Couple questions about my young red tail

[Selvis]

(links to her pics at the bottom
)

Hi everyone! This isy first post here. I asked these questions on the snakes Reddit but only got a few replies, so I'd figured I try this place. Bc this sit site seems more active and full of knowledgeable people.

So I've always wanted a red tail boa ever since I was 8. Seen a 7-8 footer in a pet store and ever since that it's been my "dream snake" lol. So about 3 weeks ago I finally bought one. Owners said she's a female. And is still young but don't know how old.
So my questions are

1. The owners said she was feeding on 1 weanling mouse every 14 days. The ppl at Petco and the ppl on Reddit said that was not ok for a snake her size. Said she should get a adult mouse every ten days so every ten days since then I've gave her a adult mouse. Am I doing the right thing?

2. I know it's hard to tell for sure, but based on her size how old would you estimate she is? (Just a ball park)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
http://imgur.com/gallery/y16Zap0 link to pics

[Dianne]

It’s difficult to estimate age with snakes because there are so many variables: size at birth, size of prey and frequency of feeding, how quickly after birth he/she started feeding, and genetics just to name the main ones. Looking at your picture, a pure guess is a few months old.

Boas do not have the metabolism of some other species, such as ball pythons or rats snakes, that can handle a lot of over feeding. Slow and steady is the game with them. It has been many years since I had baby or juvenile boas, but I fed one prey item that was about the same width as the thickest part of the snake once per week for the first year to year and a half. I’d say an adult mouse (or rat pup if you want to switch now) looks appropriate based on the photo.

After the year to year and a half mark, I changed the boas feeding schedule to every 2 weeks. My mature adult boas typically received one appropriately sized prey item every 2-3 weeks. I only have one female left now, her name is Duncan. She is 26 and is fed one extra large rat on this schedule and is doing very well.

[bcr229]

Boas, like most snakes, will eat themselves to obesity and death if you let them. It's way too easy to overfeed them.

When you feed the weanling mouse (more often called a hopper) is there a noticeable lump in her tummy? How about when you feed the adult mouse?

[Selvis]

It’s difficult to estimate age with snakes because there are so many variables: size at birth, size of prey and frequency of feeding, how quickly after birth he/she started feeding, and genetics just to name the main ones. Looking at your picture, a pure guess is a few months old.

Boas do not have the metabolism of some other species, such as ball pythons or rats snakes, that can handle a lot of over feeding. Slow and steady is the game with them. It has been many years since I had baby or juvenile boas, but I fed one prey item that was about the same width as the thickest part of the snake once per week for the first year to year and a half. I’d say an adult mouse (or rat pup if you want to switch now) looks appropriate based on the photo.

After the year to year and a half mark, I changed the boas feeding schedule to every 2 weeks. My mature adult boas typically received one appropriately sized prey item every 2-3 weeks. I only have one female left now, her name is Duncan. She is 26 and is fed one extra large rat on this schedule and is doing very well.

Thanks for the reply! So it's probably safe to stick with an adult mouse every 7-10 days for now?

[MarkL1561]

Yours looks to be about the same size as mine. He’s currently feeding on the size right below adult. Although mice aren’t the best option for these guys so I ordered some size appropriate rats. As far as size of the prey item, follow the general guideline. Feed her a rodent about the same size as her largest girth.

Hopefully this will help you. Head over to the red tail forum on Tapatalk and they have an awesome free guide for download.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Selvis]

Boas, like most snakes, will eat themselves to obesity and death if you let them. It's way too easy to overfeed them.

When you feed the weanling mouse (more often called a hopper) is there a noticeable lump in her tummy? How about when you feed the adult mouse?

Thanks for the reply! And I fed her a hopper once, she ate him really fast. And after that I didn't notice any bulge.
With the adult mice it takes her longer to eat and TBH I never noticed a bulge. But most of the time she's either burrowing or under her hide especially after a meal. But fr what I did see of her there wasn't a bulge. But next time I feed her I'll be sure to get a good look at her and maybe take a pic just to be sure.

[Dianne]

Thanks for the reply! So it's probably safe to stick with an adult mouse every 7-10 days for now?

I think an adult mouse every 7-10 days is fine for the juveniles, just keep an eye on the prey size vs width of the snake so you know when to move up in size. I’ve never had any issues with switching my boas from mice to rats or over to frozen thawed from live...they have all been garbage disposals when it comes to food.

[Selvis]

Yours looks to be about the same size as mine. He’s currently feeding on the size right below adult. Although mice aren’t the best option for these guys so I ordered some size appropriate rats. As far as size of the prey item, follow the general guideline. Feed her a rodent about the same size as her largest girth.

Hopefully this will help you. Head over to the red tail forum on Tapatalk and they have an awesome free guide for download.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the advice! Do I just download that taptalk app to view that forum?

And next time I'll make sure to see if the mouse is the size of her largest girth. Is there a Best way to do this? I'm assuming I just have to eyeball it?

And I'll look into rats as well. Also I've been feeding live prey. I'd prefer tp feed thawed but the previous owner said once you feed them live you can't switch to pre killed. Has this been the case in your experience?

[Selvis]

I think an adult mouse every 7-10 days is fine for the juveniles, just keep an eye on the prey size vs width of the snake so you know when to move up in size. I’ve never had any issues with switching my boas from mice to rats or over to frozen thawed from live...they have all been garbage disposals when it comes to food.

Oh okay. That's good to know. Was a little worried about that
And maybe I will try to see if she LL eat a frozen mouse next time. I've never really liked feeding live but thought it was my only option. I'll give it a shot and see how it goes

[Selvis]

I also had a few more questions

I've noticed the last week the cool end of the tanks temp has dropped from 75 to around 70. The first few weeks it stayed right around 75/76. Nothing has changed in my house and my room is actually very warm. Not sure what's up .

I bought the cheap thermometer from Petco which was like 8 dollars. This payday I'm going to buy a better one just to see if maybe the readings are in accurate.

But if it's not a problem with that what would be a good step to take? Buy a heat mat? Get a thermostat?

Also I noticed the warm end is only like 81/82. I'm just using the heat lamp that the other owners gave me. Should I look into another lamp? And if so is there any recommendations?