Feeding Question about my new boa

[Texas Rattlesnake]

Originally Posted by razeraze

I know monitors are not found in the range of BCC but the regurgitation is fairly common in both and I would chalk it up to stress not meal size or frequency.

Yes, stress is one of the first things you look for. But, meal size and frequency ties to temps, and metabolism of young BCC.

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor

[JuliusSqueezer]

Raze, for the love of God, it all varies by species. If you feed any corallus weekly as adults, you will kill them from overfeeding. If you feed adult drymarchon weekly, you are starving them. If you feed a BCI something 1.5 times it's girth size, it will probably be fine but not want to eat again for awhile. If you feed a BCC something exactly it's girth size or as mentioned a mouse, there's a good chance for puke. It's best to feed most BCC something a little smaller than their girth. If you feed a rainbow boa something slight smaller or right at girth size, they won't freaking grow. If you try and feed rainbow multiple food items to make them grow rather than feed larger items, they puke. Tiger ratsnakes do OK on girth size or larger items but by nature are nasty little nest raiders and will chow down on SEVERAL small items per feeding and could eat just about daily if you really wanted to. If you handle a boa much after feeding, they are liable to puke. If you feed a burm or retic and swing him over your head like a lasso, he'll probably bite you but likely won't puke. If you feed spoiled rats to a boa, they will likely puke. Cottonmouths, copperheads and kingsnakes seem to prefer a little rot. EVERY species has their quirks so please stop trying to simplify snake care with such broad strokes. A good gradient within the range specific of a given species is good for most snakes but in no way is it the only factor in regurges across the board. Regardless of the temp gradients or time spent basking, SOME species and even subspecies can't handle things that others can. These general broad strokes you are painting are in many cases quite ridiculous.

Depleted gut flora causes food to rot rather than metabolize. Gases form and cause bloat and then puke.

Temps too cool cause the same thing
Temps too hot, cause the same thing...Gut flora has temp requirements too and can die off under poor conditions temperaturewise. This is evident from all the overheated snakes that can't hold anything down even long after they are corrected but turn around quickly with the use of probiotics.

Parasites...cause regurges.

Food too large cause regurges.

Some species don't handle multiple food items and will regurge

Frequent feedings that don't allow for proper digestion and replentishing gut flora...cause pukes. Would warmer temps help? depends. Maybe they are already maxed. You can't just assume that everyone keeps their snakes too cool. From what I've seen, most people keep them too hot IMO...especially ball pythons.

mouse hair...a lot of snakes puke up mice but hold rats down fine. We all assume it's the hair but who knows?

Self Defense...Here's one I bet you didn't consider. A lot of snakes will puke up a heavy meal when it feels threatened just to lighten the load for escape. They have complete control over peristaltic muscles and can regurge at will without need of being sick.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor

	IMO In My Opinion

[BWSmith]

Originally Posted by razeraze

Actually because I know many keepers who provide very similar habitats for both species Do hippos live where raccoons do? Comparing snakes to lizards or crocodilians is fairly simple if they are found in the same area. I know monitors are not found in the range of BCC but the regurgitation is fairly common in both and I would chalk it up to stress not meal size or frequency.

Are you saying a raccoon and blackbear can't live in similar habitats?

Wild Habitats? yes. Same husbandry? no. Therefore comparisons between the two hold no validity.

Also, while I am thinking about it. If you are going to make references to experts and Herpetologists, then provide names. Otherwise it just looks like window dressing to back up an otherwise invalid point. This is particularly true when you use a statement such as "This seems to be the popular idea among the herpetologist I talk to." This is a reference to a particular individual. So far, all I have seen is a random reference to random "herpetologist" on another forum (no clue who he is since I am not going to register just to find out). Just some constructive criticism to enhance the validity of your posts.

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor

[bleeding_sarcasm]

Okay, so for the original poster:

Obviously there are 2 vastly different opinions. 1 side says "its fine to do this, in these [other/different] species its fine, natural" and the other side says "dont do this [with this species], there are serious consequences, this is what the consequences are:"

The two sides are not going to agree any time soon. Mostly they will go back and forth forever, because no median can be reached when it comes to acceptable husbandry and an animals health and life are at stake.

So, you have to take in the information provided, and make an educated decision. Personal preferences aside, your responsibility is to the animal, and to provide that animal with a long, healthy life. No chances, no maybes, in this situation, its better safe then sorry, because the risk is great.

[BWSmith]

Originally Posted by bleeding_sarcasm

Okay, so for the original poster:

Obviously there are 2 vastly different opinions. 1 side says "its fine to do this, in these [other/different] species its fine, natural" and the other side says "dont do this [with this species], there are serious consequences, this is what the consequences are:"

The two sides are not going to agree any time soon. Mostly they will go back and forth forever, because no median can be reached when it comes to acceptable husbandry and an animals health and life are at stake.

So, you have to take in the information provided, and make an educated decision. Personal preferences aside, your responsibility is to the animal, and to provide that animal with a long, healthy life. No chances, no maybes, in this situation, its better safe then sorry, because the risk is great.

This is true. You can go with proven husbandry by EXPERIENCED keepers that have shown its merit for countless generations of Boas and other species.

Or you can listen to Raze :scared:

[Texas Rattlesnake]

Originally Posted by BWSmith

This is true. You can go with proven husbandry by EXPERIENCED keepers that have shown its merit for countless generations of Boas and other species.

Or you can listen to Raze :scared:

On that note, I am going to bed too, albeit cracking up on my way to the bedroom.

[Texas Rattlesnake]

Originally Posted by JuliusSqueezer

Raze, for the love of God, it all varies by species. .

That's just as funny Big Squeeze. Didn't want to leave you out.

Poor Raze. He is going to have to kick some arse in the morning.

[bleeding_sarcasm]

Hahah. I hate to support majority rule, for the sake of it, because the majority people of people are idiots, but this is just one of those cases, where if you can read, and have basic brain function, its pretty obvious where the experience and truth is.

No offense Raze, but I dont think you are going to be able to start a major husbandry revolution.

[spix14]

So can someone tell me a bit more about this supposed hair sensitivity in BCCs?

[JuliusSqueezer]

Originally Posted by spix14

So can someone tell me a bit more about this supposed hair sensitivity in BCCs?

Probably not. It's all conjecture. Rats and mice are different animals. It's easy to suspect the finer fur but prove it. There could easily be other factors that make them less digestible. It's also important to consider that fur is an important digestive aid so hairless rats as a staple for large boids is a bad idea. Fur or feathers have no nutritional value but they are the salad...the roughage.