Your Reptile and Amphibian Resource and Information Site

Back to Boa Constrictors Forum   Forums   Home   Members Area  

Boa Constrictors Forum

Snake guy   Bciaddict   Snake guy   SusanC   Snake guy   Bciaddict   Snake guy   Snake guy   Snake guy   Snake guy   Snake guy   Bciaddict   Snake guy   Bciaddict   Snake guy   Bciaddict   SusanC   Snake guy   Snake guy   Bciaddict  
 Member  Message

 #1834379


Snake guy
View Profile

 RTB growth question

Hello, last year i traded my aggresive yellow anaconda for a 1 yr. old male RTB. I have been feeding it adult mice about every week, and i just switched to small rats. When i got it it was about 2 and a half feet and it has only grown about 6-7in. I have had the boa for about a year and i have no idea why it isnt growing. Please help and possably post a growth chart for a male RTB.
THX, Dugan
08/17/08  09:50pm

 #1834643


Bciaddict
View Profile



   Message To: Snake guy   In reference to Message Id: 1834379


 RTB growth question

Hi,

There are no set growth patterns for boas. Each is individual in how they grow. Some will grow fast, some will grow kind of grow slow and steady. Some will grow in spurts.

How large is the food in relation to the girth of the boa? A good sized meal should leave a slight lump. If there is no lump, then I would go with larger prey.

Do you know if yours is a b.c.i or b.c.c?

2.5 feet to 3 feet long is a good size for a Colombian boa. Peruvians would be much bigger by 1 year old. Smaller boas won’t grow as big or as fast.

Amie
08/18/08  06:48am

 #1834988


Snake guy
View Profile



   Message To: Bciaddict   In reference to Message Id: 1834643


 RTB growth question

Thank you that helps alot i think my boa is b.c.c but not sure. I feed him food that is about 1.3 the width of his body.
THX, Dugan
08/18/08  02:15pm

 #1835094


SusanC
View Profile



   Message To: Snake guy   In reference to Message Id: 1834988


 RTB growth question

An ADULT mouse was MORE than the girth of your boa? Some people say slightly smaller... some people say slightly larger... I try to choose my prey items as close to the same size as the girth of the snake... meaning the mouse/rats body is the same size (or as close to it) as the largest part of the snake’s body. My advice is to chose the appropriate size prey item for your snake... continue a weekly fedding schedule... monitor snake’s feeding... bathroom elimination.. and shed. It also may not be a bad idea to have a vet check for internal parasites.
Susan
08/18/08  03:06pm

 #1835717


Snake guy
View Profile



   Message To: SusanC   In reference to Message Id: 1835094


 RTB growth question

Thank you susan, no the mouse isnt more than the girth of my snake, but i had him on 2 jumbo mice a week, but now he is eating small rats. Do you think that i need to take him to the vet because he is pooping and eating normally and he is a b.c. c. i think.

THX, Dugan
08/18/08  11:21pm

 #1835879


Bciaddict
View Profile



   Message To: Snake guy   In reference to Message Id: 1835717


 RTB growth question

Dugan,

A vet check isn’t a bad idea. If the boa is eating and not defecating that could be a sign that it is not getting enough food. Or if it is eating pooping and not gaining weight, that could indicate internal parasites. Does it look thin? Can you see ribs? Does the spine protrude?

Some boas do grow slow. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with them. It’s possible that yours is s b.c.i x b.c.c. mix which don’t usually grow as large as pure b.c.c.

Here is one of my smallest 2 year old Colombian b.c.i’s She’s a tiny bugger.



And a 2 year old male b.c.i. of average size.



This one is a 2 year old b.c.i X b.c.c. mix.



How does yours compare in relative size?

Amie





08/19/08  07:05am

 #1836344


Snake guy
View Profile



   Message To: Bciaddict   In reference to Message Id: 1835879


 RTB growth question

Thanks that helps i think that i may take him to the vet soon i will take some pix 2day and try to post them. He really doesnt wook to thin but i will post some pix up soon.
THX, dugan
08/19/08  05:40pm

 #1836376


Snake guy
View Profile



   Message To: Snake guy   In reference to Message Id: 1836344


 RTB growth question
08/19/08  06:02pm

 #1836382


Snake guy
View Profile



   Message To: Snake guy   In reference to Message Id: 1836376


 RTB growth question
08/19/08  06:05pm

 #1836560


Snake guy
View Profile



   Message To: Snake guy   In reference to Message Id: 1836382


 RTB growth question

Oh man he is soo small compared to your boas I hope he starts growing soon.
08/19/08  08:14pm

 #1836833


Snake guy
View Profile



   Message To: Snake guy   In reference to Message Id: 1836560


 RTB growth question

bump



08/20/08  12:14am

 #1836945


Bciaddict
View Profile



   Message To: Snake guy   In reference to Message Id: 1836560


 RTB growth question

Dugan,

He looks like a b.c.i, or possibly a b.c.i x b.c.c. mix. He looks good though. Doesn’t look thin to me. He could just be a slow grower. A vet check is a good idea to rule out parasites or any nutritional deficiencies.

It is also possible that the previous owner held feeding back a little to keep him on the smaller side. It’s not a practice that I condone, but many people have been doing that nowadays.

Amie
08/20/08  07:19am

 #1837115


Snake guy
View Profile



   Message To: Bciaddict   In reference to Message Id: 1836945


 RTB growth question

Ya i think that i am going to kickstarting his feeding. Do you think that feeding him a small rat every 6 days is OK. Ya i am so jelous of your albino RTB he is GORGEOUS. I wish i had the money to get one of those guys . Thank you so much for all the advice.
THX, DUGAN
08/20/08  12:40pm

 #1837277


Bciaddict
View Profile



   Message To: Snake guy   In reference to Message Id: 1837115


 RTB growth question

He could probably handle a small rat weekly. The little hypo girl that I posted takes small rats without a problem. They barely leave a bulge in her. She looks to be pretty close in size to your boy.

Thanks on the compliment for the albino! He’s not a high end boy, but I like him.

Amie
08/20/08  03:27pm

 #1837287


Snake guy
View Profile



   Message To: Bciaddict   In reference to Message Id: 1837277


 RTB growth question

Thanks amie i cant wait till this sunday to feed my boa he looks reli hungry Can u post a pic of one of your boas cages? here is mine he is on the bottom



08/20/08  03:41pm

 #1837960


Bciaddict
View Profile



   Message To: Snake guy   In reference to Message Id: 1837287


 RTB growth question

Sure...

My babies are kept in my hatchling rack...need to make more of these :)



Here’s where I keep my 2-4 foot boas. The tubs are 28"L x 17"W x 9.5"H.



My 4-5 foot boas live in these 33"L x 18"W x 6"H tubs...



And the bigger gals are in 4’ Boaphile cages.



Amie
08/21/08  07:02am

 #1838026


SusanC
View Profile



   Message To: Snake guy   In reference to Message Id: 1837115


 RTB growth question

Dugan,
he looks good actually. I honestly think that the problem was... the mice were sustaining him.. but that’s it. there was nothing extra.. ya know what I mean? now that you’ve started him on rats... there should be an improvement in weight and growth. I’m not as worried about him now that I’ve seen the pics.
I’ll try and post pics of my 2 boas.








08/21/08  09:05am

 #1838163


Snake guy
View Profile



   Message To: SusanC   In reference to Message Id: 1838026


 RTB growth question

Those are beautiful boas



08/21/08  11:44am

 #1838164


Snake guy
View Profile



   Message To: SusanC   In reference to Message Id: 1838026


 RTB growth question

Also nice cages amie. What do you think of my cages?
08/21/08  11:45am

 #1839121


Bciaddict
View Profile



   Message To: Snake guy   In reference to Message Id: 1838164


 RTB growth question

Dugan,

Your set ups look good from here. You have light, hideboxes, water, I see cords for heat pads...looks like you use either aspen bedding or artificial carpeting for substrate. And you probably mist with the water bottle. Seems fine to me.

Amie
08/22/08  07:34am


Back to Boa Constrictors Forum   Forums   Home   Members Area