Behira - 2016 Female Ivory Ghost - First BCI

[CloudtheBoa]

Okay, so I have heard mixed views on feeding larger rats to BCI's when they are appropriate size.

If I don't have easy access to rabbits, what should I do when Behira is full grown (obviously not sure how big she will be but the breeder estimated 13-20 pounds, and 6.5-8FT, based on the size of her parents).

What's the largest size rat you would feed a BCI (by weight and/or age please - everyone seems to label them differently)? Instead of a 600-700G rat, would you feed two 300G rats instead and still every 3-4 weeks? Or, feed a smaller rat every 2-3 weeks, etc?

If feeding two rats, do they take willingly? The only snake species I have experience feeding multiple food items at once (in one feeding) is very young corn snakes. They are garbage disposals.

I thought when Behira was a big girl that I would feed appropriate sized rats every 3-5 weeks. However, I have heard several times now, that really large rats are not good for BCI's because of fat content.

At 15 pounds, Behira would be about 6,800 grams. So a 400-600G rat would make sense, right? However, do not want to feed her something that isn't going to be healthy for her.

For what it is worth, I know I have a long time before she's eating anything near that size (she's about 700G now). However, would be good to know and (I think) good for other BCI keepers on here to know too.

I usually get from Big Cheese Rodent Factory.

Large: 180-279G

Jumbo (6-8 months old and retired breeders): 280-399G

Colossal (also 6-8 months old and retired breeders): 400G-700G

Any thoughts are welcomed.

Thank you in advance.

Any adult boa under 8' should easily be able to stay on regular larges for life, without any need for jumbos, colossals, etc. My 7' girl just gets a regular large rat or 1/2 lb rabbit every 4-5 weeks. She's 10-13 lbs. My 6.5' boy is only 8.5-9 lbs, and gets the same size meal, but his rabbits may be as small as 1/4 lb.

This is my 7' girl.



My larges are in the 150-265 gram range, I buy from both Big Cheese and Perfect Prey as is available. I don't feed rats to my 6'-7' boas that are over maybe 290 grams max.

My dear boy is 21 months old now. The last time he ate was on the 8th of December. He decided to go off food now(winter). He was eating jumbo live rats 400+ grams. I,m not sure if those Jumbos or Colossals.

If your boa is 21 months old and already large enough to eat jumbo rats, he's been power fed. My 33 month old boas are 4' or under, and eating small rats. Are you positive about the age? How long have you had him, and how big was he when you got him? As I've mentioned, not even my big 7' girl gets jumbos.