Snake Feeding Question

[currytoys]

I am a new fairly new snake owner. I purchased a Female Red Tailed Boa 6 months ago and I couldn't be more happier with her. Extremely tame and no issues at all with temperment. I was told she was about a year old, approximately 3 feet 1 inch long when I purchased her. She's about 3 feet 6 to 7 inches now. Here's what I am questioned about: She snatches a thawed out frozen mouse the second I put it in front of her not picky at all. I've started feeding her once a week and then I noticed there hasn't been any feces in her cage. This concerned me and made me wonder if I was under feeding her. I went to 2 medium sized mice a week and I still rarely see any feces. I don't want to over feed her or under feed her. I would prefer that she not get excessively big from over feeding but I want her to be happy. I've heard different stories on how big of a mouse I should be feeding her & how often. I am a little confused. Could someone with more knowledge help me/inform me on proper feeding without going excessive? Thanks and any info I appreciate!!! The reptile Store that I bought her from has not been helpful. I think once the sale was complete they didn't really care. Sandy in St. Louis, MO.

[Starbuck]

i dont keep boas, BUT i feel like a snake that size should be eating a slightly larger meal? If you could post a picture of her next to something of reference like a soda can we can help further. Typically your prey item should be anywhere from 1 to 1.5X the girth of the snake. Additioanlly, you should consider switching to appropriately sized rats, as your adult boa will need to be eating rats and this way you arent stuck with a 6 foot snake that needs lots of mice with every feeding.


Can you tell us a bit more about your enclosure (temps, hotspot, hides, what is your heat source, do you use a thermostat, size, humidity etc?) this will help us figure out maybe why you arent seeing any feces.

[Terranaut]

Yes bigger meals for sure. Boas can go months without "pooping". The bigger the boa the longer it can be between "poops". My adult boas would go a few meals then BOOM a huge crap 3/4 as thick as the snake.

[revent]

Yeah I don't have any boa's but that's about the size of my ball python and he eats a small to medium rat weekly.

[KORBIN5895]

All of my yearling boas eat a small rat. It sounds like yours could hit a medium. I would feed a larger meal bi weekly.

[TheZoo]

yeah mine didnt for about 3 weeks maybe a bit more then bam.....hug poo super gross