Boa eating questions

[ChuckD8883]

Hi everyone. So I’ve had my little girl for just about 4 months now. She’s been doing great my only issue is the pet store I got her from gave me a few weaned rats for her. The only pet store within an hour from me is a petsmart and their large mice are too small and small rats are too big and I can not find weaned rats around anywhere. I’ve been feeding her 2 large mice (only about 20-25 grams each) every week and occasionally 3 if they were really small for about two months now. I drove about an hour and a half away to a pet store and picked up some small rats that were smaller than petsmarts but still seem a little big. I gave her one two days ago and she took it and swallowed it quickly and without problem. My only concern is she has quite a lump in her belly now and just wanna make sure I’m not over doing it. Any suggestions on what to feed her instead would be great. I haven’t weighed her in about a month and a half but last she weighed 277 grams I would bet she’s up over 300 easily now. The rat I gave her was probably around 60-70 grams. Any tips or help would be greatly appreciated! I’m not sure if it would be better to switch her back to 2 large mice until she gains some more weight and thickness and then go over to the rats or what. Thanks again!

[EL Ziggy]

I think a 60-70g small rat is a pretty big meal for a 300g boa. I wouldn't make a habit of feeding that large a prey item. I feed my 320g boa weaned rats or 1-2 adult mice. My 700g boa gets small rats. If you're feeding f/t why not just order in bulk online? You'll always have the right size.

[ChuckD8883]

Okay that’s what I had thought Ziggy. I just didn’t like making a habit of feeding her 2-3 adult mice I just don’t wanna over do it. I think I’ll end up ordering online just every website I’ve found it’s insanely expensive for shipping which I do understand cause they have to get them to you quick. I’ll probably end up taking a ride to the pet shop where I got her just to get a few weaned rats to hold her over until I can order some online. Do you mind me asking which website you use to order from? And also do you think I should skip this weeks meal since she got the large meal this past week? Thanks again.

[EL Ziggy]

I would delay her next feeding by at least a few days if not an entire feeding cycle. My boas eat every 2 weeks on average. How much are you paying for your weaned rats? I usually order my feeders from Perfect Prey or Big Cheese. I use PP more because BC is quite often sold out of the medium and large rats I need.

[ChuckD8883]

Okay I’ll hold off a couple days then. At the stores near me they’re about $3 a piece depending on which store I go to. I’ll check out that website. The one website I found it was a pack of 10 I think for $28.99 and it was like $60 shipping for overnight. I managed to pick up some weaned rats today from the store where I got her from about an hour and a half from me. I haven’t weighed any yet but they seem slightly larger than when I got them the first time. I would assume between 35-45 grams by looks. Would that be fine weekly or maybe stick to every 10 days if they’re around that size?

[EL Ziggy]

You can get a pack of 20 weaned rats from Big Cheese for $27. With their $29 two day flat rate shipping it's $56. That'll last you roughly 7-9 months depending on how often you feed and you won't have to drive to the pet store every 2 weeks. I think every 10-14 days is a good feeding schedule for a young boa.

https://bigcheeserodents.com/product-category/frozen-feeder-rats/

[ChuckD8883]

Okay. I’ll definitely start ordering from them. I’ll start switching her over to feeding every 10 days from now on. Really appreciate all your help!

[Scubadiver59]

Wow, when I read the title I thought someone was eating their Boa!! :eek:

[Aaron_S]

Okay. I’ll definitely start ordering from them. I’ll start switching her over to feeding every 10 days from now on. Really appreciate all your help!

Yeah the shipping cost may seem like a lot but at the same time it saves you a lot of time and money in fuel. Good luck!