How often should a one year old 4 foot long retic eat

[serpentgirl123]

Again, I agree with the comments here. I feel so sad for the animals in your care. They are the only ones that are suffering at this moment and I fear they will meet with a grim and early death if you don't change what you are doing and fast. That rabbit is WAY too big for that boa. I wouldn't even feed 1 of those to my adult male who is over 8ft and surely not at the frequency as you claim to be feeding. A 2-3lb rabbit was more than enough for my boa every 3 months and I had to switch him back to rats because I could see he was getting too fat after 6 months. THAT is what a responsible owner who cares for the pets in their care would do, put the animal FIRST. Not their own selfish desires and wishes.

It is my opinion that you have wasted everyones' time here by starting this and the other threads as it is clear to me you have no clue what you are doing nor do you seem to care about the health and well being of the animals in your "care."

[eminart]

Originally Posted by KyleKennedy

So a boa that eats just once a month is healthy? My boa eats 6 jumbos a month and she is healthy and thick as around as lightpost.

There was a time when I assumed the more you could feed a snake, the better. But, that's just not true. A LOT of snakes in captivity are OBESE. Most snakes evolved in situations where they often go very long periods of time with no food at all. Their metabolisms are designed to operate that way. They expend very little energy, and eat when the opportunity arises. In captivity, that opportunity arises frequently, in many cases. Their incredibly efficient bodies store all the excess.

A young, quickly growing snake can eat more often than adult with no ill effects. But, a boa isn't supposed to be as thick as a light post. Boas seem to be particularly prone to this. If I were you, I'd cut back on how much you're feeding her if you want her to have a long lifespan.

[REM955]

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

Both snakes look obese. You can see the fat deposits building up near the retics tail.

I ask for further detail.
These fat deposits are where the snakes body bulges near the tail? From the picture it appears the body slims down then expands near the back end.

[KyleKennedy]

I think it's funny how pretty much everyone here is calling me ignorant and a bad pet owner, when actually I love my animals and make sure they get taken care of. My snakes are healthy, not obese. If I was a bad owner, I wouldn't feed my snakes my at all like most people do. My snakes are smart and by now, they realize every Sunday is feeding day when I tap on their enclosure. I'm not going to feed my retic jumbos every week, but probably every 2 weeks. I usually wait until the snake defecates anyway. As for my boa, she will get 2 jumbos a week, and a rabbit once a month. She's about 6 feet and 35 pounds, but she can still move around quickly.

[KyleKennedy]

Originally Posted by eminart

There was a time when I assumed the more you could feed a snake, the better. But, that's just not true. A LOT of snakes in captivity are OBESE. Most snakes evolved in situations where they often go very long periods of time with no food at all. Their metabolisms are designed to operate that way. They expend very little energy, and eat when the opportunity arises. In captivity, that opportunity arises frequently, in many cases. Their incredibly efficient bodies store all the excess.

A young, quickly growing snake can eat more often than adult with no ill effects. But, a boa isn't supposed to be as thick as a light post. Boas seem to be particularly prone to this. If I were you, I'd cut back on how much you're feeding her if you want her to have a long lifespan.

The boa is 14 years old. She doesn't have much years left in her anyway. In the meantime, she is going to get well fed and treated good for the remainder of her life.

[KyleKennedy]

2 Days after eating it, he is already digesting his ''way too large'' meal pretty nicely

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by KyleKennedy

I think it's funny how pretty much everyone here is calling me ignorant and a bad pet owner, when actually I love my animals and make sure they get taken care of.

You can love your snakes and be misguided at the same time. I would say you are willfully ignorant, by posing a question and then refusing advice from more knowledgeable and more experienced keepers. This could change if you would just heed the advice given.

My snakes are healthy, not obese. If I was a bad owner, I wouldn't feed my snakes my at all like most people do.

Overfeeding and underfeeding are both issues. The key is to feed appropriately.

My snakes are smart and by now, they realize every Sunday is feeding day when I tap on their enclosure. I'm not going to feed my retic jumbos every week, but probably every 2 weeks. I usually wait until the snake defecates anyway. As for my boa, she will get 2 jumbos a week, and a rabbit once a month. She's about 6 feet and 35 pounds, but she can still move around quickly.

The feeding schedule is a human construct.. Snakes are opportunistic feeders and do not know when feeding day is. They eat when there is food because they don't know when their next meal will be.

[eminart]

Originally Posted by KyleKennedy

The boa is 14 years old. She doesn't have much years left in her anyway. In the meantime, she is going to get well fed and treated good for the remainder of her life.

The average lifespan of a BC is 20-30 years with documented cases of them living for more than 40 years. But, you're right, if she's overfed and obese, 14 years might very well be getting near the end.

[eminart]

And anyway, I don't want to be part of the lynch mob. I just think your ideas of feeding are a little skewed.

Two good books to read about boas:

Complete Boa Constrictor: A Comprehensive Guide to the Care, Breeding, and Geographic Races

Boa Constrictor Manual (Advanced Vivarium Systems)

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by eminart

And anyway, I don't want to be part of the lynch mob. I just think your ideas of feeding are a little skewed.

There is no lynch mob. Most of the criticisers here are being civil.

[Princess-dad]

A human child for the most part , will eat until they become ill . If a child is presented meals that are inappropriately large the child will become obese . Now I no a snake isnt a child but you like a parent of an infant you are responsible for the proper care of your charges . You were trying to feed that retic jombo's since the time it arrived . Do you not remember when every other post was help my retic wont eat , and me telling you to offer an appropriate sized meal . Well if I remember right it wouldnt eat until you quit insisting it eat something to large . Well congratulation you have achieved your goal your snake is now eating way to large a prey item . Oh by the way over feeding a child is considered at best bad parenting . I consider it child abuse . May I ask are you young and do you consider it cool being able to say how much or how big an item you can get your poor abused animals to eat . If I were you and I intended to keep abusing my animals I would quit documenting it on a public forum , before someone in animal control in your city reads your posts and investigates your abusive husbandry . Sorry ignore that last line hopefully some one will ! Its obvious that you will not stop and will keep acquiring more animals to abuse so maybe a visit is the best thing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You dont deserve animals as proven by your many posts relating the abusive way you treat your animals . Hope I didnt offend anyone other than Kyle , I dont know about anyone else but I have been getting a very bad feeling about his animals well being and the feeling gets worse every time he posts a new subject . I believe I just put into words what most here are thinking . And if you wonder about what Im refering to My retic wont eat My retic is not shedding completely I dropped my retic and on and on all you posts as pertaining to your Retic have left me with a very bad feeling about your ability to properly care for animals .

[AlexCrazy]

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

I hate to say it but I think the best thing for you and your uncles snakes are for them to be sold to someone who can properly care for them. One of the most basic and agreed upon pieces of information in this hobby is that you should not feed an animal that is more than 1.5 times wider than the snake at its widest part. You either ignore this information, did not bother to do any research, or just don't care. I can't shake the feeling your are going to kill your snakes with all the issues you are having. I can't understand how you think getting more snakes is a good idea if you have not gotten the hang of the care of the ones you already own? Also you should refrain from giving advice to others until your own situation is fully under control and you have a better understanding of snakes in general.

Sorry for my language everyone but.
Please stop being an A*!& HOLE! and listen to people who know what the hell they are saying... the don't say it for fun of it! they say it for the sake of your poor snakes! you might love them too bits.. but you must stop being an idiot and consider that they are suffering cos of your ego or freaking size needs! with pets you need love, dedication and PATIENCE! not treat them as if they are growing machines!
how about you try and put a hole freaking apple in your mouth and eat the freaking thing! or eat 5 plates of what ever crap you eat! just because you can eat it don't mean its good for you! to much of a good thing is bad! water is good but try drinking 5 gallons! you will feel like Cr*p! get the point! I almost cry-id wen a saw your snake with a freaking bunny in it! listen to people! i suppose that was the dam idea in the first place wen you posted! or are you one of those sh*&ti people that just look for trouble!?!
And what the hell whent throug your mind to have a tazer incase the bunny moves! my goodnes!.
Sorry everyone. i just had to let it out.

[AlexCrazy]

Originally Posted by Princess-dad

A human child for the most part , will eat until they become ill . If a child is presented meals that are inappropriately large the child will become obese . Now I no a snake isnt a child but you like a parent of an infant you are responsible for the proper care of your charges . You were trying to feed that retic jombo's since the time it arrived . Do you not remember when every other post was help my retic wont eat , and me telling you to offer an appropriate sized meal . Well if I remember right it wouldnt eat until you quit insisting it eat something to large . Well congratulation you have achieved your goal your snake is now eating way to large a prey item . Oh by the way over feeding a child is considered at best bad parenting . I consider it child abuse . May I ask are you young and do you consider it cool being able to say how much or how big an item you can get your poor abused animals to eat . If I were you and I intended to keep abusing my animals I would quit documenting it on a public forum , before someone in animal control in your city reads your posts and investigates your abusive husbandry . Sorry ignore that last line hopefully some one will ! Its obvious that you will not stop and will keep acquiring more animals to abuse so maybe a visit is the best thing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You dont deserve animals as proven by your many posts relating the abusive way you treat your animals . Hope I didnt offend anyone other than Kyle , I dont know about anyone else but I have been getting a very bad feeling about his animals well being and the feeling gets worse every time he posts a new subject . I believe I just put into words what most here are thinking ..

You did it for me..

[SnoopySnake]

I seriously can't handle this lol. Why is it SO HARD for people to listen when someone knows better than them? 6' and 35 lbs is obese. The lump from prey should be 1/2 size after digesting 2 days, that jumbo looks like it was just eaten. Why are you even here if you're not going to take the advice you ask for?

[that1guy]

Originally Posted by KyleKennedy

I think it's funny how pretty much everyone here is calling me ignorant and a bad pet owner, when actually I love my animals and make sure they get taken care of. My snakes are healthy, not obese. If I was a bad owner, I wouldn't feed my snakes my at all like most people do. My snakes are smart and by now, they realize every Sunday is feeding day when I tap on their enclosure. I'm not going to feed my retic jumbos every week, but probably every 2 weeks. I usually wait until the snake defecates anyway. As for my boa, she will get 2 jumbos a week, and a rabbit once a month. She's about 6 feet and 35 pounds, but she can still move around quickly.

I also think it's funny that everyone else here thinks the way you feed your snake is incorrect. I suppose you think all these people that have been keeping snakes for years are wrong? Most people here never called you ignorant or a bad pet owner, they just pointed out that you were feeding your snake a too large of a prey item. That doesn't mean you're ignorant or a bad pet owner just that you've made a mistake. However you should be able to look at this thread and all responses to it telling you that you're overfeeding your snakes and take the advice offered and realize that maybe you should cut back on the amount, and size, of meals you are feeding your snakes. If you ignore the advice of all these experienced keepers and continue to overfeed your animals after knowing that it is wrong, that is when you will truly become a bad pet owner.