How big will my red tail get??

[dakski]

I agree with everyone here.

I believe that is large for the age. My female BCI is now over 2 1/2 years old and weighs 1,340G.

She eats a medium rat every 3 weeks and is still growing.

Not trying to scare you, but Boas can have serious health issues, and even die very young, from overfeeding. They have very small metabolisms and can be grown on infrequent meals compared with other snakes, even larger constrictors.

Jeff Ronne, the boaphile, did a study many years ago. He fed BCI's a big meal weekly from the time they were born. None lived past 5 years old. I believe there were 20 snakes used in the study. When autopsied, they found that they boas put on size in muscle mass, but the organs could not grow at the same rate and they died from organ failure. They had adult bodies, but juvenile organs.

Also, obesity in adult snakes is a high cause of "premature" death.

Additionally, you say columbian red tail, but I assume you mean a BCI, or BI, not a BCC or true red tail. True red tails should be fed on a very slow growth and long durations between feedings. They are also prone to regurgitation syndrome, which most BCI/BI's are not. Once they develop this, from feeding too often, too large a meal, or some combination, they usually pass away as they are unable to eat.

A female boa can get 6ft+ and 8-12 pounds easily, and maintain that weight on medium rats every 3 weeks or so, or larges every 3-4. They are incredibly efficient with food.

If she is already eating small rats I would feed every 2 weeks, assuming her body condition is good. If she's heavy (again pictures would really help), I would feed every 3 weeks.

Once on mediums feed every 3 weeks.

Up to you how big you want to go with prey, but I believe it's better to feed smaller meals more frequently than large meals infrequently.

If you feed a BCI a ton, they "can" get 7ft+ and 25 pounds plus.

The goal with my female BCI is to keep her around 6FT and 10-14 pounds tops. I want her lean and mean (well she's a doll actually, but you get the point). That should equate to good health, a manageable snake, and a long lived one at that.

Please feel free to ask for clarification or more info. There are some good boa peeps on here, as you have already seen.