Is he at a good size for his age?

So I just picked up a red tail boa from the pet store and was just wondering if he's at a good size for his age he is 5 years old and is about 4-5 feet thank you guys in advancedhttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...cac2ade2bd.jpg

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Originally Posted by alejandrosantana0420

So I just picked up a red tail boa from the pet store and was just wondering if he's at a good size for his age he is 5 years old and is about 4-5 feet thank you guys in advancedhttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...cac2ade2bd.jpg

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Well first off, he looks like a nice healthy Boa/BCI . He has good body form/shape and has not been over fed.

There's a significant difference between 4 ft and 5 ft. At 5 yrs, I would expect 5 ft, or maybe 5-6ft. But maybe he has been underfed some along the way. But he looks good now, so don't go power feeding him.

Enjoy him, Boas are cool snakes!

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...0b543f9735.jpg

Its super variable for boas, especially males IMO. I would say 4.5-5 feet for a five year old male is good. Its hard to see in that picture, but it looks healthy.

Thank you guys I feel much better now

Beautiful Boa, I was in Petco today picking up some fish supplies and I saw one in there they had him 50% off so he was $60. I was so tempted but the wife would have killed me.

Seems about right. Boas all grow at different paces and spurts but 5' at 5 years seems about right for a male. My big bci girl Rosey is about 6' and 3 years old and my little sunglow girl Vicky is almost 3' at 1 year old.

Thank you Kelso and thanks you Sauzo and one more question do you guys think it's going to get any bigger?

5' 7" here and will be 3 years old June 27 or 28.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_2487.jpg

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_2484.jpg

Male BCs can grow large, feeding and husbandry are the 2 biggest factors. Year round warm temps and an abundance of quality food will certainly cause growth.

This information is not simply from my experience, it is from Gus Rentfro, who is probably one of the world's top authorities when it comes to BCs.

Also note if your male boa is never housed with or around females, it will not experience the pheromonal cues given off by a female during breeding time. A breeder male, or even a male housed within a home with female boas will behave differently, and become determined to reproduce and much less interested in food.

The biggest boas are the oldest boas, so keep that in mind.

I see that I didn't really answer your question. The boa looks to be in fine health, and not every BC be it male or female will be a giant.

There is certainly sexual size dimorphism between males BCs and females, however I don't see many reasons why a "shoulder pet" non-breeder, male can't attain a decent size. Using somewhat warmer husbandry practices, within the reasonable guidelines, and feeding larger prey items, you will probably see some increased growth if that is your goal.

Your boa is at an age where the accelerated growth spurts are probably over, and a slow, steady growth pattern has taken hold.

I have no idea what the previous situation with your BC was, or how it was kept, or what's in it's genetic background but I don't think it would be a stretch to see it reach 6 feet at some point if you are raising it like a "shoulder pet".

I say all of that with a bit caution, as I'm not recommending an aggressive feeding regime or extremely warm temps with no break in the cycle.

Get to know your snake, don't be overly eager to feed it even though it's interesting, easy and fun.

IMO fat boas are absolutely horrible to look at, and BC's that no longer have the unique lateral compression (loaf shape) have not been cared for properly by their owner.

Shoot for a long lived, healthy BC and the growth will come.

Thank you Gio

Boas will constantly grow throughout their lives, just at a much slower rate after about 3 years old. So yes he will get bigger but it will be slow, nothing you would probably even notice. Also it depends on the morph of the snake concerning its "chunkiness". I was told some hypos get thicker than the usual breadloaf shape but are still healthy. Mostl I would just watch to make sure your boa has the lateral muscle line going down the side for a lack of a better term. If he starts to look like a cookie dough tube and all squishy, then hes getting fat. Rosey is a perfect example, she seems rather chunky but when she is out and crawling around, she has muscle tone down her sides and top and can squeeze pretty darn good(she does this to my arm when she doesn't want to go back in the cage) yet if you set her down on the bed or something soft and flat, she looks kind of chunky. Where as Vicky is the cookie cutter boa profile of thin but tall with the same muscle tone as Rosey. Rosey is 3 years old and 6' and Vicky is 1 year old and 3'. Another tell tale sign of fat is if their head seems abnormally small for their body, like a little pin head on a huge body. Then you know it was powerfed.

From what I have read, most of the significant growth of Boas is accomplished within the first four years. Of course there are always exceptions.

Like others have said, boas grow at variable rates throughout their life. Ive had boas that were seemingly going to be on the small end, and put on a ton of weight and size randomly to become my biggest. Just never know what youre going to get. However, a hot and well fed boa will grow large quickly.