Boa feeding

[Feebo]

I was wondering what other people feed thier Boas. I read all sorts about people feeding adult Boas rabbits because it`s "All they`ll eat" but I don`t think I`d ever want to do that for fear of ending up with a big fatty! My two are both at about the five and a half feet mark, they get a large rat each every two weeks, although I`m tempting to give them the odd double now, they make such short work of big rats now lol What are your feeding schedules with Boas? If you could mention the size of your Boa too that would be great :) A photo or two wouldn`t go amiss either !
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk294/feebix/TwoBoas021.jpg
Huey and Chinook, both named after helicopters and one Huey Morgan of the Fun loving criminals, a proper dude, and always reads my texts out on the radio! lol :)

[Aaron_S]

I don't own any boas but I would feel comfortable feeding my snakes of that size a large rat every 10 days instead of every 2 weeks. If you go by weight, you could feed a rabbit of similar size to the rat at the same intervals.

[Feebo]

Yeah that sounds good to me, I`ll go to ten days AND give them the odd double... I wonder if rabbits are any more nutritious than rats? I`ll have to look into that I think....

[Lankyrob]

YOu know i am no expert feebs but read on a forum somewhere (may have been this one - not sure) that rabbits have similar protein levels as rats but that they have a very low fat content in comparison.

The decision on the forum (from memory) is that it wouldnt be beneficial to just feed rabbits on a long term basis.

Hope this "part answer" helps!!

[Feebo]

Yeah I read that on here somewhere... Did you know, if a person were to eat nothing but rabbits, that person would starve. I can`t remember what it is exactly but they are lacking in something or other that`s essential to the whole staying alive thing.....

[Aaron_S]

There's a difference between people eating rabbits and snakes eating rabbits. Let's not forget we don't eat all the muscle,tissues and bones. They do.

Secondly, a lot of large snake keepers. Retics and burm people feed only rabbits because rats don't get as large. Sure you can get some very sizable rats but not the same as rabbits. Here's a link to a video about large snakes eating.

SnakeBytes TV - Episode #105 of SnakeBytes.TV - "Huge Snake Vs Rabbit" (http://snakebytes.tv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=196&Itemid=14)

[Feebo]

Oh I wasn`t suggesting snakes would have the same problem humans do ! lol Just an interesting factoid... I`m aware that rabbits are fed to large burms and Retics :) When I want to give them something a little more substantial I`ll offer rabbits of ratty size or Guinea pigs, my big Jungle Jaguar has the odd Guinea pig...... I`m interested to see what other big Boa keepers feed thier charges... :)

[shaunyboy]

there is a recent discussion on rabbits as food items on this forum,cant remember where though.will have a look then get back to you all.
cheers shaun

[Will0W783]

My hypo RTBs are currently on medium rats- one every 14 days. They are growing well and at a good thickness. Both are around 4 feet right now. My largest snake is 8 or 9 feet and she eats large rats. I don't think RTBs get too large to eat a large or jumbo rat. I would think Burms and retics would need rabbits, but not RTBs. Just my 2 cents.

[Feebo]

Yeeeah I tend to agree Willow :) sounds like we`ve got about the same feeding regime going on... Well that`s a grand total of one other Boa owner ! Does nobody have any Boas in here?! :D

[Will0W783]

I have seen lots of pictures of boas on here, so I know that others keep them. I keep all my snakes, except for young hatchlings and my FWC, who gets cranky if he doesn't get fed every week, on an every-other-week schedule. I try to feed so that each snake gets one prey item and is full and happy with that, so I adjust the sizes as they grow. But with the large rats I get, my boas will never outgrow them...some of them are massive! Baby the sd retic loves the big ones- she would eat her own body weight if I let her...lol.

[Feebo]

Yeah I`ve seen some whoppers too ! lol They`re stopping jumbo rats here though, they take too long to rear appartently. If I need a whopper I buy guinea pigs.... :)

[Will0W783]

I know a lot of people feed guinea pigs- I think they have a similar nutritional profile to rats, but they can have a lot more fat content, since they have a tendency to get really obese if people aren't careful. Jumbo rats would take a long time to rear I imagine, but for people who breed rats for reptile food for a living, I wouldn't think it would be that big of a deal. Perhaps a large rat will be enough?
I only buy large, but the guy I buy from is not the most consistent with size- there can be quite a bit of variation in the bag of larges, and Baby gets the biggest ones, since she's my largest snake.

[illcyat420]

Nice Boas Feebo.
My boa is roughly 4-4.5ft long but not quite the girth of yours.
I would love to get some pictures but my camera is broken and I have been spending all of my money on his cage I'm building / supplies!
I feed mine a large rat every 5-10days. Just depends....He lets me know when he is hungry:D

[Feebo]

I look forward to seeing some pictures :)

[Jendee]

I have lots of boas!! And the odd double thing is a really bad idea that is considered power feeding, a boa is going to eat as many rats as you feed them at one time bc they are in feeding mode even if they dont need it :eek: so beware! Over feeding your boa like that can will lead to a shorter life span. In the wild boas will go a month or more without eating and live to 30 + years captive boas over feed will live 6-9 yrs...big difference!!
I feed my 6 ft girls every 14 days 1 xxl rat! only bc they are going to be breeding fo rme and I like a little bit more muscle mass for breeding. If yours are males or arent going to be breeding a think a large rat is great choice for a boa around 5 ft!!

[spankygaaarge]

[quote=Feebo;558771Well that`s a grand total of one other Boa owner ! Does nobody have any Boas in here?! :D[/quote]

We have a Dumeril's, but hes just under 4 feet, he eats 3 mice a week (he's not as thick in the girth as yours) we think we should be moving up to rats but arent really sure if they are too big for him or if they would be too aggressive......... we need advice on this subject too.......... :)

[spankygaaarge]

I have lots of boas!! And the odd double thing is a really bad idea that is considered power feeding, a boa is going to eat as many rats as you feed them at one time bc they are in feeding mode even if they dont need it :eek: so beware! Over feeding your boa like that can will lead to a shorter life span. In the wild boas will go a month or more without eating and live to 30 + years captive boas over feed will live 6-9 yrs...big difference!!
I feed my 6 ft girls every 14 days 1 xxl rat! only bc they are going to be breeding fo rme and I like a little bit more muscle mass for breeding. If yours are males or arent going to be breeding a think a large rat is great choice for a boa around 5 ft!!

jendee, does the same apply if they are on mice weekly???

[Jendee]

yes!! lol I was reading the 3 mice a wk saying ouch lol!!
It is much much more healthier for your boa to move up a size rather then feed more then one prey item! If you feel your boa in size due to refusing meals go from every 7 days to every 6..still this would be much healthier then more than 1 prey item.
think about how much more your feeding your boa weight wise by feeding him 3 prey then maybe 1 size bigger prey. its a big difference, can cause your snake to grow too fast or a even stress and have a regurge.
and rats are soo much better for your snake then mice, rats have higher bone density and there for have more protein in them so if your boa is feeding on mice move to rat pups or weaned :) good luck!!!

[spankygaaarge]

yes!! lol I was reading the 3 mice a wk saying ouch lol!!
It is much much more healthier for your boa to move up a size rather then feed more then one prey item! If you feel your boa in size due to refusing meals go from every 7 days to every 6..still this would be much healthier then more than 1 prey item.
think about how much more your feeding your boa weight wise by feeding him 3 prey then maybe 1 size bigger prey. its a big difference, can cause your snake to grow too fast or a even stress and have a regurge.
and rats are soo much better for your snake then mice, rats have higher bone density and there for have more protein in them so if your boa is feeding on mice move to rat pups or weaned :) good luck!!!

Jendee thanx so much, we're just worried that rats/ratpups, will be more aggressive than mice, also someone told us we should jugde the size of his prey by the thickness of the largest part of his body, is this right?? it shouldnt be bigger than the thickest part of his body?????

[Jendee]

oh you feed live?...I feed frozen thawed...if you get a live prey item just thump it before you feed it to your boa or for something so small like a rat pup a nice flick to the back of the head
but just a money tip its ALOT cheaper to buy frozen rats online!!!:yes:

[spankygaaarge]

oh you feed live?...I feed frozen thawed...if you get a live prey item just thump it before you feed it to your boa or for something so small like a rat pup a nice flick to the back of the head
but just a money tip its ALOT cheaper to buy frozen rats online!!!:yes:

ya, he wont even attempt anything dead couple of times he's pushed it around with his nose them just ignored it, ya we know its cheaper but what can ya do when he wont touch frozen/thawed, or even prekilled, i sometimes think he likes the 'challenge' .............