Resuced Hog island boa and a few questions

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by franks

To grow a snake to its "capacity" is unhealthy. I do not agree with the notion that snakes need to be regimentally fed max sized prey items. All of the leading breeders in our hobby started realizing this 5 years ago. The sooner we catch on the sooner we can start keeping animals into their actual life expectancies. If we are talking boas specifically, check out Vin Russo. Dr. Boback studies boa diet and has alot to say on the subject as well.....

I 100% agree with this. I didn't mean to indicate that I am "for" growing snakes to capacity. I meant a more healthy regiment than the one this snake has had to date.

I have believed for some time that most snakes have been overfed. It's why I stick to a simple rule set for my animals and they all receive smaller meals compared to what others feed their snakes.

It's a small sample size but I've been growing up my ball pythons slower than normal. Some obtain 4 - 5 in length and 2500+ grams. Some are smaller around the 3 - 4 foot mark and weigh 1600 - 1900 grams. Yet they all produce eggs consistently with zero slugs over the past 3 years. I think that indicates mature and healthy female snakes.

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

Christmas tree totes are 6' and something like 1' wide. Still not enough imo. 12"-18" is not enough to accommodate the girth of an 8' boa. It needs to be no less than 2' wide. The height is also barely above 1'. Imo they should be offered no less than 2' of height, but 18" is absolute smallest limit.

Why is everything so black and white for you? Who said anything about an 8' boa being stuck in a tub? You're using extremes to prove your point. Further, you're assuming I am making a blanket statement. My statement is simply that some boas can fit into some rack systems quite well.

A snake can be underweight without being stunted, as long as they aren't overly underweight. A 6' boa would be considered oversized for the age the snake is, so if it was being fed a "proper diet" and was any larger than it is now, it would be oversized. It is a perfect length for its age.

Where do you get your info? Length has far less to do with overall health than anything else. Snakes range in length that it's difficult to say "well at such and such length this snake is healthy but 5 inches shorter and it's unhealthy."

I've learned a long time ago that body shape/weight are far more of an indicator of health than length is.

Yes the new situation definitely makes sense, in general though there's normally not a problem with it. While the boa settles in, it's fine to put it in something smaller, it's not like at 4'-5' boa a 4'x2' is a necessity anyways, just didn't want OP to think they could never upgrade the snake.

(Also I find a top-opening enclosure rather cumbersome for working with a 6'-8' boa that's going to weigh 8-30 lbs.)

I don't think the OP thought they couldn't upgrade. Again, nothing is black and white.