First Feed and Question

[JimiSnakes]

You could always send her to me and I'll break her in for ya... I love snooty boas! They are so cute like that, haha.

I would not bump her meal size up, but I would bump her actual meals up. Feed her ever 4-5 days for a few times. Let her defecate that all out and THEN bump her size up. This way you won't stress those organs out so much with a big ole meal. I just say this cause I have only had problems with regurg cause of new snakes being on this "maintenance" feed schedule some bigger breeders use. They just can't handle the nice sized normal meal right off the bat. They need to be built up to it.

[starmom]

You could always send her to me and I'll break her in for ya... I love snooty boas! They are so cute like that, haha.

I would not bump her meal size up, but I would bump her actual meals up. Feed her ever 4-5 days for a few times. Let her defecate that all out and THEN bump her size up. This way you won't stress those organs out so much with a big ole meal. I just say this cause I have only had problems with regurg cause of new snakes being on this "maintenance" feed schedule some bigger breeders use. They just can't handle the nice sized normal meal right off the bat. They need to be built up to it.

Hi Jimi~ This is a good idea! I will give her 19g rat fuzzies every 4 days for the next however long it takes for her to clean herself out; she did poo the very first day we got her. Once she poos, I will try her on a rat pup and hold her there. Am I correct in thinking that when she gets bumped up to a pup I return to every 7 days?
Actually, if you lived closer to me, I would bring her over and beg for your help!! How do you handle all of the bites? My natural response will be to jerk away from the source of pain but I don't want to hurt her mouth....
Zelda is such the problem child and she isn't even doing anything wrong!

[JimiSnakes]

Actually, till they are a year old or more, they don't hurt at all. They are all Hiss and Puff. That said, I don't want them hurting their teeth either, so I use those cheap rubber dish gloves that cover half your forearm. I just put them on and grab them up. I reach in AT the head with a gentle push down with my palm and then pick them up with the other hand. Try that out and let me know how it goes.

[JimiSnakes]

Am I correct in thinking that when she gets bumped up to a pup I return to every 7 days?

Sounds good to me. Whenever she is on a normal meal that leaves a nice lump in her belly, put her on a longer schedule. Eventually, when she hits the medium rat size mark, put her on a 10-14 day schedule.

[starmom]

Well, I'm going to wait to do any sort of handling at all because she's in blue. I thought her eyes looked a little clouded yesterday and today they are definitely going opaque. She's hunting around like she's hungry but I'll wait the 4 days and feed her Monday night... The legend of Zelda continues....!

[cassandra]

I feel that boas work at a slightly higher intellegence level than BPs... and therefore tend to go through more mood swings. Sometimes, they really just want to be left alone, and they're willing to let you know it.
<snip>
"...I'm only coming out because I want to check out that lamp..."

BUWHAHHAHAHA! God, I love boas...

They certainly change as well over their lives...my boa girl used to eat anything, anywhere...now she feels the need to be hidden in the cage foliage before striking at the proffered F/T rat...but then it's velociraptor time (think the scene in Jurassic Park 1 when they lowered the cow in the raptor enclosure). =D

[JimiSnakes]

Any updates?

[starmom]

Any updates?

I gave her a very small pup; it was 21g. I'm going to wait 5 days and give her another and then stick to that schedule til she poos out. At that point, Jimi, I will ask you what the heck Phase 2 is!!
As for touching this she-devil-- no way!! She's digesting and in blue so I aint going near her yet!!
I did pick up a pair of those funny dish washing gloves....haven't seen them since my great aunt used to wear them!
Anyway, I'm ready whenever she is which I think is going to be after she feels like she is no longer on a 'maintenance feed-mode' and no longer in blue.
What do you think? Am I rationalizing my weenie-ness????

[JimiSnakes]

What do you think? Am I rationalizing my weenie-ness????

Yes...lol

[starmom]

Yes...lol

Darn.