I fed my boa too big of a rat

[Kaptain]

I gave my bci a small rat and her belly is engorged, is she going to be okay?

[EL Ziggy]

She should be ok if her husbandry is dialed in and she's left alone to digest her meal. How big is your snake and how large was the rat?

[BallBuster7653]

Your being should at least be 150 grams before eating a small eat. Assuming the rat is about 40 grams

[Andy_G]

Your being should at least be 150 grams before eating a small eat. Assuming the rat is about 40 grams

That's WAY too big for a 150 gram boa.

[craigafrechette]

That's WAY too big for a 150 gram boa.

^^^^ Yup ^^^^

[bigsnakegirl785]

Yup, he should be fine. Just skip the next feeding day or two, depending on how often you normally feed.

[BallBuster7653]

I’m sorry I meant at least 160 grams. That’s 1/4 it’s body weight. That’s a alarge meal and would last 2-3 weeks but a boa at 160 grams can eat a 30-40 gram rat if fed biweekly. I feed my snakes larger prey items less often. My baby Suriname now is 100 grams and he gets an adult mouse (20 grams)every 10 days which comes to about feeding15-20% weekly. It’s not power feeding just because you offer large prey. As long as you do the math correctly. As long as the prey item is no more than 20-25# of the snakes body weight , it’s an acceptable size meal.

[Andy_G]

I’m sorry I meant at least 160 grams. That’s 1/4 it’s body weight. That’s a alarge meal and would last 2-3 weeks but a boa at 160 grams can eat a 30-40 gram rat if fed biweekly. I feed my snakes larger prey items less often. My baby Suriname now is 100 grams and he gets an adult mouse (20 grams)every 10 days which comes to about feeding15-20% weekly. It’s not power feeding just because you offer large prey. As long as you do the math correctly. As long as the prey item is no more than 20-25# of the snakes body weight , it’s an acceptable size meal.

I'd disagree but to each their own.

[BallBuster7653]

Im Interested Andy what is your feeding formula? Anyone else

[EL Ziggy]

I don't keep boas so I'm not sure my opinion counts in this case but I've fed kings meals that were 25% of their body weight. I've fed 120g carpet pythons 40g jumbo mice. That's 1/3 of the snake's body weight. I was leery about feeding such a large meal to my snake but the breeder assured me that it was perfectly fine. Carpets are known for taking down large prey. I'm not sure if the same applies to boas.

[bigsnakegirl785]

I don't keep boas so I'm not sure my opinion counts in this case but I've fed kings meals that were 25% of their body weight. I've fed 120g carpet pythons 40g jumbo mice. That's 1/3 of the snake's body weight. I was leery about feeding such a large meal to my snake but the breeder assured me that it was perfectly fine. Carpets are known for taking down large prey. I'm not sure if the same applies to boas.

Boas can physically eat quite large prey. That doesn't mean they should, or at least not on a regular schedule. Personally, if I were to feed 25% of weight for a baby, it wouldn't eat that meal more often than every 4-6 weeks. An adult would only eat something that size 2-4 times a year. If you were to feed a meal that size even just once a month, it very quickly would lead to a morbidly obese boa.

My adult boas eat meals that are roughly equal to their girth, and at most leave a small bulge. Their meals come in at 2-6% of their weight. 25% of my adult boas' weight would be 266 grams for my 4' boy, 1,036 grams for my 6.5' boy, and somewhere around 1200-1400 grams for my 7' girl. I doubt any of them could physically swallow meals that large. In the case of the 4' boa, a rat 266 grams would be bigger than he is curled up, and is 3-6 times what he is currently getting, and his rats already leave a bulge.

So, personally, I prefer to feed moderately-sized meals spaced out. That way I can feed them more often without having to worry about obesity.

My boas don't start on smalls until they're at least 3.5' and 500-600+ grams, but it really depends on their girth. I like to feed meals that are roughly equal to their girth.

[EL Ziggy]

@ BSG- Our feeding schedules are different mostly because I feed more frequently. I know boas have a slower metabolism so I can understand why they would eat less often. My colubrids and pythons get medium rats at about 500-600g also. The medium rats are 100-150g each so still roughly 20-25% of the snake's body weight. My snakes eat every two weeks on average vs. every 3-4 weeks for your critters. So far they all seem to be doing pretty well. ;)

[scales.jp]

I don't keep boas so I'm not sure my opinion counts in this case...

Ditto for the above, but my two year old Timor python is around 750g and he's still only on 40g mice and rats. Recently I've increased the frequency from once a week to once every six days, and he's much more active now. I'll go to 60g rats the next time I order, and return to once weekly feedings.

[Andy_G]

Im Interested Andy what is your feeding formula? Anyone else

I feed accordingly...some of the things I observe and consider would be when the last meal was passed, how big that meal was and approximately how long ago it was fed, is it breeding season, is the snake looking for food, how quick is that individuals/species metabolism, strength of feeding response, and so on. Not always a set schedule or "formula", not always the same food size or food type. This has been the case for the thirty or so different species I have had the pleasure to keep and breed over the last 17 or so years and I have raised many hatchlings that I produced to breeding size and then bred them, so I am happy with how I do things and don't think they need a regular regimen to be healthy, nor do I think it will always produce a better growth rate or a longer lived animal. I think feeding regimens/schedules/formulas are great for people who don't have the experience to do the forementioned though, or appropriate if one has a very large collection of individuals of the same species in order to create an upkeep routine. In my opinion, in regards to this species we are talking about, feeding the way you describe is too much food, but that's not to say that i'm right and you're wrong. I also think that BSG feeds a bit on the light side, but once again, not necessarily a question of right or wrong. Feeding is a topic that no matter how one phrases how or or what they do, not everyone will agree on...but I will mention when I think what is being advised is too much food.

[bigsnakegirl785]

@ BSG- Our feeding schedules are different mostly because I feed more frequently. I know boas have a slower metabolism so I can understand why they would eat less often. My colubrids and pythons get medium rats at about 500-600g also. The medium rats are 100-150g each so still roughly 20-25% of the snake's body weight. My snakes eat every two weeks on average vs. every 3-4 weeks for your critters. So far they all seem to be doing pretty well. ;)

My subadult boas are eating every 2 weeks atm. My adults are the only ones eating 3-4+ weeks (3 out of 4 of the adults anyways). All of my other species eat every 1-2 weeks, only the boas currently go 3+ weeks.

I do feed retic bigger meals and more often, I'd be feeding them large medium rats by 500-600 grams as well. I don't think I'd feed my bp that big of meals at that size, but any species with as fast a metabolism as retics, yes. My garters have fast metabolisms, but even they get meals under 15% of their weight. Draco probably comes close to 15% at times, but Demigod gets maybe 5%. And they got reaally chunky eating those size of meals weekly, so that's why I had to space at least Draco's meals out. XD

My bp is 1,400 gram and still only gets smalls, and that's more than enough for him. He lost some weight during the time with my mom, but before that all happened, he went from a record low weight to a record high weight eating just a small rat every 2 weeks. I was debating on putting him out to 3 weeks if his weight gain didn't even out, since he was starting to look chunky. He lost some weight during the time with my mom, so he may have been gaining that weight back while with SerpentineDream.

I feed accordingly...some of the things I observe and consider would be when the last meal was passed, how big that meal was and approximately how long ago it was fed, is it breeding season, is the snake looking for food, how quick is that individuals/species metabolism, strength of feeding response, and so on. Not always a set schedule or "formula", not always the same food size or food type. This has been the case for the thirty or so different species I have had the pleasure to keep and breed over the last 17 or so years and I have raised many hatchlings that I produced to breeding size and then bred them, so I am happy with how I do things and don't think they need a regular regimen to be healthy, nor do I think it will always produce a better growth rate or a longer lived animal. I think feeding regimens/schedules/formulas are great for people who don't have the experience to do the forementioned though, or appropriate if one has a very large collection of individuals of the same species in order to create an upkeep routine. In my opinion, in regards to this species we are talking about, feeding the way you describe is too much food, but that's not to say that i'm right and you're wrong. I also think that BSG feeds a bit on the light side, but once again, not necessarily a question of right or wrong. Feeding is a topic that no matter how one phrases how or or what they do, not everyone will agree on...but I will mention when I think what is being advised is too much food.

I feed in a similar manner as you do, I just have a basic guideline to keep me grounded. If I didn't have that, I would be lost in lalaland. :o I don't stick 100% to it, sometimes I'll feed more sometimes I'll feed less. I follow the body tone of my animals. The guideline works most of the time though. :)

[Andy_G]

I feed in a similar manner as you do, I just have a basic guideline to keep me grounded. If I didn't have that, I would be lost in lalaland. :o I don't stick 100% to it, sometimes I'll feed more sometimes I'll feed less. I follow the body tone of my animals. The guideline works most of the time though. :)

Nothing wrong with that.

[EL Ziggy]

I feed in a similar manner as you do, I just have a basic guideline to keep me grounded. If I didn't have that, I would be lost in lalaland. :o I don't stick 100% to it, sometimes I'll feed more sometimes I'll feed less. I follow the body tone of my animals. The guideline works most of the time though. :)

We're definitely in agreement about having guidelines as opposed to rules. Like both of you Andy and BSG, I often switch up on prey type, prey size, and feeding frequency. As long as your animals are healthy and thriving then you're doing something right imo.

[BallBuster7653]

El soggy I like your approach I think we are on the same page. It’s onteresting and great to see all our different feeding regimens. The important thing to remember is we all seem to have lots of experience and know what we are doing and we have healthy and beautiful constrictors in the end!:) in my case larger meals less often are how I like to go.

Big snake girl. Sorry I don’t know got to quote on here yet... but you mentioned you don’t start smalls. I’m guessing small rats until 3.5-4ft. Well my the time no boy is 3 ft he’s only 30 “ now. He will be 3/3.5 ft before he is eating smalls. So our guidelines aren’t that much apart I just seem to feed larger prey less often. Unfortunately right now since our little mishap of him getting lost outside for the night :( he regurgitated the mouse (so I think) from the stress and cold I have never had a snake do this before. But I tried to feed today. A week later. No luck still he hisses and pulls away. I’m pretty sure he’s beginning his shed cycle. He shed a month ago today so.... anyone have any indicators on very early shed stages and signs of a BCC shedding? Been a while since I have owned a boa. ?

[bigsnakegirl785]

El soggy I like your approach I think we are on the same page. It’s onteresting and great to see all our different feeding regimens. The important thing to remember is we all seem to have lots of experience and know what we are doing and we have healthy and beautiful constrictors in the end!:) in my case larger meals less often are how I like to go.

Big snake girl. Sorry I don’t know got to quote on here yet... but you mentioned you don’t start smalls. I’m guessing small rats until 3.5-4ft. Well my the time no boy is 3 ft he’s only 30 “ now. He will be 3/3.5 ft before he is eating smalls. So our guidelines aren’t that much apart I just seem to feed larger prey less often. Unfortunately right now since our little mishap of him getting lost outside for the night :( he regurgitated the mouse (so I think) from the stress and cold I have never had a snake do this before. But I tried to feed today. A week later. No luck still he hisses and pulls away. I’m pretty sure he’s beginning his shed cycle. He shed a month ago today so.... anyone have any indicators on very early shed stages and signs of a BCC shedding? Been a while since I have owned a boa. ?

A boa that is 150 grams won't be 3'-3.5'. My 3'-3.5' boas are 500-700+ grams. My 4-footers are 800-1,000+ grams. If your boa is 150 grams and 3'-3.5' it is probably severely emaciated.

I mention 150 grams, since you said a 150 gram boa should be able to eat smalls.

(The quote button is on the bottom right of that person's reply, and after you click on it, from there you can type in it like any other reply.)

[MichaelRobinson]

is ballbuster just a troll? if not, he really should just be quiet about feeding because he has no f'ing idea.