New 2 year old Boa size

Hey Guys

So I just recently picked up Roxy at the Cincinnati Reptile expo a couple weeks ago! Shes a 2 year old Columbian Red Tail and is a complete puppy dog that loves to be handled. The breeder claimed he had hand raised her, and actually wasn't planning to sell her, but he heard I was looking for a female and pulled her out from behind his booth. I immediately fell in love and brought her home with me, however I just have one concern. As the post says she's currently only 2 years old; she's about 5 1/2 ft long and weighs just under 7lbs or ~3,000 grams (shown with my 350g ball python for scale). I know there's a big debate in the boa world about power feeding these snakes and getting them up size too quick, and from what I've seen she is about the biggest 2 year old boa I have been able to find. The breeder has fed her weekly since birth, and she is currently eating one med-lrg rat a week. At her current age and size is this too often to be feeding her? I've heard there can be serious complications involved with feeding too often and I certainly don't want to put her through that. Also, if I stop feeding her weekly will that affect her temperament? She's used to being fed every Thursday, so if I start feeding every 10-14 days will she be food aggressive when I try to pick her up and handle her on Thursday/Friday because shes used to being fed then? I currently handle her just about every day unless I feed her, and I plan to continue to do so.

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I'm well aware that my 36"x18"x18" ball python cage is far too small for this girl. My dad and I are currently in the process of building her a 6'x2'x2' wooden/pvc enclosure.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...xyoncage.1.jpg
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Her body condition looks ok though at two years old I'd be feeding a medium rat every 2-3 weeks not weekly. Tap training will help with her expecting weekly feedings.

If this is a recent pick-up the boa shouldn't be anywhere near the ball python to help prevent diseases from being transmitted between the two.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...antine-process

It's spelled Colombian, and red tail is a separate species. Your boa would be considered a common boa constrictor (Boa imperator), I hesitate to use Colombian as most boa constrictors in captivity are mutts.


Yes, she is absolutely over-sized and overfed. My first boa reached 5'2" at 2 years old because I was unaware I was overfeeding him. When he was 2.5' at a year old, I panicked thinking he was stunted until I came onto this forum around the time he was 2-2.5 years old. I've been learning a lot since, and have gotten quite a few boas (and other snakes!) since. With my current feeding regimen, I have two (female) boas that will be 5 in June. One is over 4.5' and the other I'm guessing is over 5' but I haven't measured her in a year or more. Both of them are eating a medium rat every 3 weeks. At 5.5', if it's eating a large rat without a bulge, I'd go 4-6 weeks. She looks fairly overweight, but not as bad as I've seen.


I also don't feed my more mature boas during the winter. 2-3 months no food, plus a 5 degree temp drop. From 88-90F hot area to 85F hot area, and 80-85F ambient to just 80F.


Her temperament may or may not change. None of my boas have been all that affected by a diet change, but I see some who do experience it.


You should not be handling her at all until you've had her a week, and she's eaten at least once. After that, I recommend no more often than 2-3 times a week, besides 2-3 days after eating and while in shed.


You also really should be practicing quarantine. Your boa and bp should not have been introduced. I personally recommend 6 months to a year of qt, but many will recommend 3-6 months. That's keeping the snake in a separate air space from your other snakes, using separate feeding and cleaning utensils, and handling the new snake last. IBD is going around in boas, and they tend to either be asymptomatic or don't show symptoms up to 3 years. But besides that, there are a whole host of other diseases and parasites to be worrying about.

That spelling oddity is similar to the Brazil : Brasil one I guess..


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This was just taken off Google


When you refer to the South American country that limits Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Panama and is washed by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, then the name Columbia is correct, but the name Colombia is preferred in English.


Oddly , I’ve always said Columbia ..
( Of course , Columbian women are the most beautiful in the world !! )


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

That spelling oddity is similar to the Brazil : Brasil one I guess..


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This was just taken off Google


When you refer to the South American country that limits Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Panama and is washed by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, then the name Columbia is correct, but the name Colombia is preferred in English.


Oddly , I’ve always said Columbia ..
( Of course , Columbian women are the most beautiful in the world !! )


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In my Spanish class, it was always spelled Colombia with an accent over the second o. So it’s pronounced Koe-lohm-bee-a not Kuh-lum-bee-ah as most English speakers pronounce it. Columbia is the more common incorrect English spelling from everything I can find on the internet. Colombia seems to be the more accepted proper spelling from everything I can find. Everything I’ve been taught in school and from what I can find is Colombia. Not Columbia.


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She definitely seems big for her age but doesn't look too overweight. As others have suggested I would switch to a medium rat every 2-3 weeks. For reference my 2-3 year old female boas are in the 2-4ft range, not sure on their average weight off the top of my head, and they usually get fed a medium rat every 2-3 weeks. My female boas that are 4+ get a large rat every 3-4 weeks, most of them are between 5-7ft. I typically feed more frequently from March-September, and start going longer or skipping the occasional meal from October-February. That isn't necessary though, plenty of people use the same feeding schedule year round.

Also seconding hook training. Boas tend to have a strong feeding response and mine always act hungry a week after a meal, some of them act hungry the day after, lol. So before taking any of them out of their cage I just tap them on the head with the hook so they know it's not feeding time.

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Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa

In my Spanish class, it was always spelled Colombia with an accent over the second o. So it’s pronounced Koe-lohm-bee-a not Kuh-lum-bee-ah as most English speakers pronounce it. Columbia is the more common incorrect English spelling from everything I can find on the internet. Colombia seems to be the more accepted proper spelling from everything I can find. Everything I’ve been taught in school and from what I can find is Colombia. Not Columbia.


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Maybe we get into a muddle with there being a British Columbia ?

So the two get mixed up somewhat ?
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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Maybe we get into a muddle with there being a British Columbia ?

So the two get mixed up somewhat ?
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British Columbia and Colombia do not share the same spelling. Spanish and English spellings are different. Christopher Columbus’ name is originally Cristoforo Colombo. But yes, in English the two spellings often get mixed.


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I had taken both snakes to the local vet and she said they were both healthy and disease free so I figured it would be okay to get them out together. I won't be doing this anymore for a few months now, but I guess it might be too late... Hopefully not. I'm new the hobby so excuse my spelling. The breeder also told me it was a Colombian Red Tail BCI. Sounds like that may not be accurate, but I'm not too worried about the exact breed of the snake per say; I'm just happy to have a boa that is as beautiful and tame as her. As for the handling I've had her a few weeks and she's eaten twice. I know not to handle her for a few days after her last meal, but beyond that I respect your recommendation. However, this snake was handled daily for 2 years before I got her and I'm going to continue to do so. She never gets stressed out and actually seems to enjoy hanging around my arms and neck for an hour or two sometimes without moving. She's obviously a very tame snake and has been babied her whole life, I'm just trying to make sure she continues to live the same lifestyle (minus some of that extra fat shes got). I'll try cutting her feeding down to every 2 weeks at first, thanks for the help.

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Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa

British Columbia and Colombia do not share the same spelling. Spanish and English spellings are different. Christopher Columbus’ name is originally Cristoforo Colombo. But yes, in English the two spellings often get mixed.


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Yeah .. the two different places / spellings was my point .. it may explain why in some cases ( mine for one) that the confusion arises


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Originally Posted by James_Snakes

I had taken both snakes to the local vet and she said they were both healthy and disease free so I figured it would be okay to get them out together. I won't be doing this anymore for a few months now, but I guess it might be too late... Hopefully not. I'm new the hobby so excuse my spelling. The breeder also told me it was a Colombian Red Tail BCI. Sounds like that may not be accurate, but I'm not too worried about the exact breed of the snake per say; I'm just happy to have a boa that is as beautiful and tame as her. As for the handling I've had her a few weeks and she's eaten twice. I know not to handle her for a few days after her last meal, but beyond that I respect your recommendation. However, this snake was handled daily for 2 years before I got her and I'm going to continue to do so. She never gets stressed out and actually seems to enjoy hanging around my arms and neck for an hour or two sometimes without moving. She's obviously a very tame snake and has been babied her whole life, I'm just trying to make sure she continues to live the same lifestyle (minus some of that extra fat shes got). I'll try cutting her feeding down to every 2 weeks at first, thanks for the help.

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I've given you my advice based off of what I think is healthier and more responsible, you can do as you want with that info. Handling daily makes it more likely you'll cross her threshold of stress. I have also handled my first boa with daily handling for the first few years of his life, but boas only tolerate so much - they don't "enjoy" handling. There would be the odd occasion he'd protest me manhandling him so I cut back (maybe 5 times or less in the 8+ years I've had him). Imo it is better to handle them a little less often, no matter how docile. I also recommend just cutting the food back, instead of weaning her to less and less food. 2 weeks is still considered quite overfeeding at that size and feeding the prey size she's eating.

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Originally Posted by James_Snakes

I had taken both snakes to the local vet and she said they were both healthy and disease free so I figured it would be okay to get them out together. I won't be doing this anymore for a few months now, but I guess it might be too late... Hopefully not. I'm new the hobby so excuse my spelling. The breeder also told me it was a Colombian Red Tail BCI. Sounds like that may not be accurate, but I'm not too worried about the exact breed of the snake per say; I'm just happy to have a boa that is as beautiful and tame as her. As for the handling I've had her a few weeks and she's eaten twice. I know not to handle her for a few days after her last meal, but beyond that I respect your recommendation. However, this snake was handled daily for 2 years before I got her and I'm going to continue to do so. She never gets stressed out and actually seems to enjoy hanging around my arms and neck for an hour or two sometimes without moving. She's obviously a very tame snake and has been babied her whole life, I'm just trying to make sure she continues to live the same lifestyle (minus some of that extra fat shes got). I'll try cutting her feeding down to every 2 weeks at first, thanks for the help.

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Most Boas are pretty chill. IMO, she's been overfed. My 3 1/2+ year old female BI is about 1,800G and about 5ft. Much better to slow grow a boa. They are known to put on fat that doesn't' come off and have health issues from overfeeding.

I would not feed her more than every 2-3 weeks and that depends on food size. If she's eating medium rats, every 3 weeks is recommended. However, I wouldn't jump to that. Maybe every 2 weeks and then go to 3 weeks. If on large rats, the same, except maybe even get to monthly feedings. That's for a boa that isn't overweight. You might even do 4 weeks for mediums and 5 weeks if large rats. Also, do not feed larger than large rats as boas do not handle fatty food well. No XL or Jumbo's especially. Better to feed more often smaller meals if she gets huge or look for alternatives like rabbits. However, she shouldn't get huge - overly so anyway, with proper feeding.

What tank will she end up in? Humidity is very important to boas and I imagine that it's hard to keep that up in the current setup.

My boas also seem to "like" being handled, but really, they just tolerate us. On the level of getting stressed, I would say Boas are up there as one of the least stressed snakes by handling. I can handle my boas and feed 5 minutes later (Feliz, my dwarf BCC likes to drop bombs about an hour before feeding on feeding day like clockwork). I would say daily for 1-2 hours is too much, especially if your house is set to human temps and humidity. Even if the Boa doesn't appear stressed, that's a lot of time away from her nice warm and humid home.

Having said that, I generally do not handle any snake on feeding day and for 2-3 days after, depending on food size.

Finally, even if a vet says healthy, I believe all animals should be quarantined for 90 days. I got a new BI recently, from the same breeder I got my female BI, and he still got quarantined for over 90 days.

She's going to end up in a custom built 6'x2'x2' wooden and pvc enclosure with hinged plastiglass doors in the front and radiant heater on top with little airflow for humidity. It's very hard to keep humidity up in her current setup, but with moss and misting I've been able to keep her levels pretty good. I also don't usually handle her for such long periods of time, but sometimes I will get her out and she won't move from my neck for an hour or two and these are the times I let her do her thing for so long. When she starts looking anxious or begins moving around a lot and trying to get away from me, I'll put her back in her enclosure (although I do let her explore the room sometimes when I haven't have her out for very long). Also, shes kept in an apartment that is set for human temps (~72 degrees f) so I know this isn't optimal, but I've always wondered this and maybe it's a stupid question, but wouldn't the human body be like laying on a constant 98.6 degree heating pad for them? Maybe even slightly less through my shirt, but that would still put it right around the temp of their target basking zone correct? And maybe that's exactly why she likes to lay on me for such a long period of time when I get her out. Regardless, I'm definitely going to cut her feeding down to 2 weeks at first, then switch to 3. I can currently only get medium rats around my area so that's the size she has been eating since she's been with me. That's helpful to know about the XL and jumbo rats for future reference thanks for the info.

Your boa is pretty. I'd agree that she's quite large for a 2 y/o but her body condition looks pretty solid so she's not too far gone. Moving to a 2-4 week feeding schedule sounds like an excellent plan. For comparison my 2.5 y/o male BI, who I've had since he was one, isn't quite 3ft and is roughly 1100g. He eats a small rat every 2 weeks but he'll move up to mediums in a few months at which point I'll scale him back to a 3 week feeding schedule.

I recommend watching Jason’s exotic reptiles video on feeding. Personally I disagree with some of the advice you’ve been given... feeding every 4-6 weeks is absolutely insane. Do you really think these animals are going to go 4-6 weeks without food in the jungle? You have to be careful with forums as there aren’t many people on here and everyone is an expert... I will not point fingers but I highly recommend you do additional research. Congratulations on getting a boa! They’ve quickly become one of my favorite species.


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Originally Posted by MarkL1561

I recommend watching Jason’s exotic reptiles video on feeding. Personally I disagree with some of the advice you’ve been given... feeding every 4-6 weeks is absolutely insane. Do you really think these animals are going to go 4-6 weeks without food in the jungle? You have to be careful with forums as there aren’t many people on here and everyone is an expert... I will not point fingers but I highly recommend you do additional research. Congratulations on getting a boa! They’ve quickly become one of my favorite species.


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All of my adults eat 4-6 weeks and I’ve been feeding this way for just about 6 years now. A 5’-6’ boa eating a medium or large rat absolutely doesn’t need to eat more often than 4 weeks, 3 for mediums. I even withhold food for 2-3 months every winter...I bet these snakes eat less of a mass of food throughout the year, and most of their food is concentrated in a few months out of the year. Vin Russo at least hints at a seasonal feeding regimen and says that most of the year his snakes are eating sparingly or not at all with a very short period of heavier food intake per year. Most keepers prefer a steady schedule, though, so it’s especially important here to make sure they’re getting that break in between meals.

The only adult I have eating more often is my 4’ male who eats small rats, and he goes every 2-3 weeks.


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Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa

All of my adults eat 4-6 weeks and I’ve been feeding this way for just about 6 years now. A 5’-6’ boa eating a medium or large rat absolutely doesn’t need to eat more often than 4 weeks, 3 for mediums. I even withhold food for 2-3 months every winter...I bet these snakes eat less of a mass of food throughout the year, and most of their food is concentrated in a few months out of the year. Vin Russo at least hints at a seasonal feeding regimen and says that most of the year his snakes are eating sparingly or not at all with a very short period of heavier food intake per year. Most keepers prefer a steady schedule, though, so it’s especially important here to make sure they’re getting that break in between meals.

The only adult I have eating more often is my 4’ male who eats small rats, and he goes every 2-3 weeks.

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Also bear in mind that most boas in the wild are getting a lot more exercise and burning more calories than the ones in captivity.

My adults are also on a four-week schedule and the feeders they get are half their girth.

She was on a 7 day feeding schedule. Start at 10 days an move it farther out as time goes on. Many breeders use the 7 day feeding schedule. 25+ years ago it was beat into my head fast growth is bad. Feed your Boa every 10 days for the first year. Now, all my Boas will lie an tell you I didn't feed them, with a rabbit foot or rat tail hanging out of their mouth. Boas are eating machines, it's up to you to watch the intake.

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Originally Posted by 303_enfield

Now, all my Boas will lie an tell you I didn't feed them, with a rabbit foot or rat tail hanging out of their mouth.

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I think the only snakes I have that don't do that regularly are my ball pythons.