Can I feed my RTB after 5 days?

[Evenstar]

I totally understand that boas digest differently then balls. And as adults should be fed less frequently then bps. But my buddy who I go to for boa advice has always preached to me every 5 days for the first 6 months to a year. He has also had boas that live long happy lives. My question is, has there been any studies done that show either positive or adverse effects to doing so? It seems like there are people on both sides of the fence.

Of course there are always people on both sides of the fence of any issue. Every feeding issue especially is subject to debate. But, yes, there is significant evidence that feeding more frequently is detrimental to the long-term health of a boa. Every 5 days would not be unusual for a baby BP, but it's considered power feeding for a baby boa.

The fact is, it is possible to feed a baby boa every 5 days and not see any immediate negetive effects. But if a baby can grow and thrive on a 7-10 day feeding schedule, why on earth would you even possibly risk it's health just so you can feed it more often???

Please don't take this the wrong way - it's not an attack on anyone! This is for education only....

The following is from Gus Rentfro at Rio Bravo Reptiles. Gus has been breeding boas for many many years and is considered one of the forefront breeders and leading experts in the country regarding boa husbandry...
"How often do I feed my boas?"
Inexplicably, there still exists a lot of confusion about how much and how often snakes should be fed. Feed a growing boa as often as it will take food but wait until all signs of the previous feeding have gone. In other words, don't feed it if it is still bloated with the last meal. Depending upon the temperature cycle it is in and the size of the prey item this can take from 7-15 days. If unsure, wait another day or two. It is a practical impossibility to underfeed a normal healthy boa kept in the proper conditions. Many people find it entirely effortless to overfeed theirs! The single most frequently identifiable factor in premature death, poor fertility and other problems with captive boas is obesity resulting from over feeding.

Apparently a cycle of overfeeding sets up a condition of sensitivity or imbalance in the boa's digestive tract. Contents from the lower digestive tract may also get into the stomach during movement or handling if the meals are too large or too frequent. Regurgitation exacerbates this condition. It has also been suggested that sensitivity to domestic rodent hair sometimes develops in red-tails. The first sign of either of these conditions is usually regurgitation but can also be listlessness, refusal of food, restlessness or any combination of those symptoms. In addition to the risk of sickness or death, overfed, power-fed and overweight adult red-tails have repeatedly shown diminished breeding behavior and fertility. Properly conditioned animals are a must for breeding. I need also say that firm muscular red-tails and other boas demonstrating varied scale sizes, textures and iridescence are objects of splendid beauty far more wonderful than the simple spectacle of a huge fat boa.

In Vin Russo's (Cutting Edge Herps) definitive book, "The Complete Boa Constrictor," he states the following: The number one mistake most novices make is over-feeding. Boas evolved to sustain themselves on a minimal amount of food... A young boa will thrive on a single meal that leaves a slight lump once every 10-14 days. This regimen will produce a slow but steady growth rate that the animal can maintain itself on until adulthood.

In addition, here are links to several other articles and/or forums pertaining to the subject....

http://www.redtailboa.net/forums/hel...-tail-boa.html

http://redtailboafaq.com/feeding.php

http://www.redtailboas.com/f110/part...-online-40591/ (scroll down to "feeding")

My apologies for the long post - my intent though is only to help....