Hey Guys
So I just recently picked up Roxy at the Cincinnati Reptile expo a couple weeks ago! Shes a 2 year old Columbian Red Tail and is a complete puppy dog that loves to be handled. The breeder claimed he had hand raised her, and actually wasn't planning to sell her, but he heard I was looking for a female and pulled her out from behind his booth. I immediately fell in love and brought her home with me, however I just have one concern. As the post says she's currently only 2 years old; she's about 5 1/2 ft long and weighs just under 7lbs or ~3,000 grams (shown with my 350g ball python for scale). I know there's a big debate in the boa world about power feeding these snakes and getting them up size too quick, and from what I've seen she is about the biggest 2 year old boa I have been able to find. The breeder has fed her weekly since birth, and she is currently eating one med-lrg rat a week. At her current age and size is this too often to be feeding her? I've heard there can be serious complications involved with feeding too often and I certainly don't want to put her through that. Also, if I stop feeding her weekly will that affect her temperament? She's used to being fed every Thursday, so if I start feeding every 10-14 days will she be food aggressive when I try to pick her up and handle her on Thursday/Friday because shes used to being fed then? I currently handle her just about every day unless I feed her, and I plan to continue to do so.
Note***I'm well aware that my 36"x18"x18" ball python cage is far too small for this girl. My dad and I are currently in the process of building her a 6'x2'x2' wooden/pvc enclosure.
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