Boa help needed

Slycooper · 05-14-19, 05:59 PM

So I have had a boa for about 4 months and he’s had got to the bathroom twice and both times when he’s gone poop he’s gotten really skinny both times I would just like to know if that is normal ? I will post pictures of my boa if needed

**EL Ziggy** · 05-15-19, 02:20 PM

Welcome aboard Sly. Let's see pics of your snake and setup when you can.

Veronica · 05-15-19, 02:57 PM

And of course, a description of his set up, temps, and humidity would be helpful

Slycooper · 05-15-19, 10:48 PM

I just tried posting pictures but it would not let me so I’ll give a description of his setup so he has 2 hides 1 on each side and I use a heating mat under the warm hide and I have a water dish for him always with water and the bedding I use is cypress mulch and I mist the bedding every so often so a couple of times a week. He has had 2 successful sheddings and he is normal when I pick him up he dowsing hiss at me. I feed him about every 10 days it’s just when he goes to the bathroom which has only been twice since I’ve had him he just really thins out to me. I have had him since February 1st

Slycooper · 05-15-19, 11:03 PM

And for the heat mat I have the temp set to 92 with the thermostat

craigafrechette · 05-16-19, 08:58 AM

How much does the snake weigh?

What size prey are you feeding?

Slycooper · 05-16-19, 12:35 PM

Idk how much it weighs but I’ve been feeding it a fuzzy ever since I’ve had him.

craigafrechette · 05-16-19, 03:29 PM

You may be under feeding. If thats the case that would explain the lack of poop. All the food may be used up to sustain growth so theres nothing left to poop out.

But, without knowing the snakes weight i cant say for sure

Slycooper · 05-16-19, 05:01 PM

Okay well I just got another fuzzy today so after today the next time i feed him I’ll try a size up.

craigafrechette · 05-17-19, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slycooper

Okay well I just got another fuzzy today so after today the next time i feed him I’ll try a size up.

I don't know if thats the answer without knowing the weight of the snake.

Slycooper · 05-17-19, 12:22 PM

I thought about it a little more and the sizing up isn’t the answer it’s the waiting the 10 Days because I feed it every 10-14 days so do you think I should feed it just every 7 days instead of waiting the extra days ? Just to see if that changes anything.

**EL Ziggy** · 05-17-19, 01:58 PM

Are you feeding rats or mice? If they're mice fuzzys then your prey item is too small. A mouse hopper or even an adult mouse would be more appropriate. If we had a picture for reference or the weight of the snake we could tell you which prey item would be best. Boas have slower metabolisms than pythons or colubrids so I typically feed my young ones every 10-14 days and increase the length of time between feedings as they mature. I'd suggest feeding slightly larger prey on a 10-14 day schedule.

Slycooper · 05-17-19, 03:23 PM

A fuzzy mice, a hopper just looks too big for him, and I tried posting a picture but it says that the dementions are too big.

Slycooper · 05-17-19, 03:37 PM

This is the best picture I could post since the dementions that’s the widest part of my boa.

**EL Ziggy** · 05-17-19, 03:39 PM

If he's 6-7 months old a mouse hopper shouldn't be too large. My 2 month old boa was eating mouse hoppers. By the time she was 5 months old she was eating adult mice and rat fuzzys. She's 9 months old now and eating weaned rats.