Boa

[stevo-d]

So much for a dwarf boa 😁

[SWDK]

How old is he or she? Does it still seem to be growing or has it maxed out?

[stevo-d]

How old is he or she? Does it still seem to be growing or has it maxed out?

It's a boy and he's 2 and a half. Well he will be 3 in March. He's 5 foot or just over it.

[stevo-d]

So much for a dwarf boa 😁

He was mean't to be a crawl cay x common

[SWDK]

He was mean't to be a crawl cay x common

Seems like the crawl cay genes are taking a back seat.

[bigsnakegirl785]

He was mean't to be a crawl cay x common

If he is a Crawl Cay x Colombian/common (which seems unlikely considering how extremely rare Crawl Cays are - any breeder in their right mind wouldn't muddy up the genes), the 50% common blood is going to negate any dwarf genes.

[stevo-d]

Seems like the crawl cay genes are taking a back seat.

Yip taking a back seat and right out the window

[stevo-d]

If he is a Crawl Cay x Colombian/common (which seems unlikely considering how extremely rare Crawl Cays are - any breeder in their right mind wouldn't muddy up the genes), the 50% common blood is going to negate any dwarf genes.

It was you that told me the common would oust the dwarf blood. I was told he was a dwarf from a crawl cay and a common. I wasn't planned as they had a 5 foot crawl cay female and a 8 foot common male in the same enclosure.

[bigsnakegirl785]

It was you that told me the common would oust the dwarf blood. I was told he was a dwarf from a crawl cay and a common. I wasn't planned as they had a 5 foot crawl cay female and a 8 foot common male in the same enclosure.

Even with the unplanned breeding that was highly irresponsible. :/ But yeah, especially with the male being 8', do not plan on a very small snake. It would need roundabouts of 75% dwarf blood at least to stay a smallish size.

[stevo-d]

Even with the unplanned breeding that was highly irresponsible. :/ But yeah, especially with the male being 8', do not plan on a very small snake. It would need roundabouts of 75% dwarf blood at least to stay a smallish size.

I originally wanted a normal male so I'll be happy with what ever size he gets to. He's great for handling , feeding but hates his tail getting touched ??.

[Andy_G]

Cool boa!

Most snakes dislike their head, neck and tail being touched so it's nothing out of the ordinary there.

[stevo-d]

Cool boa!

Most snakes dislike their head, neck and tail being touched so it's nothing out of the ordinary there.

My python hates his head getting touched but the most balls do. The boa shakes it like he's getting tickled so I just don't touch it anymore. Not that I deliberately touched it in the first place.

[PatrickV]

nice snake! i thought dwarfs were around 5 foot anyways, so if hes a male and 2.5 years old and 5 feet, that's kind of on track, isn't it?

[bigsnakegirl785]

nice snake! i thought dwarfs were around 5 foot anyways, so if hes a male and 2.5 years old and 5 feet, that's kind of on track, isn't it?

Nope. 5' is actually rather large, even for a Colombian of that age. A bit better than 2, but he's still a bit large. Good for a Colombian, but nearly twice the size I'd expect a dwarf to be at that age.

At 2.5 years old he also still has another good 3.5 years of reliable growth ahead of him, and another 3+ years of possible random growth spurts after that.

[Tsubaki]

nice snake! i thought dwarfs were around 5 foot anyways, so if hes a male and 2.5 years old and 5 feet, that's kind of on track, isn't it?


My adult Nicaraguan boa males are true dwarves, one is 6 years old and 3ft, the other 5 years old and slightly longer ~3,3ft. So i agree with bigsnakegirl, 5ft for a 2,5 year old is pretty big.

[stevo-d]

nice snake! i thought dwarfs were around 5 foot anyways, so if hes a male and 2.5 years old and 5 feet, that's kind of on track, isn't it?

They said he'd max out at 4ft fully grown. He was like a bit spaghetti when I got him at 11 months. I've fed him once a week for the first year and a half then every ten days now every two weeks. It was 3 weeks ago since he'd been feed cause he hadn't passed through but got fed tonight after taken a crap yesterday. He's gentle, non aggressive apart from the place I got him from he was aggressive towards them. But never even hissed at me. After I got him I let him settle in for a week then handled him and fed him.

[stevo-d]

Nope. 5' is actually rather large, even for a Colombian of that age. A bit better than 2, but he's still a bit large. Good for a Colombian, but nearly twice the size I'd expect a dwarf to be at that age.

At 2.5 years old he also still has another good 3.5 years of reliable growth ahead of him, and another 3+ years of possible random growth spurts after that.

You know your ****. If I ever have any problems or want advice I'm coming to you.

[bigsnakegirl785]

You know your ****. If I ever have any problems or want advice I'm coming to you.

Yeah my male was 5'2" at 2 years old, and just over 5.5' at 2.5 years old, and he was overfed. Fed weekly rather than every 2-3 weeks. He's now 5 years old, 6.5', and still growing at least a few inches a year. If I didn't push him to size too soon, he may reach 7' in a few years.

At 2.5 years old and probably eating mediums your boa should be eating no more often than every 3 weeks. I would also highly recommend fasting him during the winter, I usually do 90 days. (I started fasting mine and feeding him every 4 weeks at 2.5 years old and he's grown a foot since then, so it won't starve him.)

[SnakeyJay]

My male Sonoran x Colombian is about 7.5ft.... the problem is that the adult size is effected by many factors, such as the locale of dwarf used, personal feeding routines and the boas own genetics.

Personally I'd expect an 8ft snake out of what you've got there lol. :D

[stevo-d]

Yeah my male was 5'2" at 2 years old, and just over 5.5' at 2.5 years old, and he was overfed. Fed weekly rather than every 2-3 weeks. He's now 5 years old, 6.5', and still growing at least a few inches a year. If I didn't push him to size too soon, he may reach 7' in a few years.

At 2.5 years old and probably eating mediums your boa should be eating no more often than every 3 weeks. I would also highly recommend fasting him during the winter, I usually do 90 days. (I started fasting mine and feeding him every 4 weeks at 2.5 years old and he's grown a foot since then, so it won't starve him.)

Ill feed him about November 17. Then fast him for 90 days then fed him mid February. Thanks for the advice. Yip he's on mediums as well. I think he has a little bcc in him as well. They said his grandad was a bcc.

[stevo-d]

My male Sonoran x Colombian is about 7.5ft.... the problem is that the adult size is effected by many factors, such as the locale of dwarf used, personal feeding routines and the boas own genetics.

Personally I'd expect an 8ft snake out of what you've got there lol. :D

The place I got him from. Said he was a crawl cayxcommon and his grandad was a bcc , don't know what type though. I'm not fussed what length he gets to but 8ft was be great. You got to put picture of your sonoranxcommon up.

[SnakeyJay]

Although everyone has their own methods/ways I personally don't see a need to fast my boas at all, but then again I've never had a boa that's been over fed or overgrown either.... I follow a steady feeding regime but adapt it to suit each snake in particular.. slow and steady is the key.

If your going to fast them, then I'd suggest brumating them as well then..

Otherwise their metabolism is running at full speed due to the temps being normal but no food will be going in, when they fast in nature the temp drops naturally and brunation occurs.

As for my Sonoran x Colombian, I just refer to him as a "common" boa as he's a mutt basically.

Here's he is with the but ugly keeper :D

[bigsnakegirl785]

I fast them because, in the words of Vin Russo: "boas grow the most when they aren't being fed." Or something close to that.

Fasting them in the winter allows them to build up muscle and burn off any extra fat. They also need breaks from a constant state of eating, it's better for their long term health.

I do agree with dropping temps, but you don't brumate boas, they're not built for it. I just drop my temps by a few degrees, but ambients should still remain in the 80's. At most, I wouldn't let the cool end get below mid- to high-70's, and only if you're still offering a hot spot of at least 85F. If you drop temps too low they get RIs.

[dannybgoode]

Yours is a mighty snake Jamie. Stunning example of a properly fed boa. As for fasting I'm going to drop mine right down but she'll get at least one feed in 90 days as opposed to 4 or so under normal feeding.

[PatrickV]

ah, i see, didnt know dwarfs were that small. good to know

[stevo-d]

Although everyone has their own methods/ways I personally don't see a need to fast my boas at all, but then again I've never had a boa that's been over fed or overgrown either.... I follow a steady feeding regime but adapt it to suit each snake in particular.. slow and steady is the key.

If your going to fast them, then I'd suggest brumating them as well then..

Otherwise their metabolism is running at full speed due to the temps being normal but no food will be going in, when they fast in nature the temp drops naturally and brunation occurs.

As for my Sonoran x Colombian, I just refer to him as a "common" boa as he's a mutt basically.

Here's he is with the but ugly keeper :D

He's a beast/cracker.

[stevo-d]

I fast them because, in the words of Vin Russo: "boas grow the most when they aren't being fed." Or something close to that.

Fasting them in the winter allows them to build up muscle and burn off any extra fat. They also need breaks from a constant state of eating, it's better for their long term health.

I do agree with dropping temps, but you don't brumate boas, they're not built for it. I just drop my temps by a few degrees, but ambients should still remain in the 80's. At most, I wouldn't let the cool end get below mid- to high-70's, and only if you're still offering a hot spot of at least 85F. If you drop temps too low they get RIs.

Dropping the temps a little won't be a problem. It's nearly winter in Scotland and could be -10c come January.

[SnakeyJay]

I fast them because, in the words of Vin Russo: "boas grow the most when they aren't being fed." Or something close to that.

Fasting them in the winter allows them to build up muscle and burn off any extra fat. They also need breaks from a constant state of eating, it's better for their long term health..

My animals are generally lean and healthy, I'm not one for over feeding anyway (apart from my ackie, cuz he's just that cute that it's hard to say no).
I already take into account that they shouldn't need a constant food source but I do this by makeing the feed irregular in places, an extra week or so every few feeds... I just think 90 days is a bit long between feeds, if I tried that with mario he'd be a hand full by the end. He can get quite bitey when hungry :D

[bigsnakegirl785]

My animals are generally lean and healthy, I'm not one for over feeding anyway (apart from my ackie, cuz he's just that cute that it's hard to say no).
I already take into account that they shouldn't need a constant food source but I do this by makeing the feed irregular in places, an extra week or so every few feeds... I just think 90 days is a bit long between feeds, if I tried that with mario he'd be a hand full by the end. He can get quite bitey when hungry :D

As long as they get periods off that's good. Less about overfeeding, more about giving their organs physical rest from the strain of constant eating for me.

My adult male takes it like a champ, since he was 2.5 years old (5 now). The most I've seen him do is tip a hide over in a breeding frenzy now that he's dropping plugs. No increased feeding response in the past 2 winters I've fasted him, this will make the 3rd. I have yet to see how my other boas when fasted, but my 1.5 year olds are only being fed half as often this year, not fasted. Next year I plan on fasting them.

[SnakeyJay]

As long as they get periods off that's good. Less about overfeeding, more about giving their organs physical rest from the strain of constant eating for me.

My adult male takes it like a champ, since he was 2.5 years old (5 now). The most I've seen him do is tip a hide over in a breeding frenzy now that he's dropping plugs. No increased feeding response in the past 2 winters I've fasted him, this will make the 3rd. I have yet to see how my other boas when fasted, but my 1.5 year olds are only being fed half as often this year, not fasted. Next year I plan on fasting them.

Lmao this male of mine has been dropping plugs since he was 3.. he's now 8 pushing 9 yrs old... yeah I totally get why you mean n why you do it, I just think some people would read what you put and use it as justification to underfeed to keep them small...

Not that your doin that at all, I've just seen it happen many times with idiots that own retics and boas but don't want the size. :D

[stevo-d]

I'm going to feed him every 5 weeks and see how he goes. It will keep his metabolism going and give his organs a wee break.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Lmao this male of mine has been dropping plugs since he was 3.. he's now 8 pushing 9 yrs old... yeah I totally get why you mean n why you do it, I just think some people would read what you put and use it as justification to underfeed to keep them small...

Not that your doin that at all, I've just seen it happen many times with idiots that own retics and boas but don't want the size. :D

Yeah he didn't start dropping plugs until the winter before last. So just over 3 years old.

I try to make it very clear it's not underfeeding but conservative feeding. As long as they didn't "extend" a winter fast or did "extra fasts," or something along those lines, it shouldn't result in an underfed snake. Feeding in the way I do shouldn't keep a snake smaller, although they'll take longer to get big, they'll be healthier and get just as long.

I've argued with people on here about maintenance feeding their bigger snakes before, so I definitely agree that they shouldn't get an animal if its potential size is too much.

We gotta try not to be an extreme on either end, either. Too much food, and they die young from obesity, too little food and they slowly starve to death. It's also hard to draw that line, because we don't completely understand snakes' metabolisms yet. Snakes that were fed what could be considered "conservative" diets end up dying from obesity even though they may not have outwardly shown it, so I just tend to err on more conservative side than most.