Worrisome boa behavior?

[RedTail85]

Hello!
Not sure if this is where I post this but I guess we will find out lol,
I bought my red-tail boa constrictor a few monthes back and she was severely underweight. I have been getting her back up to a healthy weight but it still worries me how she will not hold on to me when I hold her and will just let her tail flop limp out of my hand and if I don't support her, she just falls out of my hands. Maybe it's just from lack of muscle? She also still has lose skin but dosnt seem any different temperament wise and still very curious and flicking her tounge at everything
Thanks!

[bcr229]

It will take time for her to put on body condition. I would continue to work on bringing her back up to a healthy weight, and in the 3-4 days prior to her next feeding day give her 15-20 minutes of light exercise every day to improve her muscle tone. That exercise could be done by handling, by setting up a perch for her to balance on, by swimming in lukewarm water, etc.

You can also encourage her to strengthen her muscles in her tail by gently running your fingers down her sides, almost like you are tickling her. When you do you should see her muscles tighten up and then relax.

Also if possible upsize her enclosure and give her stuff to climb/perch on so she can self-exercise.

You won't see results overnight but I bet in six months you see improvement.

[richardhind1972]

About 4 of my boas mostly my locality boas very very rarely hold on and the amount I've nearly dropped is untrue and then I have some that about break your hand holding on for dear life, they are all so different

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[RedTail85]

Thanks so much I’ll definitely start doing that! Right now she is in a custome 4’x4’x2’ ( wxhwxd) with built in branches and a perch so she can climb

[KevinK]

It will take time for her to put on body condition. I would continue to work on bringing her back up to a healthy weight, and in the 3-4 days prior to her next feeding day give her 15-20 minutes of light exercise every day to improve her muscle tone. That exercise could be done by handling, by setting up a perch for her to balance on, by swimming in lukewarm water, etc.

You can also encourage her to strengthen her muscles in her tail by gently running your fingers down her sides, almost like you are tickling her. When you do you should see her muscles tighten up and then relax.

Also if possible upsize her enclosure and give her stuff to climb/perch on so she can self-exercise.

You won't see results overnight but I bet in six months you see improvement.

Im not sure who gave the advice years ago, but someone on this forum used to say they used a 5--6ft step ladder for boa workouts. Put the snake on the top of the ladder, wait for him to climb down, and put him back up again. My Hog Island LOVES this but has gotten pretty fast at it.

[cletus]

I made a small jungle gym type structure with pvc pipe and my boas love to climb all over it.