Boas and hides

[martin82531]

The feeding card is one reason, I do understand the breeder could of not updated the card with every feed. Also this thread (link below) mentions a boa that was picked up about a year ago, at the time weighing 200g, now weighing 1380g. I was thinking if mine was born on 4/2011 based on this boa, mine should weigh more?

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...319-Boa-update!

Here are some better pictures.

[DooLittle]

She looks fine to me. Boas do not gain weight as quickly as balls either.

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[WifeOfSlasher]

She could be a little on the small side but weight to length looks good. A few proper sized and spaced feeds and you'll see some obvious growth. Sometimes you just get stuck with too small feeds for awhile. This happened with my guy when he grew out of his rat pups after 2 weeks and we had 8 more to still feed him.

[Evenstar]

She is perfectly fine. Don't worry if she's small. Not only do boas have slower metabolisms, they often have widely varying growth rates. One boa at 1 year old might be 700gm and another might only be 450gm. She will hit her growth spurt soon enough. She appears to be in perfect condition. I would MUCH rather see a boa small and slender than big and fat. She will get big enough in no time. Just feed 1 appropriate sized prey every 7-10 days and she will do just fine!

And I still say a rat pup is fine for her for now. Just as feeding less often is better for these guys, so is feeding a slightly smaller prey item. Truly, it'll be ok!!



Note: don't know why that angry face is showing up in the heading of my post - sorry about that! I'm not angry, really! It's all good!

[martin82531]

Thanks for everyone's input puts mind at ease

[Dark Lady Kat]

Thank you for your help. I do have one more question. From my understanding boa's digest much slower than balls, she just had a rat pup 1/1/2013, should I wait seven days from then to feed a small rat or would I be ok feeding one today. I just don't want to push it.


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I would wait the 7 days definitely and monitor her weight as soon as you get her close to or at 750-1000g back her feeding up to every ten days when she maintains her weight for at least 1st month then move her to every 14 days since she is 2 years old feeding her every 7 days is to boost her if you keep her on that schedule permanently it would be like power feeding her throughout her life shortening her life span to do it on a short term basis for her health is ok but not on a regular basis by the time she reaches 750-1000g she should be on smaller large rats

[Evenstar]

I would wait the 7 days definitely and monitor her weight as soon as you get her close to or at 750-1000g back her feeding up to every ten days when she maintains her weight for at least 1st month then move her to every 14 days since she is 2 years old feeding her every 7 days is to boost her if you keep her on that schedule permanently it would be like power feeding her throughout her life shortening her life span to do it on a short term basis for her health is ok but not on a regular basis by the time she reaches 750-1000g she should be on smaller large rats

This really isn't necessary. The snake is perfectly fine and has not been underfed. Feeding every 10 days now is fine. Boas grow slowly and at different rates. From what I can see from the pictures, this particular boa looks really good. She'll grow at her own rate and increase her size as she's meant to. Letting nature do its work and feeding appropriately from the get-go is the best thing we can do for her.

Edit: did I miss something? I thought this snake was approximately 1 year of age - not 2??? How old is she?

2nd Edit: I noted from her card that she is a June 2011 baby (approx). That would make her about 1 1/2 years old. She is small for her age, yes, but I still say she's perfectly fine. A 10 day schedule is best for her and will be for the next year or so. Remember, snakes don't operate on a time schedule in the wild. You'll get a feel for what's right for her as you go along - go with your gut as long as you don't feed too often.

[martin82531]

This really isn't necessary. The snake is perfectly fine and has not been underfed. Feeding every 10 days now is fine. Boas grow slowly and at different rates. From what I can see from the pictures, this particular boa looks really good. She'll grow at her own rate and increase her size as she's meant to. Letting nature do its work and feeding appropriately from the get-go is the best thing we can do for her.

Edit: did I miss something? I thought this snake was approximately 1 year of age - not 2??? How old is she?

2nd Edit: I noted from her card that she is a June 2011 baby (approx). That would make her about 1 1/2 years old. She is small for her age, yes, but I still say she's perfectly fine. A 10 day schedule is best for her and will be for the next year or so. Remember, snakes don't operate on a time schedule in the wild. You'll get a feel for what's right for her as you go along - go with your gut as long as you don't feed too often.

Would you still say rat pups or would a small rat be appropriate?


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[DooLittle]

Would you still say rat pups or would a small rat be appropriate?


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Eyeball the rat, eyeball your snake, and as long as it won't leave a noticeable lump, you are good to go.

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[Dark Lady Kat]

This really isn't necessary. The snake is perfectly fine and has not been underfed. Feeding every 10 days now is fine. Boas grow slowly and at different rates. From what I can see from the pictures, this particular boa looks really good. She'll grow at her own rate and increase her size as she's meant to. Letting nature do its work and feeding appropriately from the get-go is the best thing we can do for her.

Edit: did I miss something? I thought this snake was approximately 1 year of age - not 2??? How old is she?

2nd Edit: I noted from her card that she is a June 2011 baby (approx). That would make her about 1 1/2 years old. She is small for her age, yes, but I still say she's perfectly fine. A 10 day schedule is best for her and will be for the next year or so. Remember, snakes don't operate on a time schedule in the wild. You'll get a feel for what's right for her as you go along - go with your gut as long as you don't feed too often.

Originally Posted by martin82531
I'm starting to think she has been underfed....

Here is the dates that I got from the feeding card. (for the most part the size of prey is not mentioned)

Born 04-30-2011

That is why I thought she was underfed if she was just a year old 400ish is small but not a concern but at almost 2 years old I figured she is only about half the size she should be even on a small side. I agree she does look good but although she may be healthy she may have not grown to where she needs to be due to the decrease in food from the feeding schedule the previous owner / breeder went months without feeding her.

You are by far more experienced than I Evenstar and I assumed you had missed that she was almost 2 years old that is the only reason I made the recommendation I did