Temperament...

[JohnNGriffin]

I have only dealt with ball pythons. Never been around red tail boas. All of the BP's I have had have all been docile. Never snapped at me, or anything like that. Not afraid of getting bit. Would just rather not. So, if your messing with a RTB, and everything you do. The thing has to come mess with u. Well, not that. More like stare u down. I really cant describe it, really. He really wasn't handled much when I got him. And, Im guessing he was underfed. He eats like a pig, and has gotten bigger since I got him. (about a month ago). Im sure if I stuck a rat in his face everyday, he would eat it. But, I aint trying to power feed him. He is allegedly 6yrs old. But, he is only about 4.5ft long. So, what Im asking is... Could this be due to neglect and/or under feeding it???

[Gio]

I have only dealt with ball pythons. Never been around red tail boas. All of the BP's I have had have all been docile. Never snapped at me, or anything like that. Not afraid of getting bit. Would just rather not. So, if your messing with a RTB, and everything you do. The thing has to come mess with u. Well, not that. More like stare u down. I really cant describe it, really. He really wasn't handled much when I got him. And, Im guessing he was underfed. He eats like a pig, and has gotten bigger since I got him. (about a month ago). Im sure if I stuck a rat in his face everyday, he would eat it. But, I aint trying to power feed him. He is allegedly 6yrs old. But, he is only about 4.5ft long. So, what Im asking is... Could this be due to neglect and/or under feeding it???

Almost all boas will eat anything all of the time. I'm not quite sure what your first question is, but most boas are as docile as BP's, they just present a different set of characteristics. Boas tend to make an "S" shape and many BP owners, myself included, initially take this as a pre-strike warning. 99% of the time that is just how they hang out. They usually give plenty of cues before they let you have it, but I find them 10 times more interesting than royal pythons.

The second part of your question is also difficult to answer without more info. What locality is your animal? BCC, BCI? Central American, South American?

If it's a male, even some mainland male boas will max at 5 feet.

You will hear from more than 1 experienced keeper that it's almost impossible to underfeed a BC.

Without more specific info it's hard to answer your questions.

[JohnNGriffin]

Almost all boas will eat anything all of the time. I'm not quite sure what your first question is, but most boas are as docile as BP's, they just present a different set of characteristics. Boas tend to make an "S" shape and many BP owners, myself included, initially take this as a pre-strike warning. 99% of the time that is just how they hang out. They usually give plenty of cues before they let you have it, but I find them 10 times more interesting than royal pythons.

The second part of your question is also difficult to answer without more info. What locality is your animal? BCC, BCI? Central American, South American?

If it's a male, even some mainland male boas will max at 5 feet.

You will hear from more than 1 experienced keeper that it's almost impossible to underfeed a BC.

Without more specific info it's hard to answer your questions.

I honestly don't know if it is BCC or BCI. I got him from a guy that had to get rid of him cuz he said his girlfriend and son were afraid of him. So, Im guessing he didn't have him long. He told me he fed it pre-killed every two weeks. I feed it live every 5-7 days. I thought he was kinda boney when I got him. But was told boas are suppose to be narrow and square shaped. Since I have been feeding him, he is getting to be a more rounder square shape. Andis getting a little bigger. I mean bigger as in, he is eating more. Im not saying he underfed him. He just seemed underfed to me. And, doesn't seem like he was handled much cuz he just goes ape-wild when I try to pick him up, and acts like he may try to snap at me. EXAMPLE: When I feed I just don't drop the rat in. I hold it by the tail till he grabs it. One time, I was holding it at the other end of the tank, and he still struck towards my face. But, then he went after it. Not real sure if it was an actual strike at me, or not. But he still did. But, anyways. All the RTB's that I looked up that were only 4.5ft long were all around 2-2.5yrs old. And, if mine really was 6yrs old. Thought it should be longer. If I had a way to put pics on here, I would.

[colton62]

Depending on the food size every 5 days is extremely too short. If it's 6 years old every two weeks was right if it was a appropriate food size. Can you show us some pictures so we can tell. And why are you feeding live if it was accepting pre killed?


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[Gio]

I honestly don't know if it is BCC or BCI. I got him from a guy that had to get rid of him cuz he said his girlfriend and son were afraid of him. So, Im guessing he didn't have him long. He told me he fed it pre-killed every two weeks. I feed it live every 5-7 days. I thought he was kinda boney when I got him. But was told boas are suppose to be narrow and square shaped. Since I have been feeding him, he is getting to be a more rounder square shape. Andis getting a little bigger. I mean bigger as in, he is eating more. Im not saying he underfed him. He just seemed underfed to me. And, doesn't seem like he was handled much cuz he just goes ape-wild when I try to pick him up, and acts like he may try to snap at me. EXAMPLE: When I feed I just don't drop the rat in. I hold it by the tail till he grabs it. One time, I was holding it at the other end of the tank, and he still struck towards my face. But, then he went after it. Not real sure if it was an actual strike at me, or not. But he still did. But, anyways. All the RTB's that I looked up that were only 4.5ft long were all around 2-2.5yrs old. And, if mine really was 6yrs old. Thought it should be longer. If I had a way to put pics on here, I would.

OK,

5-7 is too frequent for an adult boa male or female. I'd go 10 minimum, and depending on prey size 14-21 days is fine at that age. He targets you when you are feeding him because you give off a much larger heat signature even though they don't have visible heat pits. You also are easier to see so you movement is more detectable than the smaller rat's.

There are a lot of male adult boas that max at the 4.5 to 5 foot mark. It's not at all unheard of. If your snake was underfed, just getting on a schedule will take care of the problem.

No need to "catch up". He'll just grow as he eats.

You don't want any roundness in his shape. A lean, healthy boa will present a strong, muscular, loaf shaped appearance.

Once he settles in, you should start handling him more often. Don't mess with him before he eats, or after for a few days.

Most boas really settle in, and maybe even seem to enjoy being handled.

Back off on the feeding and you'll do fine.

[artgecko]

Ditto to everything said above. Feed only every 2 weeks and make sure the food item doesn't leave a "lump" in the snake.

Boas (at least mine) have a very strong food response... I would sugest feeding f/t from a loooong pair of tongs. The only time mine has ever struck at me was when feeding. Also, I agree that you should do frequent handling (not for a couple days after feeding though) and he should calm down. Mine is very hyper right when I remove him from his tub, but then calms down and with calmly explore me and his surroundings (sometimes unnervingly, when he puts his face right up in mine).

[JohnNGriffin]

OK,

5-7 is too frequent for an adult boa male or female. I'd go 10 minimum, and depending on prey size 14-21 days is fine at that age. He targets you when you are feeding him because you give off a much larger heat signature even though they don't have visible heat pits. You also are easier to see so you movement is more detectable than the smaller rat's.

There are a lot of male adult boas that max at the 4.5 to 5 foot mark. It's not at all unheard of. If your snake was underfed, just getting on a schedule will take care of the problem.

No need to "catch up". He'll just grow as he eats.

You don't want any roundness in his shape. A lean, healthy boa will present a strong, muscular, loaf shaped appearance.

Once he settles in, you should start handling him more often. Don't mess with him before he eats, or after for a few days.

Most boas really settle in, and maybe even seem to enjoy being handled.

Back off on the feeding and you'll do fine.

Loaf-shaped was a better description of what I meant. Round was the wrong word. But, thanks though.