Stunted Growth or Dwarf Locality?

[Brewster320]

I have a boa that I rescued about 2 1/2 years ago. My brother's teacher's son. When I got her she was kept on wet gravel that smelt terrible. The boa itself(don't know the gender) had stuck sheds, hadn't eaten in 3 months, and had an RI. It took a bit to bring her back and another 3months until s/he ate.

Well when I got her she was about 2 1/2-3 feet and since then she has maybe grown half a foot in length maybe a little more. I figured this is one of two things. Either her poor care in the past resulted in stunted growth or she may be a dwarf locality.

S/he was given to be as a red-tail but I know by her coloration that she's more likely from Central America which helps lean towards her being a dwarf. S/he does eat, shed, and go to the bathroom on a regular basis now so my curiosity has grown a lot with this matter.

Here are some pictures of her if that helps at all.

My foot is a size thirteen so you can use that for comparison.

[Vypyrz]

If I had to make any kind of guess, I would say she is a Nicaraguan BCI, based on the overall dark brown color of her sides and between the saddles. It's hard to say about stunted growth, because of the wide ranging growth rates. I have heard of some dwarf females that were almost 5 years old before they were up to a good breeding size. That reminds me, has it been possitively sexed as a female?

[Wicked Constrictors]

x2

and i would have it sexed im guessing male

[Brewster320]

I have not had her sexed at all, I've been just been calling her a she out of habit. I have been thinking she may be a he as well. Thanks for your opinions.

[adamjeffery]

its hard to say. even stunted growth animals usually bulk up pretty good after they start eating properly. how much and how often are YOU feeding it.
while i dont have any experience with rtb's if i were to take a guess id say she could still be offered more food or larger food item. while not skinny by most standards s/he still looks a little under weight to me.
adam jeffery

[Brewster320]

She eats 1-2 smalls rats a week.

[jben]

If I had to make any kind of guess, I would say she is a Nicaraguan BCI, based on the overall dark brown color of her sides and between the saddles. It's hard to say about stunted growth, because of the wide ranging growth rates. I have heard of some dwarf females that were almost 5 years old before they were up to a good breeding size. That reminds me, has it been possitively sexed as a female?

I agree with Vypyrz, she does look Nicaraguan but I would recommend that you feed "her" every 14 days instead of weekly.

[Brewster320]

I agree with Vypyrz, she does look Nicaraguan but I would recommend that you feed "her" every 14 days instead of weekly.

If she's a little under weight wouldn't feeding every other week be counter productive? Just out of curiosity.

[jben]

If she's a little under weight wouldn't feeding every other week be counter productive? Just out of curiosity.

Boas take longer than pythons to process food and its best to grow them slow to have a healthy boa. Also, you've had her for 2 1/2 years correct, so there's no reason why she should be under weight, especially being fed every seven days.

Sent from my EVO Design using Tapatalk 2.

[Brewster320]

Ok, thank you for the advice. I wasn't aware of how they process food compared to pythons.