Does this look like the correct size rat for my boa?

[svtvenom]

He does have hides I just took them out while feeding him. He’s 591grams and that’s a small rat.



After eating, I don’t think it left a bump.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AbsoluteApril]

Personally I think it's a bit too big. You can see the bulge in the bottom photo and the feeder looks wider than the boa's body.
Obviously they can take them but I'd go a size down on the next feeding and you may want to give a few extra days to digest on this one.

[bcr229]

I agree. I would wait 3 weeks before feeding again.

[dakski]

I agree. That rat's too big.

Looks like it will be fine, but Boa's in general, need smaller meals and also less frequently as the prey items grow. Very slow metabolisms and over the long-term - not from one feeding - they can grow too fast and become fat/obese quickly.

If on small rats, you should be feeding every other week. Feed in three weeks now.

At 591G, Behira was eating large weaned rats - about 45-55G weekly. Shortly after - maybe between 600-700G I switched her to small rats, but fed small, small rats. In other words, 60-65G or so.

To put in perspective, she eats small rats now, about 75-90G every other week, and she is over 900G. When she moves to mediums, which will be when she can easily take one, with no noticeable bulge, she will eat every three weeks. Large rats, every 3-4+.

Don't worry - they grow.

Behira was 430G or so when I got her in October 2017. With the above conservative feeding schedule, she has more than doubled in size since then. The younger snakes put a lot of that food to growth.

[svtvenom]

Ok sounds good. I have some smaller ones left so I’ll wait 3 weeks then feed him those. Thank you!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk