Boa constrictor feeding schedule - Page 2

rocknhorse76 · 06-06-13, 10:26 PM

He looks just fine, and a 2 week feeding schedule is good for a boa. My Argentine female is 5'6" and weighs 6 lbs, and she gets an XL rat every 2 weeks. My Dumeril's male is 5'4" and about 8 lbs, and gets a jumbo rat every 3 weeks. The baby Dumeril's female will be fed an appropriately sized rat weekly until she's 2 years old.....every 2 weeks til she's about 4 years old, and every 3-4 weeks there on out. Basically, the larger the prey item, the longer you should wait between feedings so that your snake gets the most nutrition possible for the prey. Otherwise, all they're doing is digesting and pooping rather than absorbing and using nutrients.

moshirimon · 06-07-13, 11:48 AM

Also has Cloud pooped recently? In my experience a lot of the times when boas have belly full of poop they wont eat until they let it out.

bigsnakegirl785 · 06-07-13, 01:23 PM

Yes, although it wasn't as big as the last one, and was mostly urates. He's been pooping regularly just about every week, give or take a few days. He had two big poops and the small one in the last three weeks. The two first ones he did outside while in the sunshine. Had to get a shovel to clean them up. lol Probably TMI, but I find it pretty amusing. I guess he could use some more emptying, perhaps, although he looks pretty empty to me, and has pooped since his last meal. I'll keep an eye out for it, though, and try again next Thursday or Wednesday. Moved him around to check, and he didn't want to be bothered at first, but after I lifted his coils to make sure he wasn't sitting on any, he crawled up my arm and didn't want to go back in.

KORBIN5895 · 06-07-13, 02:14 PM

My boas all poop about once a month....

rocknhorse76 · 06-07-13, 11:43 PM

Yeah, mine go once every 3-4 weeks on average too.

moshirimon · 06-08-13, 09:50 AM

Once a week?? I've never had one that goes that often.. Once a month is normal. Some big females will even go up to two sometimes.

bigsnakegirl785 · 06-08-13, 03:45 PM

Yeah, I've got a picture (and caught it on tape haha to gross out my mom) from May 14, and I know he's had an even bigger one and a small one since then. It's not anything to worry about is it? He's been doing this for the whole time I've had him. A few times he went two or three feedings before he pooped, but mostly it's every week. Should I post a picture of it? Then again, I used to give him several smaller prey items that took him two or three poops before he got it all out. Now he's getting one appropriately sized item.

bigsnakegirl785 · 06-12-13, 10:41 AM

Well, today I tried feeding Cloud again. I ended up having to throw the large rat away, because it had been thawed out twice, and had become freezer burnt. So, we got some more rats from the pet store. They only had small frozen rats, so we got two of them. It wasn't a big meal, but it left a small bump in his belly, and hopefully this will get him to eat again next week. Today was 3 weeks and a day since his last meal. At first I didn't think he was going to eat, because as I was grabbing his head to put him back in his tank to block off the top so he wouldn't climb out, he wasn't reacting. But, when I went to reach for him at one point, his head went stiff and he watched my fingers intently, head wobbling. I knew then he would eat, and he sat there not moving a muscle until I brought the rats for him to eat. He took both rats, and is in his tub right now, digesting.

Waiting for his rats to thaw out.

Cloud from above.

Finishing off his first rat.

Taking his second rat.

Putting his jaw back into place after finishing his second rat.

Starbuck · 06-12-13, 02:08 PM

are you feeding him in a separate enclosure? If not, you should not be handling him before he eats, as that sends mixed messages to the snake; as well as puts him on edge which could contribute to his not wanting to eat.

If you do feel in a separate enclosure, why? You may have better luck simply putting the rat in his regular viv and wlaking away for a few hours.

Ddub · 06-12-13, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbuck

If you do feel in a separate enclosure, why? You may have better luck simply putting the rat in his regular viv and wlaking away for a few hours.

I agree with this. It doesn't serve much of a purpose to feed them in a separate container. It just makes you have to interact with them before and after they eat which seems counterintuitive.

bigsnakegirl785 · 06-12-13, 03:39 PM

I feed him outside of his enclosure because of his bedding. I've tried putting large plates and things inside his enclosure, but he always pulls the rats off and gets huge mouthfuls of coconut husk I have to get out. I feed Bud in his enclosure, I always have. But, I have to clear out his enclosure and completely clean his enclosure every time to wash away the smell, to keep him from going off of rats. Unfortunately, he's now unwilling to eat rats despite my efforts, so he gets a mouse or two with a f/t rat behind it. For these same reasons, I have to be careful with Cloud's feeding as well. As I stated earlier, I am trying to switch him to feeding in his tub. He hasn't been going for it, and the first time I tried feeding him in his tub was the first time he started being weird about his feeding. He normally strikes as soon as the prey touches his nose, but lately he's been ignoring it. I have tried just letting it sit there, but he completely ignored it. Once I get him eating regular again, I'll try feeding him in his tub again. I may have to end up waiting him out, though, as suggested.

Ddub · 06-12-13, 03:49 PM

I've found hunger to be a powerful motivator with feeding. I had one that wouldn't eat f/t so I just kept offering it and nothing else. Eventually she got hungry enough to eat it and never had a problem since. I threw a few rats away that's for sure but it was worth getting her off live. All I do now is toss the f/t rats in the cages and check a few hours later to find they're all gone.

How long were you leaving the rat in the cage with him? F/T?

bigsnakegirl785 · 06-12-13, 04:00 PM

I left the rat in there for either 2 or 3 hours, but closer to 2. He spent the whole time just crawling around looking for a way out until I took it away. If I'm going to leave it overnight, I might need to put him in a different room, so Bud doesn't pick up the scent. I guess the damage is already done, but I can keep trying. And yes, f/t, Cloud has only eaten f/t, and fresh-killed once or twice when Bud turned his nose up at them, and it was his day to be fed as well.

KORBIN5895 · 06-12-13, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ddub

I've found hunger to be a powerful motivator with feeding. I had one that wouldn't eat f/t so I just kept offering it and nothing else. Eventually she got hungry enough to eat it and never had a problem since. I threw a few rats away that's for sure but it was worth getting her off live. All I do now is toss the f/t rats in the cages and check a few hours later to find they're all gone.

How long were you leaving the rat in the cage with him? F/T?

This here is truly solid advice.

sweatshirt · 06-12-13, 04:14 PM

I agree with what they said about not handling the snake before feeding. I held Magenta the first time I tried feeding her and put her in a 10 gallon for feeding but she just sat there. I put her in a smaller container and she just freaked. I kept her in her home with the rat on a folded paper towel and it was gone in an hour.

I think that just throwing the thawed rat in on something solid and walking away is the best way to do it.