach. It's amazing just how much muscle power these guys have; he climbed up this tree with no help from me!
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psdd267834.jpg
I lifted his head up off the camera and he pulled his head back like this before he started exploring again. I've never had him pull back this way in a defensive posture.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psc26e608c.jpg
Caught in the middle of shedding:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2817812e.jpg
Almost done:
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...pse02659c6.jpg
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Last post for now. :) I'll add any new photos I take of him to this thread, but this is it for now.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psf4e26e57.jpg
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps74f3b20a.jpg
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps05634136.jpg
Another strange habit of his. His doesn't stand it up himself, but he'll hold it in place like this if I stand his tail up.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psff135c1a.jpg
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Simply amazing.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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I took some new photos yesterday when I mixed up his bedding and changed out his water. His eyes have been clear for several days now, so hopefully it won't be too much longer. The photos aren't as clear as they normally are (they still aren't professional quality, but this is the best camera I have) because it's difficult to focus on the snakes when they're in shed.
He only soaks when he's in shed. 24/7 from the day his cycle starts until the time when he actually begins shedding, and then he doesn't return again until the next cycle. It doesn't matter what humidity I keep it at 50%, 80%, it makes no difference. I assume that maybe he gets itchy and soaks to relieve it. He only recently started doing this, though. It started around the time he stopped eating when he goes into shed. So, I make sure to take him out, dry him off, and replace his water every 2-3 days.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...pse6014ca7.jpg
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psa9cd5c07.jpg
After being dried off and before returning him to his enclosure.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8e44d593.jpg
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4148d990.jpg
I like to pose him like this every once in awhile so that I can get different shots. He's never reared up like this at me in defense, only as a product of my posing.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9b5f7384.jpg
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Nice pics and snake! I haven't gotten into RTBs yet, but your pics are making me want to. Good luck with your feeder situation. I'm going to start breeding my own rats soon to address that issue as well. Until then, I'm looking at doing an order of frozen feeders... Too bad you have to order tons to make the shipping worth it.
Do you have any shows near you? That is where I got my first load of feeders and without having to pay shipping, it was actually pretty reasonable.. I got about 6 months worth at one time.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Great pictures! Somehow a lot of us have failed to comment. Not intentional!! I just popped on and took a spin through the pics. Nice work.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Totes missed this thread.
Great thread and pics. Tyvm for sharing. :gj: :gj:
The one where he's climbing the tree is my fav. That is awesome. :)
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Thanks everyone!
Quote:
Originally Posted by artgecko
Nice pics and snake! I haven't gotten into RTBs yet, but your pics are making me want to. Good luck with your feeder situation. I'm going to start breeding my own rats soon to address that issue as well. Until then, I'm looking at doing an order of frozen feeders... Too bad you have to order tons to make the shipping worth it.
Do you have any shows near you? That is where I got my first load of feeders and without having to pay shipping, it was actually pretty reasonable.. I got about 6 months worth at one time.
Thanks! I have 3 rabbits set aside for him (not sure if I addressed that or not), and as we speak I'm thawing one out. I'm also going to be getting a shipment of food once I get a freezer, I like having food stocked up. I'll get enough to stock up for a year, and I may order a small set of pinkies for Draco as well. Shows never come to my side of the state, but the Charlotte and Raleigh shows are only a few hours away, so I'll try to make it to whichever show I can.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pyrate81
Totes missed this thread.
Great thread and pics. Tyvm for sharing. :gj: :gj:
The one where he's climbing the tree is my fav. That is awesome. :)
Thanks, I'm glad to share my photos. :) He usually doesn't like to climb at all, so I was surprised when he did.
It's been very dry here and for some reason I'm having trouble maintaining humidity in his enclosure. I've always been able to maintain a 70% humidity even with low humidity around 10-13% in the room, and the room's humidity has actually increased to around 30% and yet it's still staying around 40-45% in his enclosure. I'm going to try to pick up some sphagnum moss and brand-new EcoEarth blocks and see if that will help. Cloud had his first spotty shed ever today, it came off in three big, raggedy pieces. There's no stuck shed and his eye caps came off fine, but usually he gives me perfect sheds.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psc8632006.jpg
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5d12bbe2.jpg
In the tub I used to weigh him. He's only 7lb 11.6oz or ~3504 grams.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps382c41f6.jpg
He's also looking sort of thin, for some reason shedding always makes snakes look thinner. Hopefully the rabbits will get him to put on some weight, he's always seemed kind of light.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa
Awesome pic! It could be that I'm seeing it on my phone, but it almost looks like his eyes are polished metal.
Random question, but if you don't mind me asking... How old are you anyway?
Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by patientz3ro
Awesome pic! It could be that I'm seeing it on my phone, but it almost looks like his eyes are polished metal.
Random question, but if you don't mind me asking... How old are you anyway?
Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk
It looks like that on my laptop, too. :D I'm glad he's kept his silver eyes, they stand out so well.
I'm 19, why?
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa
It looks like that on my laptop, too. :D I'm glad he's kept his silver eyes, they stand out so well.
I'm 19, why?
In the pics you've posted, you look younger than that, but you're a lot more articulate and conscientious than any teenagers I've met in a while.
Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by patientz3ro
In the pics you've posted, you look younger than that, but you're a lot more articulate and conscientious than any teenagers I've met in a while.
Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk
I've always looked kind of young I guess; when I was 15, people always assumed I was 12. Doesn't help I'm short, too. lol
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa
:8::rofl: Nice looking boa, and great photos, but that one got me laughing. Welcome to BP.net.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa
Shows never come to my side of the state, but the Charlotte and Raleigh shows are only a few hours away, so I'll try to make it to whichever show I can.
What part of NC are you in? The Raleigh show was 2 weekends ago. The next one will be July 19-20. The Charlotte show dates are April 5-6, and August 23-24. The dates for Winston-Salem are May 31-June 1, and December 13-14.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vypyrz
What part of NC are you in? The Raleigh show was 2 weekends ago. The next one will be July 19-20. The Charlotte show dates are April 5-6, and August 23-24. The dates for Winston-Salem are May 31-June 1, and December 13-14.
I just saw your post in the NC thread. Some other show dates in your region are Columbia, SC, March 8-9, July 12-13, and November 1-2. The dates for Greenville, SC are February 8-9, and October 11-12. The Chattanooga, TN show dates are March 29-30 and August 9-10. And, the Knoxville, TN show dates are February 15-16.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vypyrz
I just saw your post in the NC thread. Some other show dates in your region are Columbia, SC, March 8-9, July 12-13, and November 1-2. The dates for Greenville, SC are February 8-9, and October 11-12. The Chattanooga, TN show dates are March 29-30 and August 9-10. And, the Knoxville, TN show dates are February 15-16.
Greenville is probably the closest to where I am, but I highly doubt I'll be able to make the February show. I probably won't be able to make any shows until this fall or spring of next year, so for this year I'm most likely looking at the Greenville October show or the Chattanooga August show (the Greenville is more likely because it's closer). Columbia is sort of close, but isn't it a hot show? I'm hoping to see some Burms or retics.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa
Greenville is probably the closest to where I am, but I highly doubt I'll be able to make the February show. I probably won't be able to make any shows until this fall or spring of next year, so for this year I'm most likely looking at the Greenville October show or the Chattanooga August show (the Greenville is more likely because it's closer). Columbia is sort of close, but isn't it a hot show? I'm hoping to see some Burms or retics.
Yes, the SC shows have "hots", as well as, most everything else that you normally find at them.
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So, Cloud did take that rabbit. :) He was being weird about it, though. Usually he'll hit his food as hard as he can, even sending hides flying and sloshing water, but he wanted nothing to do with the rabbit dance and actually started to run away. So, I gave up and plopped it down on the side of enclosure he was escaping to. Literally, the moment I started rolling the door shut he turned right around in the middle of crawling away and went straight for the rabbit. He spent 10-15 minutes searching for the head, and proceeded to eat. Not the only time he's been strange, either. Once I was feeding him a large rat and instead of striking it he wanted me to hold it perfectly still above him. He opened his mouth wide and just gently gently brought his mouth up to it to eat. lol It was the weirdest thing I've ever seen. This time it could have just been because it was a new prey item, he's only ever had rats. *shrugs*
Freshly shed, and 2 days after his meal. The rabbit didn't leave a bulge really, but they're on the higher end (~15% of his body weight) of the weight range.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8f497814.jpg
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psb682967c.jpg
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps23118fe6.jpg
Hugging my waist.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8aa31502.jpg
His tail in natural sunlight. Not warm enough to take him out, but the sunlight kept the door warm and there was no wind so I felt safe opening the door for light.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...pscfe8fc9c.jpg
So, Cloud shed one of his teeth last night...I found it stuck to his bottom lip by a string of saliva. Thought it was a frayed scale at first, but when I grabbed his head to inspect I then thought it was a tongue skin that took awhile to come off (I usually find them on his chin 2-3 days after he sheds) but when I stuck my finger to it to remove it I found out it was a tooth. o.o
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6609eed5.jpg
Less than 24 hours later, and it went from clear to bone white.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psa3ab09cf.jpg
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Great pics of your boa! How old is he now? I am in the process of getting my first boa so I'm trying to suck up all of the info I can find. I'm glad he decided to eat for you and that you found a local source of food.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by artgecko
Great pics of your boa! How old is he now? I am in the process of getting my first boa so I'm trying to suck up all of the info I can find. I'm glad he decided to eat for you and that you found a local source of food.
Thanks! He's right about 2.5 years old now. I'm not sure if it's because I was 2 weeks late on his feeding or not, but he seems to have severely slowed down his growth. During his growth spurt (after his first birthday - he didn't grow much his first year) he was growing 2-3 inches every other week until a month or two after his 2nd birthday and then he was growing 1in ~every 3 weeks, but he's only grown 1in since the beginning of December so he's probably about as big as he's going to get now. :). I measured him at 5ft 11in, so still close enough to just call him 6ft. I'm not sure how long boas grow for because I get mixed reviews, so he could still have a year or two to grow a bit more.
Same here, but I was hoping to get a freezer so I could bulk order online so these were meant just to hold him over. I like to have food stocked up, that way I don't have to worry about food for awhile - and it's cheaper in the long run. lol
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa
Thanks! He's right about 2.5 years old now. I'm not sure if it's because I was 2 weeks late on his feeding or not, but he seems to have severely slowed down his growth. During his growth spurt (after his first birthday - he didn't grow much his first year) he was growing 2-3 inches every other week until a month or two after his 2nd birthday and then he was growing 1in ~every 3 weeks, but he's only grown 1in since the beginning of December so he's probably about as big as he's going to get now. :). I measured him at 5ft 11in, so still close enough to just call him 6ft. I'm not sure how long boas grow for because I get mixed reviews, so he could still have a year or two to grow a bit more.
Same here, but I was hoping to get a freezer so I could bulk order online so these were meant just to hold him over. I like to have food stocked up, that way I don't have to worry about food for awhile - and it's cheaper in the long run. lol
Boas grow their entire lives. Your boa is quite large for its age, and seems a little heavy in the lower half, maybe he recently ate or its just the picture. It's a nice looking boa none the less. This time of year you should lower the temps in the cage if ambient temps don't lower enough in your house to change/drop cage temps for a seasonal adjustment. Boas should be taking in less food during this part of the season. Some very experienced boa keepers will skip a month or two or more of feeding.
If your boa is already close to 6 feet, that is the normal range for a male BCI. 7 feet is considered quite large. Boas that are fed a lot and brought up too fast die much earlier than boas that are conservatively fed.
Gus Renfro, who is considered THE authority on boas stated "the biggest boas are the oldest boas". What he meant by that, is that boas that are brought up properly will live much longer lives and grow to their full potential.
There are some factors, outside of the obvious ones that will influence a male boa's growth. If you have no female boas in your home, and you never plan on breeding your male, it will likely become larger than a male boa that detects the scents of a female during breeding season or is actually used to breed. That process takes up an incredible amount of energy and male boas will often refuse food during breeding season.
You can also read where Vin Russo mentions in his book, THE COMPLETE BOA CONSTRICTOR, that he feels boas grow more when they are not in a constant state of feeding and digesting. Russo, who is a friend of Gus Rentfro's is also an authority on BC's.
Too many people feel these snakes require a constant supply of food, and it's just NOT true. Boa Constrictors are designed to be able to go long stretches without food. It's a hard fact to slam home, but if you want to have a long lived, healthy animal, drop the temps and let the snake take a break from the cycle of feeding and digesting and feeding again.
A snake that is pure muscle and lean is the ideal snake. There are no fat boas in the wild!
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gio
Boas grow their entire lives. Your boa is quite large for its age, and seems a little heavy in the lower half, maybe he recently ate or its just the picture. It's a nice looking boa none the less. This time of year you should lower the temps in the cage if ambient temps don't lower enough in your house to change/drop cage temps for a seasonal adjustment. Boas should be taking in less food during this part of the season. Some very experienced boa keepers will skip a month or two or more of feeding.
If your boa is already close to 6 feet, that is the normal range for a male BCI. 7 feet is considered quite large. Boas that are fed a lot and brought up too fast die much earlier than boas that are conservatively fed.
Gus Renfro, who is considered THE authority on boas stated "the biggest boas are the oldest boas". What he meant by that, is that boas that are brought up properly will live much longer lives and grow to their full potential.
There are some factors, outside of the obvious ones that will influence a male boa's growth. If you have no female boas in your home, and you never plan on breeding your male, it will likely become larger than a male boa that detects the scents of a female during breeding season or is actually used to breed. That process takes up an incredible amount of energy and male boas will often refuse food during breeding season.
You can also read where Vin Russo mentions in his book, THE COMPLETE BOA CONSTRICTOR, that he feels boas grow more when they are not in a constant state of feeding and digesting. Russo, who is a friend of Gus Rentfro's is also an authority on BC's.
Too many people feel these snakes require a constant supply of food, and it's just NOT true. Boa Constrictors are designed to be able to go long stretches without food. It's a hard fact to slam home, but if you want to have a long lived, healthy animal, drop the temps and let the snake take a break from the cycle of feeding and digesting and feeding again.
A snake that is pure muscle and lean is the ideal snake. There are no fat boas in the wild!
Yes, sorry, that is because he recently ate. :D Those photos were only 2-3 days after he ate, so he's going to look a bit bigger than normal. Here are some of him empty from a few days ago, he thins out a lot after he poos. I have begun a biweekly feeding schedule over the last several feedings, and I may lengthen it out to 3 or 4 weeks for his rabbits, because he put on a lot more weight than I had ever thought he would have just from one rabbit and I was not expecting it to be so extreme. He was 7lb 11.6oz empty 2 weeks ago before I fed him his first rabbit, and he was 8lb 13oz (3,666 grams to be specific) empty after he voided all his rabbit. :O So, he gained an entire pound just from one rabbit! I will most likely be waiting a 3rd week, if not a 4th, before I offer him his 3rd rabbit, as I try to keep him on the leaner more muscular side.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps474b832e.jpg
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps83b045f0.jpg
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps360bf49b.jpg
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6bc9c19c.jpg
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gio
Boas grow their entire lives. Your boa is quite large for its age, and seems a little heavy in the lower half, maybe he recently ate or its just the picture. It's a nice looking boa none the less. This time of year you should lower the temps in the cage if ambient temps don't lower enough in your house to change/drop cage temps for a seasonal adjustment. Boas should be taking in less food during this part of the season. Some very experienced boa keepers will skip a month or two or more of feeding.
If your boa is already close to 6 feet, that is the normal range for a male BCI. 7 feet is considered quite large. Boas that are fed a lot and brought up too fast die much earlier than boas that are conservatively fed.
Gus Renfro, who is considered THE authority on boas stated "the biggest boas are the oldest boas". What he meant by that, is that boas that are brought up properly will live much longer lives and grow to their full potential.
There are some factors, outside of the obvious ones that will influence a male boa's growth. If you have no female boas in your home, and you never plan on breeding your male, it will likely become larger than a male boa that detects the scents of a female during breeding season or is actually used to breed. That process takes up an incredible amount of energy and male boas will often refuse food during breeding season.
You can also read where Vin Russo mentions in his book, THE COMPLETE BOA CONSTRICTOR, that he feels boas grow more when they are not in a constant state of feeding and digesting. Russo, who is a friend of Gus Rentfro's is also an authority on BC's.
Too many people feel these snakes require a constant supply of food, and it's just NOT true. Boa Constrictors are designed to be able to go long stretches without food. It's a hard fact to slam home, but if you want to have a long lived, healthy animal, drop the temps and let the snake take a break from the cycle of feeding and digesting and feeding again.
A snake that is pure muscle and lean is the ideal snake. There are no fat boas in the wild!
Also, I don't think I went into great detail in the thread, but he has been fed 1 smaller meal weekly. About 10-15% of his body weight weekly which is a feeding schedule that I learned of (it has a name but I can't remember it) that's supposed to keep snakes on the slimmer muscular side but they also tend to grow fast, and before that (because of a loss of my rat breeding colony and the unreliableness of pet stores) he got multiple small meals. So at 4.5ft and ~3.5-4lb he either got 2 small rats (50-70 grams each) or 3 weanlings. Then, when he was 5.5ft and just over 5lbs he got 175-179 gram rats. The 10-15% weekly is supposed to be decreased to 10% weekly as an adult. The rabbits were actually weighed at 12-13 oz each, but because I was looking for 1lb rabbits, for simplicity (in my mind) I call them 1lb. I'm not sure if that sounds right to you or not, but the weight method is what I've been advised for by several boa keepers. So that's what he was on while he had rats a month ago, 10% of his body weight weekly. Since it's rabbits now and they're more fatty, it will be 3-4 weeks instead of weekly.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
The 10-15% prey rule is for balls (and youngsters at that), not boas. At his age he should not be eating weekly. Many breeders start babies out on a 10 day feed schedule. He should be eating an appropriate size item every 2 ish weeks. My almost 2 year old boas are eating a medium-ish rat every 2 weeks. They are nice and lean, and I can see their muscles. He shouldn't be on rabbits yet. A male BCI, should be able to get by with rats his whole life. I would back him off. He is very large for his age, and imo, too big, and eating too much.
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Those are some drop dead, gorgeous pictures of your Boa. The outdoor ones are my favorite. Keep up the great work and the pics..
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by DooLittle
The 10-15% prey rule is for balls (and youngsters at that), not boas. At his age he should not be eating weekly. Many breeders start babies out on a 10 day feed schedule. He should be eating an appropriate size item every 2 ish weeks. My almost 2 year old boas are eating a medium-ish rat every 2 weeks. They are nice and lean, and I can see their muscles. He shouldn't be on rabbits yet. A male BCI, should be able to get by with rats his whole life. I would back him off. He is very large for his age, and imo, too big, and eating too much.
I did not know that. I was suggested this diet by several people who use the same method for their boa constrictors, ball pythons, and reticulated pythons. The very first photo I posted on here was a product of a 7-10 day schedule as a baby and he looked anorexically skinny to me. Maybe it was just the way the photo was taken, then, or I'm just not used to seeing baby weight.
I have also already stated he is no longer on a weekly schedule. With his last rat I started a biweekly schedule (as in before that rat I waited 2 weeks), and then his next meal (which was his first rabbit) was 4-5 weeks later, I waited 2 weeks to give him his next rabbit, and I think I will be waiting an extra week or two before giving him the remaining rabbit.
I get so many mixed opinions on feeding. 7-10 day as babies, every 5 days as babies. Once a year old they should be fed once every 2 weeks, they should be fed weekly until 2 years old. A 6ft boa can be started on rabbits, never feed rabbits. Don't feed jumbos because they are fattier than rabbits, don't feed rabbits because they're as fatty as Guinea pigs. Rats are more nutritious, rabbits are more nutritious. My take on it was to try the rabbits anyway, less often than fed on rats, and see how he does. I tried it at 2 weeks like his recent schedule, that seems to be too often. So I'll try 3 weeks. If that's still too often, I'll try 4 weeks. The only way I'm going to be able to sort through all of this conflicting info is doing it myself because I was obviously getting nowhere with the info being provided.
I was under the impression that 5ft at 2 years was normal, which he was just a few inches over 5ft at 2 years. I think I may have addressed this, but for a month or so I had been feeding him way too large of rats without realizing it. He should have been eating large-ish mediums or small-ish large rats, but he was eating jumbo-sized rats. Maybe that's why he's already jumped up to 6ft in 6 months from 5ft. I have constantly been asking questions concerning eating habits since I got him 2.5 years ago, and nobody has pointed out that I was in the wrong. I guess this will be a learning curve for my next boa.
It's hard to find a decent place to let him stretch out in this apartment because it's so small, but I cleared off a space in the kitchen. This is him today with a full belly ****2 days, nearly 3 days, after eating.***
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psd30f2eae.jpg
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps70a27601.jpg
On my leg.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps50efbee4.jpg
This is a boa in the wild, which is quite a bit more heavy-set than Cloud. DISCLAIMER: I am not saying all are like this, but if Cloud is fat this one certainly is.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...Panama_101.jpg
I am sorry if I sound cross, it's just frustrating trying to sift through all of this information with everyone saying each other is wrong without ever getting to root of everything. I have always been told that Cloud was a nice, lean, muscular boa so I did not know that I was doing anything wrong - it's hard for me to change anything if I don't know! I hope you understand.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
That picture of the wild boa, is definitely obese. I understand every body is going to do their own thing, I'm just offering my opinion. I have never heard anyone say to feed boas by the 10-15% rule. Never. And those very first baby pictures of cloud where you said he was skinny, he did in fact look to be of of a healthy weight then, not skinny. Boas should be boxy shaped, not round. When I first got boas, this is what I read everywhere. As well as was told by a person very well versed and experienced with boas, whose advice I trust completely. And I have been feeding my boas according to that and they are doing fantastic. And still seem to be growing crazy fast. My female will be 2 in May. I'll try to get her out later and get you a full picture, maybe with a foot in it for comparison. And this is a female.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by DooLittle
That picture of the wild boa, is definitely obese. I understand every body is going to do their own thing, I'm just offering my opinion. I have never heard anyone say to feed boas by the 10-15% rule. Never. And those very first baby pictures of cloud where you said he was skinny, he did in fact look to be of of a healthy weight then, not skinny. Boas should be boxy shaped, not round. When I first got boas, this is what I read everywhere. As well as was told by a person very well versed and experienced with boas, whose advice I trust completely. And I have been feeding my boas according to that and they are doing fantastic. And still seem to be growing crazy fast. My female will be 2 in May. I'll try to get her out later and get you a full picture, maybe with a foot in it for comparison. And this is a female.
It was a few people, as said, and one person posted a thread on another website of their boas that were on the same rule. Yes, I agree, I thought he was a perfect weight as a baby. The only one I'm kinda skimpy on is that very first one, where he looks very skinny. It could just be the angle, though.
Yes, I would like that. :)
Would you like a visual representation of the size of food I've given him over the past couple of years? Other than a few hiccups, I have never fed anything bigger around than he is and most were smaller around. He has been looking like he's getting a bit chubby to me lately, but still with that same basic box shape, which is why I'm spacing his feedings out more. I do not plan to feed exclusively rabbits; once I can stock up I'll give him 1 rat to either 2 or 3 rabbits.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Hey,
certainly not the end of the world, and I wish I could get you the old Rio Bravo Reptiles web page. The feeding schedule and seasonal drops were excellent. Vin Russo's book is also helpful. Nobody is down on you. The quick growth of a boa,especially a male just gets some folks worried. Yours is definitely big, but you can lean him out and start making him hunt and wait for his food. Cool your temps and let him go 4 weeks with nothing since you fed the rabbit. It will be healthy for him.
I am sort of in between what breeders do for males and what I've been advised from reputable people for maxing out a male in a healthy fashion. I have personally decided to slow things down a bit and use seasonal drops.
At this point I'd go with Doolittle or Evenstar's advice. Your male is certainly big enough and you can lean him out. You'll want to see some lines on his back and look for a total loaf shape from head to tail.
The wild boa in the pic, if it is in fact wild could be a female, and it could be gravid, or recently have eaten. Wild boas can eat feverishly at certain times of the year and then go months with nothing. They cruise more than a caged boa, and have several obstacles to overcome. There are positives and negatives in the wild. The exercise is a benefit, but the captive environment offers much more safety and obviously endless amounts of food.
Just back him down a little. If you continue rabbits, really space them out. Maybe throw in a quail here and there on the smaller side, but keep the 20 day space. For now,,, I seriously think he's good through the end of March.
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Just now found this thread. Cloud is a handsome fellow!
DooLittle has given you great advice on feeding. I also am not aware of anyone with a top-notch reputation who recommends that 10-15% rule for boas. Boas have a MUCH slower metabolism than either Ball Pythons or Retics and they do not need to eat such large prey items. Slower and less is much healthier for boas. The appropriate prey size for a boa should NOT leave any noticeable lump at all. An adult male Colombian boa constrictor can live exclusively on rats for his entire life. 1 jumbo or 2 large rats every 3-4 weeks is perfectly fine for any adult, even most females. This is what I do for my boas:
Babies (neonate to 1 year) - Start on hopper mice up to appropriate size as baby grows. One mouse every 7-10 days.
Juveniles (1-2 years) - Keep on mice up to large size then switch to similar size rat. One every 10-14 days.
Young adults (2-3 years) - One appropriately sized rat every 14-21 days.
Adults (3+ years and breeders) - One appropriately sized rat every 21 days, except breeding females are fed a bit more and gravid females are fed a bit less. Seasonal drops are also effective.
I've based my feeding schedule on the advice of Gus Rentfro (Rio Bravo), Vin Russo (Cutting Edge Herps), Donnie Smith (Prima Reptilia), and JB (Jonathan Brady - Deviant Constrictors). There is NO ONE else who gives better or more knowledgeable advice than these folks. They are the foremost authority on captive boa constrictor care and breeding. Vin Russo wrote the boa-bible - "The Complete Boa Constrictor" and introduced the first captive boas to the US (I forget exactly when - 1970's?? Gio, help me out here?? My book isn't handy at the moment....).
But it's also important to note that this is just a guide. You have to be a bit flexible with feeding and do slightly more or less often depending on your individual. I also want to begin offering quail in my boas' diets so I may feed a bit more often if I do that. I do not nor will I offer rabbits to any of my boas - including my females (with the exception perhaps of my female Argentine eventually).
Quote:
The wild boa in the pic, if it is in fact wild could be a female, and it could be gravid, or recently have eaten. Wild boas can eat feverishly at certain times of the year and then go months with nothing. They cruise more than a caged boa, and have several obstacles to overcome. There are positives and negatives in the wild. The exercise is a benefit, but the captive environment offers much more safety and obviously endless amounts of food.
What Gio said here is extremely accurate. I would want to know more about this "wild" animal. What is the source of this picture? If it is, in fact, a gravid female, then she is in no way obese. And wild boas can and do eat very large prey items because they may have to go months before they can catch their next meal. Captivity means a different lifestyle for our animals. We provide for their every need. They have to live in a tiny environment compared to the wild and they get fed whenever they are hungry. In order to be healthy in captivity, it is our responsibility to adjust their feeding to make that be so. What a boa does and looks like in the wild cannot be compared to what they do and should look like in captivity.
And as Gio and DooLittle also said, no one is down on you. We are just here to help and to offer accurate and sensible advice. I understand how frustrating it can be to weed through all that conflicting information. That's why I showed you my own schedule and told you who has helped me. This is tried and true information from professionals you can trust.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evenstar
Just now found this thread. Cloud is a handsome fellow!
DooLittle has given you great advice on feeding. I also am not aware of anyone with a top-notch reputation who recommends that 10-15% rule for boas. Boas have a MUCH slower metabolism than either Ball Pythons or Retics and they do not need to eat such large prey items. Slower and less is much healthier for boas. The appropriate prey size for a boa should NOT leave any noticeable lump at all. An adult male Colombian boa constrictor can live exclusively on rats for his entire life. 1 jumbo or 2 large rats every 3-4 weeks is perfectly fine for any adult, even most females. This is what I do for my boas:
Babies (neonate to 1 year) - Start on hopper mice up to appropriate size as baby grows. One mouse every 7-10 days.
Juveniles (1-2 years) - Keep on mice up to large size then switch to similar size rat. One every 10-14 days.
Young adults (2-3 years) - One appropriately sized rat every 14-21 days.
Adults (3+ years and breeders) - One appropriately sized rat every 21 days, except breeding females are fed a bit more and gravid females are fed a bit less. Seasonal drops are also effective.
I've based my feeding schedule on the advice of Gus Rentfro (Rio Bravo), Vin Russo (Cutting Edge Herps), Donnie Smith (Prima Reptilia), and JB (Jonathan Brady - Deviant Constrictors). There is NO ONE else who gives better or more knowledgeable advice than these folks. They are the foremost authority on captive boa constrictor care and breeding. Vin Russo wrote the boa-bible - "The Complete Boa Constrictor" and introduced the first captive boas to the US (I forget exactly when - 1970's?? Gio, help me out here?? My book isn't handy at the moment....).
But it's also important to note that this is just a guide. You have to be a bit flexible with feeding and do slightly more or less often depending on your individual. I also want to begin offering quail in my boas' diets so I may feed a bit more often if I do that. I do not nor will I offer rabbits to any of my boas - including my females (with the exception perhaps of my female Argentine eventually).
What Gio said here is extremely accurate. I would want to know more about this "wild" animal. What is the source of this picture? If it is, in fact, a gravid female, then she is in no way obese. And wild boas can and do eat very large prey items because they may have to go months before they can catch their next meal. Captivity means a different lifestyle for our animals. We provide for their every need. They have to live in a tiny environment compared to the wild and they get fed whenever they are hungry. In order to be healthy in captivity, it is our responsibility to adjust their feeding to make that be so. What a boa does and looks like in the wild cannot be compared to what they do and should look like in captivity.
And as Gio and DooLittle also said, no one is down on you. We are just here to help and to offer accurate and sensible advice. I understand how frustrating it can be to weed through all that conflicting information. That's why I showed you my own schedule and told you who has helped me. This is tried and true information from professionals you can trust.
Wow! That is perfect advice, and I like the other folks added in the feeding list. Jonathan Brady and Morti compliment the list well. Sorry Kali I don't have my Russo book close and have been using my I-phone to type which sucks so I am no help there.
I don't think that Cloud is in any danger if you pull back a bit. I also understand that some boas really do get big. I hope mine is one, but the key is to monitor the girth, and keep the fat down.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Well Ripley wasn't much interested in cooperating for pictures. But you can see the muscles in her back, and maybe get an idea for girth.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/16/equzyma5.jpg
This was from last summer-
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/16/ze2ygedu.jpg
And this is my newest worm, Remi. You can kinda get an idea of baby size from these pics, and you can see how boxy he is.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/16/epuzuzev.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/16/ju2abyhe.jpg
And here is my male (he is actually closer to 1.5 than 2. I thought he was April, but isn't). You can see his boxy muscular shape (lol, he's giving Finn a ride :p).
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/16/umy6yqad.jpg
Evenstar left some great advice. She is very knowledgeable! Hope this helps. :)
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DooLittle, that pic of Ripley is perfect! Look at how muscular she is - wow!
** Gio, you are correct - Cloud is NOT in any danger. He is not that overweight. In fact, he's only, what I would say, a wee bit pudgy - which could easily be contributed to that rabbit he chowed down. He looked much better once he voided that... :D
The part we all want to stress is that he will be healthier in the long run if the feeding is backed off a little.
Here are a few of my adults. You can see the same sort of squarish-muscular appearance. ;)
Guinness, male low-expression jungle
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/...ps670b1a5c.jpg
Jager, male hypo dh ghost
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1dcbde7b.jpg
Peaches, female OT hypo dh ivory ghost
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/...ps98e22adc.jpg
Mojo, male Argentine
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0e618c61.jpg
Roslyn, female Argentine motley
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/...ps50e6a86c.jpg
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
I agree, Cloud looks much better in the newer pics. Doolittle and Evenstar, those are really great examples of lean boas. I think there is some debate on rabbits, and I have caught wind of a few people saying the fat content is less than rats. There could be some merit to feeding a rabbit equivalent.
I think if Cloud exercises enough and goes a month without food he should do just fine.
I also enjoy seeing pictures so keep posting them!
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gio
I agree, Cloud looks much better in the newer pics. Doolittle and Evenstar, those are really great examples of lean boas. I think there is some debate on rabbits, and I have caught wind of a few people saying the fat content is less than rats. There could be some merit to feeding a rabbit equivalent.
I think if Cloud exercises enough and goes a month without food he should do just fine.
I also enjoy seeing pictures so keep posting them!
I don't think there's anything wrong with rabbits at all. In fact, they probably do have a better nutritional content than rats, strictly speaking. It's just that small rabbits that are about the same size as large rats are somewhat hard to find and can be expensive. It is also pretty easy to overfeed your boa anyway - but even easier when they are on rabbits.
This is one reason why I want to incorporate quail in my boas' diets like you've done, Gio. I want them to have better nutrition than rats alone can give, but still not have to move to rabbits. ;)
**By the way, I'm in the process of putting together a collection thread with updated pics on all my guys. Look for it later tonight.... :D
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evenstar
**By the way, I'm in the process of putting together a collection thread with updated pics on all my guys. Look for it later tonight.... :D
Cannot wait to see this!!
OP, Cloud should trim down just fine with cutting back. Mine started to get a bit chubby on 10 days. Not long after bumping them back to 2 weeks,, they looked nice and lean again.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evenstar
Just now found this thread. Cloud is a handsome fellow!
DooLittle has given you great advice on feeding. I also am not aware of anyone with a top-notch reputation who recommends that 10-15% rule for boas. Boas have a MUCH slower metabolism than either Ball Pythons or Retics and they do not need to eat such large prey items. Slower and less is much healthier for boas. The appropriate prey size for a boa should NOT leave any noticeable lump at all. An adult male Colombian boa constrictor can live exclusively on rats for his entire life. 1 jumbo or 2 large rats every 3-4 weeks is perfectly fine for any adult, even most females. This is what I do for my boas:
Babies (neonate to 1 year) - Start on hopper mice up to appropriate size as baby grows. One mouse every 7-10 days.
Juveniles (1-2 years) - Keep on mice up to large size then switch to similar size rat. One every 10-14 days.
Young adults (2-3 years) - One appropriately sized rat every 14-21 days.
Adults (3+ years and breeders) - One appropriately sized rat every 21 days, except breeding females are fed a bit more and gravid females are fed a bit less. Seasonal drops are also effective.
I've based my feeding schedule on the advice of Gus Rentfro (Rio Bravo), Vin Russo (Cutting Edge Herps), Donnie Smith (Prima Reptilia), and JB (Jonathan Brady - Deviant Constrictors). There is NO ONE else who gives better or more knowledgeable advice than these folks. They are the foremost authority on captive boa constrictor care and breeding. Vin Russo wrote the boa-bible - "The Complete Boa Constrictor" and introduced the first captive boas to the US (I forget exactly when - 1970's?? Gio, help me out here?? My book isn't handy at the moment....).
But it's also important to note that this is just a guide. You have to be a bit flexible with feeding and do slightly more or less often depending on your individual. I also want to begin offering quail in my boas' diets so I may feed a bit more often if I do that. I do not nor will I offer rabbits to any of my boas - including my females (with the exception perhaps of my female Argentine eventually).
What Gio said here is extremely accurate. I would want to know more about this "wild" animal. What is the source of this picture? If it is, in fact, a gravid female, then she is in no way obese. And wild boas can and do eat very large prey items because they may have to go months before they can catch their next meal. Captivity means a different lifestyle for our animals. We provide for their every need. They have to live in a tiny environment compared to the wild and they get fed whenever they are hungry. In order to be healthy in captivity, it is our responsibility to adjust their feeding to make that be so. What a boa does and looks like in the wild cannot be compared to what they do and should look like in captivity.
And as Gio and DooLittle also said, no one is down on you. We are just here to help and to offer accurate and sensible advice. I understand how frustrating it can be to weed through all that conflicting information. That's why I showed you my own schedule and told you who has helped me. This is tried and true information from professionals you can trust.
Yes, he gained a lot of weight from the rabbit as I said. Here's a photo of him right before (he did gain a pound, remember!) eating and 4-5 weeks after his last rat that I posted earlier in the thread. He hadn't been taken out in over a month, or eaten in about that time so he wasn't looking his best. I was surprised, because he looked a lot different from the time before I was kicked out and actually had me worried a bit because he looked thinner and flabbier. Is it ok to keep him on the rabbits, or are they too fatty? Because on the rats, at his current size and from 5.5ft he's only averaged around 6lbs, and 7lbs 11.6oz was his heaviest weight to date prior to the rabbits. Would it be fine if I fed them only once a month as Gio said, and go with my plan to alternate with other prey items?
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps382c41f6.jpg
Here are some examples of prey size he's been given, these were the standard size he got when he was small. The size compared to his girth became a little bit bigger once he was on larges. I can also provide pics of the few bigger meals I fed, which were only on a few occasions from misjudgement on my part:
November 22, 2012.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps086bb848.jpg
March 20, 2013.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps91461c98.jpg
Not quite as big around as he is, but nearly. July 9, 2012.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4f69c42e.jpg
Eating a large rat (175-179 grams), smaller around than he is. Taken at the beginning of August.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...psdbedf567.jpg
Just in case people point out to me: yes, I used to feed outside the enclosure. No, I do not still do that. The photo above is the last feeding photo I took since I started feeding in the enclosure around the beginning or middle of last summer, so it's the most recent on I can offer.
As far as the story behind the photo, I'm not sure. They were taken by a wildlife photographer who's name I've seen quite often. This photo can also be found in one of his galleries here: http://www.waynelynch.ca/neotropical_gallery.html
Quote:
Originally Posted by DooLittle
That's actually similar to the body shape I'm used to seeing in Cloud, except he's taller. :) Usually I can see the muscle on his back, but he gained some weight from the rabbits, which is why (if I continue to feed them) I will be spacing them out a lot more. He got a little bit chubby there. lol
They're all beautiful, especially Remi. :D
I think I'll take everyone's advice on the winter drops, as looking at photos, he does seem to get chubbier in the colder weather. Not sure if it's due to me not taking him out as much, or what. During the summer, I usually take him out about every day to crawl around in the sun for about an hour, two at most, but never more.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evenstar
I don't think there's anything wrong with rabbits at all. In fact, they probably do have a better nutritional content than rats, strictly speaking. It's just that small rabbits that are about the same size as large rats are somewhat hard to find and can be expensive. It is also pretty easy to overfeed your boa anyway - but even easier when they are on rabbits.
This is one reason why I want to incorporate quail in my boas' diets like you've done, Gio. I want them to have better nutrition than rats alone can give, but still not have to move to rabbits. ;)
**By the way, I'm in the process of putting together a collection thread with updated pics on all my guys. Look for it later tonight.... :D
I just saw this post. Woops. Around here, find 1/2lb rabbits was extremely difficult, but once he got big enough for 1lb I got a surprising amount of answers....They're pretty cheap, and will cut my weekly costs for everyone by half or more since 1) they don't need to be fed often and 2) buying one rabbit for 4 weeks is cheaper than buying TWO rats for one month (feeding on a biweekly schedule). So, it's cheaper for me to feed rabbits, and they're not difficult to find. :) I do plan on rotating with rats, but I really don't want to deal with quail poop. Yuck.
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa
Yes, he gained a lot of weight from the rabbit as I said. Here's a photo of him right before (he did gain a pound, remember!) eating and 4-5 weeks after his last rat that I posted earlier in the thread. He hadn't been taken out in over a month, or eaten in about that time so he wasn't looking his best. I was surprised, because he looked a lot different from the time before I was kicked out and actually had me worried a bit because he looked thinner and flabbier. Is it ok to keep him on the rabbits, or are they too fatty? Because on the rats, at his current size and from 5.5ft he's only averaged around 6lbs, and 7lbs 11.6oz was his heaviest weight to date prior to the rabbits. Would it be fine if I fed them only once a month as Gio said, and go with my plan to alternate with other prey items?
Personally, I think he's a little small to handle rabbits. On the other hand, if you have a supply of very small rabbits (essentially babies), then he might be ok with that. Honestly, Cloud is about the same size as my 2010 Argentine and my boy is eating one medium rat every 2 weeks or so. I personally feel that feeding smaller prey slightly more often (but not too often) is better.
The rabbits won't be too fatty - they're good nutrition - but they might still be a bit much for Cloud to handle on a regular basis. If you want to incorporate them into his diet, either wait til next year or feed him a rats regularly with a rabbit once every 3-4 months. Or you can give quail a try. Gio can tell you more about that, or you can read about that on JB's blog: http://deviantconstrictors.com/blog/...r-my-boas.html
There is nothing wrong with rabbits. The rabbit is not the issue. The overall size of the prey (no matter what it is) and the frequency of the feeding is what is important here. If you really like the rabbits and can get small ones, keep him on them! Just give your boy plenty of exercise and be careful not to give him something too large. :gj:
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa
I just saw this post. Woops. Around here, find 1/2lb rabbits was extremely difficult, but once he got big enough for 1lb I got a surprising amount of answers....They're pretty cheap, and will cut my weekly costs for everyone by half or more since 1) they don't need to be fed often and 2) buying one rabbit for 4 weeks is cheaper than buying TWO rats for one month (feeding on a biweekly schedule). So, it's cheaper for me to feed rabbits, and they're not difficult to find. :) I do plan on rotating with rats, but I really don't want to deal with quail poop. Yuck.
Hahaha! We overlapped! :D
If you think you want to consider quail, Gio will tell you that the poop is not bad at all. In fact, once they get cleaned out, their poop actually gets BETTER. :gj:
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evenstar
Personally, I think he's a little small to handle rabbits. On the other hand, if you have a supply of very small rabbits (essentially babies), then he might be ok with that. Honestly, Cloud is about the same size as my 2010 Argentine and my boy is eating one medium rat every 2 weeks or so. I personally feel that feeding smaller prey slightly more often (but not too often) is better.
The rabbits won't be too fatty - they're good nutrition - but they might still be a bit much for Cloud to handle on a regular basis. If you want to incorporate them into his diet, either wait til next year or feed him a rats regularly with a rabbit once every 3-4 months. Or you can give quail a try. Gio can tell you more about that, or you can read about that on JB's blog: http://deviantconstrictors.com/blog/...r-my-boas.html
There is nothing wrong with rabbits. The rabbit is not the issue. The overall size of the prey (no matter what it is) and the frequency of the feeding is what is important here. If you really like the rabbits and can get small ones, keep him on them! Just give your boy plenty of exercise and be careful not to give him something too large. :gj:
The rabbits I'm getting are babies of a similar size to the large rat I post before, so they are also smaller around than he is. Without the fur of course, being babies they have some fluffy fur!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evenstar
Hahaha! We overlapped! :D
If you think you want to consider quail, Gio will tell you that the poop is not bad at all. In fact, once they get cleaned out, their poop actually gets BETTER. :gj:
I heard they were runny as well, which is actually my problem. lol Very rarely does he poop in his water dish, so I have to pick it up and it takes so long to expand EcoEarth for his gigantic enclosure I don't like doing big substrate changes often. >.> But, yeah, if they're not as runny as I've heard and they smell better I may go with a few every once in awhile. Because his rat poops smelled terrible, but with EcoEarth's wonderful ability to clear the air, you couldn't smell it immediately upon removal. :) Now the poop he had from that rabbit steeped nicely in his water dish and was TOXIC. I think all that fur was what did it, but I barely made it to the toilet with the bowl. XD
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
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Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa
The rabbits I'm getting are babies of a similar size to the large rat I post before, so they are also smaller around than he is. Without the fur of course, being babies they have some fluffy fur!
I heard they were runny as well, which is actually my problem. lol Very rarely does he poop in his water dish, so I have to pick it up and it takes so long to expand EcoEarth for his gigantic enclosure I don't like doing big substrate changes often. >.> But, yeah, if they're not as runny as I've heard and they smell better I may go with a few every once in awhile. Because his rat poops smelled terrible, but with EcoEarth's wonderful ability to clear the air, you couldn't smell it immediately upon removal. :) Now the poop he had from that rabbit steeped nicely in his water dish and was TOXIC. I think all that fur was what did it, but I barely made it to the toilet with the bowl. XD
Roflmao. No matter what they eat, if it steeps in the water bowl, it's going to be toxic as heck!
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Re: Cloud, Colombian BCI
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evenstar
Roflmao. No matter what they eat, if it steeps in the water bowl, it's going to be toxic as heck!
I've smelled his rat poop steep...and then there's that rabbit poop...whole different ball game. lol
As far as cooling his temps, I'll wait until he voids before doing so just so to be safe. How much cooler should I make it? I can't set (or at least haven't figured out how) to set the differential or whatever on his Herpstat so it does what it wants. Hot side 85-87F and hot spot 90F hot. Cool side ~80F. With spring just around the corner, maybe a month more, should I even bother this year?
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