Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 2,854

1 members and 2,853 guests
Most users ever online was 6,337, 01-24-2020 at 04:30 AM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,031
Threads: 248,489
Posts: 2,568,440
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, isismomma
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 27

Thread: Feeding concern

  1. #1
    BPnet Senior Member L.West's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-11-2008
    Location
    Deerfield, MI
    Posts
    1,941
    Thanks
    1,125
    Thanked 452 Times in 339 Posts
    Images: 5

    Feeding concern

    I have a 6 foot boa that lately has become so aggressive at feeding time. He is just so wild when I try to feed him. I mean like striking the glass as I approached with the rat on tongs. It's like he goes freakin nuts.

    Is this normal?? Should I maybe feed more often. I currently feed one rat every 10-12 days.
    L. West
    1.0 CORAL ALBINO BOA (OWEN)
    1.0 PANAMANIAN HYPO BOA (SAWYER)
    1.0 DUMERIL'S BOA (GRAYSON)
    1.0 ALBINO HONDURAN (RIVER)
    0.1 TANGERINE HONDURAN (FAITH)
    1.0 ALBINO TESSERA CORN SNAKE (RILEY)

  2. #2
    BPnet Senior Member cchardwick's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-13-2016
    Location
    Bailey, Colorado
    Posts
    1,664
    Thanks
    15
    Thanked 1,049 Times in 622 Posts
    Images: 16
    You should post a photo of him, my guess is that he is underfed. I would feed every 5 days, maybe increase the size of the rodent until he gets up to a good weight and chills out, then cut back again. How old is he? If he is still young he may need more food too until he gets a bit of age on him.


  3. #3
    BPnet Senior Member L.West's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-11-2008
    Location
    Deerfield, MI
    Posts
    1,941
    Thanks
    1,125
    Thanked 452 Times in 339 Posts
    Images: 5

    Re: Feeding concern

    He is 2 years old. About 1800 grams I think. He currently eats approx. 65 gram rat every 10-12 days. I was warned not to over feed him. I guess I could start weekly feeding for him.

    I will post a pic of him shortly.
    L. West
    1.0 CORAL ALBINO BOA (OWEN)
    1.0 PANAMANIAN HYPO BOA (SAWYER)
    1.0 DUMERIL'S BOA (GRAYSON)
    1.0 ALBINO HONDURAN (RIVER)
    0.1 TANGERINE HONDURAN (FAITH)
    1.0 ALBINO TESSERA CORN SNAKE (RILEY)

  4. #4
    BPnet Senior Member AbsoluteApril's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-05-2014
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
    2,080
    Thanks
    2,325
    Thanked 2,605 Times in 1,296 Posts

    Re: Feeding concern

    Boas can be highly responsive to food and quite a few of mine strike the cage front on feeding day (and one strikes anytime he sees a shadow which is super annoying). I wouldn't really worry about it. The only thing that can sometimes happen if they strike badly, they can catch a tooth on a lip, normally I'll (with help) open their mouth to fix it for them, however this doesn't happen very often thank goodness. I wish there was a magic trick to get them to knock it off.

    Quote Originally Posted by cchardwick View Post
    I would feed every 5 days
    No, please do not do that. Boas should not eat that often.
    ****
    For the Horde!

  5. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to AbsoluteApril For This Useful Post:

    jmcrook (11-13-2017),L.West (11-13-2017)

  6. #5
    Banned
    Join Date
    03-16-2017
    Posts
    338
    Thanks
    41
    Thanked 46 Times in 37 Posts

    Re: Feeding concern

    Quote Originally Posted by L.West View Post
    He is 2 years old. About 1800 grams I think. He currently eats approx. 65 gram rat every 10-12 days. I was warned not to over feed him. I guess I could start weekly feeding for him.

    I will post a pic of him shortly.
    Underfeeding is also bad. Did anyone warn you of that? I would suggest that you continue feeding him every 10-12 days and increase the size of the rat. 65 grams rat is obviously small for a 6 foot 2 years old boa. At least the rat should be double that size, or even treble.

  7. #6
    BPnet Senior Member AbsoluteApril's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-05-2014
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
    2,080
    Thanks
    2,325
    Thanked 2,605 Times in 1,296 Posts
    For boas, use the girth rule. Feed a prey item no larger than the thickest part of the body.
    ****
    For the Horde!

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to AbsoluteApril For This Useful Post:

    L.West (11-13-2017)

  9. #7
    BPnet Veteran KevinK's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-16-2011
    Location
    The Land of Beer and Cheese
    Posts
    954
    Thanks
    704
    Thanked 973 Times in 453 Posts

    Re: Feeding concern

    Before seeing actual pictures of the animal in question, I would say this is normal behavior....


    Boas are EXTREMELY food responsive and it can trigger fast in an animal that has a better sense of smell or knows feeding time is approaching. I've never had one refuse a meal to put it lightly....and I've had hundreds of boas in my hands over the years.

    At six feet long and two years old, I would be feeding a sizable rat every two weeks. I agree though, at six feet long, a 65 gram rat seems small for his size. A medium rat seems far more appropriate to me but I would need to see pictures of the animal. Considering my longer feeding schedule I will actually feed prey somewhat larger than the girth, but everyone does things differently. Of course, if you feed more often a smaller prey item it more appropriate.


    Post a picture of your animal with a dollar bill next to his body so that we can judge how big his girth is.
    Last edited by KevinK; 11-13-2017 at 03:51 PM.

  10. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to KevinK For This Useful Post:

    Dutti (11-13-2017),L.West (11-13-2017),PokeyTheNinja (12-26-2017)

  11. #8
    BPnet Senior Member L.West's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-11-2008
    Location
    Deerfield, MI
    Posts
    1,941
    Thanks
    1,125
    Thanked 452 Times in 339 Posts
    Images: 5

    Re: Feeding concern

    I'm trying to post a pic but photobucket is not cooperating- ugh
    L. West
    1.0 CORAL ALBINO BOA (OWEN)
    1.0 PANAMANIAN HYPO BOA (SAWYER)
    1.0 DUMERIL'S BOA (GRAYSON)
    1.0 ALBINO HONDURAN (RIVER)
    0.1 TANGERINE HONDURAN (FAITH)
    1.0 ALBINO TESSERA CORN SNAKE (RILEY)

  12. #9
    BPnet Veteran KevinK's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-16-2011
    Location
    The Land of Beer and Cheese
    Posts
    954
    Thanks
    704
    Thanked 973 Times in 453 Posts

    Re: Feeding concern

    Try Tinypic

  13. #10
    BPnet Senior Member L.West's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-11-2008
    Location
    Deerfield, MI
    Posts
    1,941
    Thanks
    1,125
    Thanked 452 Times in 339 Posts
    Images: 5

    Re: Feeding concern

    Here is his pic



    He is wrapped around my leg
    Last edited by L.West; 11-13-2017 at 04:14 PM.
    L. West
    1.0 CORAL ALBINO BOA (OWEN)
    1.0 PANAMANIAN HYPO BOA (SAWYER)
    1.0 DUMERIL'S BOA (GRAYSON)
    1.0 ALBINO HONDURAN (RIVER)
    0.1 TANGERINE HONDURAN (FAITH)
    1.0 ALBINO TESSERA CORN SNAKE (RILEY)

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1