Boa Feeding in relation to Defecation

[ckuhn003]

I was watching a video on feeding baby boas last night and it was stated that due to slow digestive processes of BOAs that feeding should not occur until they defecate from the previous feeding. In my research, it's been stated that as a baby, feeding should be done every 7 - 10 days. Since I'm a new owner with only one feeding under my belt, I'm inclined to lean on the safe side and go with the latter of 10 days. My BOA was fed last Thursday (6 days ago) and has not defecated yet. Is this something that generally happens between feedings and should I wait until it happens to feed again?

[richardhind1972]

I've always fed my little ones weekly and they all been fine ,not had a problem with any of them

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[Bogertophis]

I've heard of this method but never with "baby" snakes: the difference is that young snakes (of all kinds that consume rodents) are fed pinky mice or rats,
which are mostly digestible and produce very little "roughage" for stool, so what can happen is that it may take several meals to make one stool. When snakes
defecate, they also "lose" some water in the process, and snakes are adapted to minimize water loss as it's not always abundant in their natural surroundings.
I can't tell you how many times someone has worried & inquired on a forum about their snake NOT going often enough: "is he constipated?"

In my experience raising some baby snakes (including desert rosy boas but NOT the larger boas many here are keeping other than one BCI) I've never worried
or tracked when they 'go' & it was never an issue. I fed & still feed all my snakes at acceptable intervals for their age/size, but don't "obsess" over exact # of
days*, & have no issues. They 'go' when they go...and in captivity they (presumably) have adequate water & perhaps defecate more often than they would if
water is in shorter supply. (*younger snakes are fed more often, elderly ones less often than "middle aged" adults, etc.)

A keeper following the method you describe would have a very slow-growing boa, I would imagine. May I ask whose video this was? Because there are many
videos out there but not all should be followed, IMO. If it's from a recognized expert breeder in boas, that would get my attention, not if it's a random video.

[ckuhn003]

I've heard of this method but never with "baby" snakes: the difference is that young snakes (of all kinds that consume rodents) are fed pinky mice or rats,
which are mostly digestible and produce very little "roughage" for stool, so what can happen is that it may take several meals to make one stool. When snakes
defecate, they also "lose" some water in the process, and snakes are adapted to minimize water loss as it's not always abundant in their natural surroundings.
I can't tell you how many times someone has worried & inquired on a forum about their snake NOT going often enough: "is he constipated?"

In my experience raising some baby snakes (including desert rosy boas but NOT the larger boas many here are keeping other than one BCI) I've never worried
or tracked when they 'go' & it was never an issue. I fed & still feed all my snakes at acceptable intervals for their age/size, but don't "obsess" over exact # of
days*, & have no issues. They 'go' when they go...and in captivity they (presumably) have adequate water & perhaps defecate more often than they would if
water is in shorter supply. (*younger snakes are fed more often, elderly ones less often than "middle aged" adults, etc.)

A keeper following the method you describe would have a very slow-growing boa, I would imagine. May I ask whose video this was? Because there are many
videos out there but not all should be followed, IMO. If it's from a recognized expert breeder in boas, that would get my attention, not if it's a random video.

Appreciate the info. I've never been too worried about putting a time on when a snake should defecate or shed as long as I know my husbandry conditions are where they should be. Here's the video I was referring to. It's mentioned around the 3:45 mark and to be fair, I don't think she explicit calls out the age of the BOA but since she talks a lot about young boas, I just assumed she was applying this 'guideline' to young boas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkkyNjoy1Hc

[Bogertophis]

Appreciate the info. I've never been too worried about putting a time on when a snake should defecate or shed as long as I know my husbandry conditions are where they should be. Here's the video I was referring to. It's mentioned around the 3:45 mark and to be fair, I don't think she explicit calls out the age of the BOA but since she talks a lot about young boas, I just assumed she was applying this 'guideline' to young boas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkkyNjoy1Hc

No offense but she doesn't even know how to pronounce "Imperator"....I'm only on the beginning of this "long video" & already I'm not impressed.

Anyway, if you're only reading into what age boa she's referring to, I think that's the problem, right there. Right from the start, her manner of speaking gives me
no confidence in her advice...though I think she probably means well. OK? Always "consider the source". There's just too many people making videos these
days, wanting their "15 minutes of fame" or whatever.

[Phillydubs]

Agree with all the above

if I only fed my baby caye caulker when she went poo shed have maybe 3 meals in her...

follow the above not the video

[ckuhn003]

Points taken.....thanks everyone.