Feeding Question about my new boa - Where Responsible Reptile Keepers Connect!

jvelasco89 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 11:33 PM

I recently got this snake from a customer at my pet store who no longer wanted this boa. They gave the snake to me and told me they feed it a big rat once a month

i have no idea because my other boas are small, and i have never had on this big before

somebody at the local reptile shop told me thats not enough, they say it should be fed a large rat weekly, or a small rabbit monthly!

which is the best the to do?

pythonguy21 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 11:46 PM

an adult boa will only need a large jumbo rat every two to three weeks. look for how it behaves and acts, and that the item leaves a little bit of a lump. i don't think a boa should ever need rabbits. but giving it a jumbo rat every week is a great way to have an obese snake on your hands. i would try a jumbo bi weekly and see how it goes, if it is being super active and trying desperately trying to find food, feed it to jumbo rats and then you should be good for at least two weeks if not three, adult boas and pythons dont need the same food supply as when they are growing.

jvelasco89 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 11:55 PM

alrighty then thanks so much, i will do just that

HaloedSatan · #4 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 12:16 AM

I agree with pythonguy21 on a general basis. Babies and yearlings to under 3ft should eat once a week. While larger boas about every two weeks. I feed my adults about every 10 days, give or take a day or two depending on my shedule. IMO, three weeks may be too long unless it's a big meal.

ssjsmits · #5 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 12:45 AM

See I'm the opposite. I feed my larger boas (3 years and up) once a month. Sometimes a little longer. I don't like to feed rats too frequently because they are a little higher in fat that rabbits. I too, don't think larger boids need rabbits and will just fine on rats, but I like to slow down their feeding intervals at older ages. Seeing as they are lazy snakes to begin with.

HaloedSatan · #6 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssjsmits

See I'm the opposite. I feed my larger boas (3 years and up) once a month. Sometimes a little longer. I don't like to feed rats too frequently because they are a little higher in fat that rabbits. I too, don't think larger boids need rabbits and will just fine on rats, but I like to slow down their feeding intervals at older ages. Seeing as they are lazy snakes to begin with.

Do you breed?

ssjsmits · #7 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 01:30 AM

Nope, I just grow 'em slow.

HaloedSatan · #8 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 01:53 AM

I breed boas and balls. So my females HAVE TO be up to weight to breed at the end of the year. If I fed every three weeks to a month my girls would never be ready. At that pace theyd still be saggy and flabby by the time I introduce my males in october. The guy I knew in Michigan had a set number of rats his females must eat to get their mass back. After they gave birth in march/april, he had one of his bigger females on a regiment that called for 54 large rats by october, or something like that. I know it was 50-something. So... yeah. Feeding is important to breeders. Before anyone jumps all over me for "powerfeeding", let it be said that I DONT. I feed to put weight BACK ON my females after they barely eat all of the breeding season. I dont feed like that to get them up to breeder size. I slow grow all my ladies (and gentlemen) because as we all know it makes the healthiest snakes, and health is important to my breeders.

david_loftin · #9 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 02:02 AM

Its interesting to hear peoples opinions on this. I understand what you are talking about with getting the weight back on.. But something to also think about is the fact that 50 something large rats in that short of a time.. Well.. its honestly frightening to think about. Putting that much food into a snake in that short of a period of time has to do some long term damage to the snake.

I was raised that feeding a snake an appropriately sized food item 1 x a week was the thing to do for its life. As I kept more.. and more snakes.. I was able to recognize each of my animals needs for food. I personally would not suggest feeding an adult boa more than 3 times a month. If it was here with us would probably feed 2 x a month. And probably a very small rabbit [thats what we have on hand].

JuliusSqueezer · #10 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 02:08 AM

Yup

I'm piping in late, so that's all I can offer, just a here here. every two weeks at the most. If you go 3 weeks now and then, you are doing more good than harm. As long as he's on track, nothing needs to try and happen over night else there will be backfire.