Is my baby Boa chubby?

[rakeonepow]

She's about 6 months old. She was eating weekly, I think I will slow down to every 10 days now.
I find shes very round. I dont know if its nornal st that age.
What do you think?

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[Bogertophis]

Yeah she looks on the pudgy side to me too, I'd definitely slow down to 10 days between meals, & maybe re-think what you are feeding her. Slow-grown is better,
just not starved either. And it's a little hard to judge online even with good photos like yours...I don't know when the last meal was in relation to photos, or if she's
just about to "off-load" soon? She's very pretty, btw.

[rakeonepow]

Yeah she must be about to unload, it's been a moment. I will see if I can feed a bit smaller. I try to go with a bit smaller than her biggest part. Its tough to gauge sometimes. I think its hoppers mice shes eating. fuzzy were small I found.

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[Bogertophis]

Boas are such "eating machines" too...it's pretty easy to feel guilty, lol...they act as if starved, and they're growing too, so it's understandable. It's a fine line.

[rakeonepow]

Exactly. Always hunting in the night.
Haha. Okay thank you for the feedback! Mich appreciated.

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[richardhind1972]

She is a little but the 10 day cycle should soon sort it. Great looking boa

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[dakski]

Boas rarely refuse food. It is also very difficult to starve a boa and once they gain weight (when adults more - less as juveniles) it's very difficult to get them to lose it, and it can be bad for their health.

I agree that you should feed every 10-14 days at this point. Also, what are you feeding and does it leave a noticeable bulge? If so, for how long?

A growing boa should get a meal that is about the girth of the snake, or a little less, when fed. Better to feed smaller and have them grow slow, or feed more frequently, then offer a big meal.

If there is a bulge at all more than 24 hours later, or it's really noticeable when you feed, I would lower the prey size.

Behira, my female BI, is over 1,600G and 5ft and eats a medium rat every 3 weeks. She is about 3 1/2 years old. She could take a large rat, but she will get mediums for a long time to come and I plan to feed her them as the majority of her diet and will feed every 3 weeks or so, instead of feeding large rats every 4+ weeks, or small rabbits every 6+ weeks. It's mostly a preference for the owner as boas have a slow metabolism and are exceptionally efficient using what they do eat.

Having said that, remember, you are responsible for your snakes intake, and you largely determine the adult size and weight by what you feed and how often.

I posted pictures of my two boas below to show good body definition - lean and muscular without excess in the sides. You don't want a rounded boa - they should be more rectangular, not like a BP. I am not trying to toot my horn here, but my boas are healthy and I get comments on how healthy they look, I've learned a ton on this site, and am regularly in touch with both my boa's breeders, as well as Jeff Ronne, the Boaphile, who I am getting another boa from shortly, when I have additional questions. ABL - Always Be Learning.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Behira - 3 1/2 year old female BI



Feliz - Dwarf BCC at 2 years old and about 400G.

[303_enfield]

What's the weight? What size pray, type of pray an the weight? Snake looks good to me.

[rakeonepow]

She's 235 grams, 30 inch long, 7 months old.
I think I was giving her a bit too large preys.(mice)
I weighted the ones I have they are in the 20-25 grams range. Ill try to give under 20g for now, and more time in between.

Thank you for your input.

Shes way less bloated once she unloaded too.

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[303_enfield]

At 235g it won't hurt her to start feeding every 10 days. I like feeding my Red Tails every 7 days till they get around 250g or they start looking like Ball Pythons (short an fat) An adult mouse is 18-32g by weight she is large enough for them. Weigh her food, start with the smallest ones you have till your out. If the bump last more then two days the meal is too big (large meals in adults give it three or so(rabbits an pigs)). Boas will grown fast even on a ten day feeding schedule compared to BP. I asked what type of pray because some prey has more protein then others (ASF). Your snake will be on rats an bunnies soon enough.

Lovely snake enjoy her!