Feeding question

[Stargazer]

My BCI, Veronica, is over 2 years old, maybe by a few months. She is about 44" and certainly not hurting for size. I have had her on a medium rat every 10 days, but decided to switch her to every 2 weeks. She has sometimes gotten two rats, depending on their size and the size of the lump it left.

However, at the 10-day point, she starts roaming around and striking at everything in site. Appears as though she's hungry again. I went ahead and fed her at 10 days a nice medium rat, same as she got last time. Last two times, she did not seem satisfied by the one rat. A few hours after feeding she was still in her tank looking around for more. So I went ahead and gave her a second smaller rat this time.

Question: Is it better to feed when she's hungry or at 2-week intervals? And is it okay to give her a second smaller medium rat? A large rat seems way to big for her.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator

[Johnny Utah]

Originally Posted by Stargazer

My BCI, Veronica, is over 2 years old, maybe by a few months. She is about 44" and certainly not hurting for size. I have had her on a medium rat every 10 days, but decided to switch her to every 2 weeks. She has sometimes gotten two rats, depending on their size and the size of the lump it left.

However, at the 10-day point, she starts roaming around and striking at everything in site. Appears as though she's hungry again. I went ahead and fed her at 10 days a nice medium rat, same as she got last time. Last two times, she did not seem satisfied by the one rat. A few hours after feeding she was still in her tank looking around for more. So I went ahead and gave her a second smaller rat this time.

Question: Is it better to feed when she's hungry or at 2-week intervals? And is it okay to give her a second smaller medium rat? A large rat seems way to big for her.

Are you sure a large rat would be way to big for her? This is a BCI, so you're allowed to leave a lump in her.

I personally make my snakes adhere to a strict schedule. But I have also heard of people who prefer to feed when their snakes show hunger.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator

[Johnny Utah]

Also, my opinion of a large rat might differ from you your's. I ordered some large rats from Rodent Pro, and they shipped me these great, big, giant hedgehog sized rodents. lol

[Masahiko]

As far as I know, they are opportunistic feeders. That is, they will eat when there is food available. I would not feed them when they are hungry. I would stick to the schedule. I am pretty sure that if you fed a snake to its heart's content, it would become obese very quickly. Pay more attention to the boa's size, shape, and weight as opposed to its hunger. If your boa is too fat, space out the feeding more. If it is too skinny feed it more often while still allowing time for digestion.

Just feed it one appropriately sized prey item. It doesnt matter if its still hungry. I have a snake that will chow down as many prey items as you offer. You dont want a regurgitation, so just play it safe. Snakes can go months without food and their digestion is very slow as well. They dont need to be fed as much as you may think.

Good Luck

[Stargazer]

Thanks guys. with the large rats I am more concerned that they are ridiculously large for the size of her little head. I think I will take the advice and go back to 2 week intervals. I will still love her, no matter how bitey she is.

[Red-Tailed_mustang]

I was concerned about Red (My first boa) also his head is way smaller than his body in my opinion. But he swallows em down like they are nothin.

[danktat]

It is the girth of the body that should be your guide not really the size of the head. Once a boa unhinges its jaws it will be able to stretch at least that size if not much more. They generally don't have problems "getting" them down it is "keeping" them down that can be a slight problem....but with BCI not nearly as much as BCC. JMO

	Boa Constrictor Imperator

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor

[Red-Tailed_mustang]

Yes I know but I guess I get worried about my baby