can an underfed snake get back to a proper size when its already an adult?

[BaLLPAddICT]

I work at a pet store, someone came in and asked me if I wanted a red tailed boa. They said its 2 years old but only like 3 feet. They admitted that is wasn't fed often and didn't grow much. Do you think this snake if fed weekly could grow to a normal adult size and maybe even be breedable eventually?

[AkHerps]

The snake could get back up to its normal size, or it could be a little stunted. Many snakes who are stunted when young, can have some pretty big growth spurts if fed the proper amount of food.

[BaLLPAddICT]

even though its 2 years old it can still grow in length? hm if i get him i guess we will see haha

[AkHerps]

I adopted a stunted Dumeril's boa. It didn't eat for almost 9 months, from hatchling to about 10 months of age. Then it didn't eat for another 6 months after being force fed twice(not by me, by Petco who had her). They never even tried to feed her rats, just tried mice. They almost didn't let me have her because I said I was going to try rats. They yelled at me and got in my face and told me rats were too big and they would kill her. I was just like...umm..not a baby rat...

First attempt with a rat, she grabbed it immediately. She even had no problem with f/t rats, and now also has no problem with mice. In the 3 months I've had her she had doubled in size.

[llovelace]

With a regular feed schedule & proper husbandry it will thrive , I adopted a 3 yr old male a yr ago, he looked like 6 mo. old , he's doing great.

[zues]

I'm going to look at a 9 year old female that is four feet. Hopefully she'll respond.

[m00kfu]

While it wasn't a boa, we picked up a 2-3 year old female ball python a couple years back that had been fed one mouse a week. She was right around the 600 gram mark. Now she's one of the biggest girls we've got and one of the best feeders.