Boa Feeding Project (Need your help!)

[Lefitte]

Hello! I hope some of you will be able to help me out with a research project for my biology class on what effects obesity and overfeeding have on the lifespan of boa constrictors and I need some data from other keepers. It’s commonly said on these groups that overfeeding causes a shorter lifespan and I want to see if the data I get shows that. All subspecies of Boa constrictor are part of this. I also need data for healthy boas and how long they lived as a control. Please help me out, I think it’ll be interesting.

1. Emaciated: Can see and feel ribs, spine, and points in the skull. Sunken in appearance in eyes and possibly in stomach.
2. Fair: Can sometimes feel the spine and ribs. Fair muscle tone. More pyramidal in shape.
3. Ideal: Square body shape with great muscle tone and strength.
4. Overweight: Normal square body shape is starting to round out and lose definition. Fat deposits starting near the tail. Some fat and skin rolls can be seen.
5. Obese: Very round body shape, fat deposits seen throughout the body including by the head and neck. Obvious fat rolls when not stretched out.

Where does/did your snake fall on the scale? If there was a significant change in body condition, when did it happen and for how long did it remain that way? (I.e. If it was obese when you got it, then you adjusted the diet for weight loss, please let me know the age that the diet was changed and when the body condition changed and stabilized.)

How old is it? Or at what age did it pass?

If it died, why did it die? Was the cause of death confirmed by a vet and, if so, what did they find?

Please give any additional information surrounding the health of your boa that you think might be helpful. Thank you!