Feeding schedule?

[bigsnakegirl785]

The schedule I use for my boa constrictors are:

From birth to 1 year: every 7-10 days or 10-14 days depending on growth/body tone; my 6 month old is eating every 10-14 days

1-3 years: every 10-14 days

3+ years: every 3-6 weeks

All meals either leave no bulge or a bulge with no scale separation. I also fast my older animals, which right now will only be my boa constrictors. I'm debating on fasting my BRBs, too, but I might not. Definitely not fasting my retic or my garters because a hungry retic sounds like a bad idea and I don't have the means to properly brumate the garters.

I've been told by owners/breeders of all boa constrictor subspecies that the schedule I use above is applicable to all subspecies and locales, and that it should be changed slightly by individual. So I assume it is.

[DLLNP]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

The schedule I use for my boa constrictors are:

From birth to 1 year: every 7-10 days or 10-14 days depending on growth/body tone; my 6 month old is eating every 10-14 days

1-3 years: every 10-14 days

3+ years: every 3-6 weeks

Ya that is pretty similar to what I've seen lots of experienced owners/breeders recommend.

Does anyone think a prey size of 10-15% of total body weight is a good measure of determining prey size? I usually see the "10-15%" rule when discussing ball pythons but I haven't seen anybody use it when discussing boas. I just find that to be a much easier system to follow rather figuring out the widest part of the snake etc..especially when dealing with a growing snake. It'd be nice to have a clear cut system of when to increase prey size.

Dillon

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by DLLNP

Ya that is pretty similar to what I've seen lots of experienced owners/breeders recommend.

Does anyone think a prey size of 10-15% of total body weight is a good measure of determining prey size? I usually see the "10-15%" rule when discussing ball pythons but I haven't seen anybody use it when discussing boas. I just find that to be a much easier system to follow rather figuring out the widest part of the snake etc..especially when dealing with a growing snake. It'd be nice to have a clear cut system of when to increase prey size.

Dillon

I personally go off girth, and they happen to be about 6-7% of my baby BCI's weight. My adult boa's meals tend to be about 3-8% of his weight, depending on what he gets. So in my experience, not even babies need 10%.

There are a few people who use it for boas, but I feel it's not necessary, and would constitute a huge meal for what I would offer my own personal animals.

It's all up to what you're aiming for (whether it's lean pets or heavier breeding animals that breed every season, or something else).

[riddick07]

Thanks for posting what you feed the younger ones! I was just looking at my little one going hmmmm I wonder if I should be feeding you every 10 days or so. She isn't getting pudgy looking yet but its a close thing

My big girl doesn't even have a crazy feeding response anymore like she did when she was younger. She is still alert during feeding time but she doesn't attack it anymore.

[DLLNP]

Ya I definitely want to aim for a leaner, healthier animals as I am not interested in breeding.

Right now I have a little 6 month central american bci.. he is on 9-10g hoppers every 10-12 days.. he weighs about 75g. Maybe the hoppers are too much? They hardly leave a bulge at all, and I definitely wouldn't put them thicker than his widest girth.

I guess if anything I will keep him on the hoppers longer than I originally thought I would. Thanks for the advice!

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by riddick07

Thanks for posting what you feed the younger ones! I was just looking at my little one going hmmmm I wonder if I should be feeding you every 10 days or so. She isn't getting pudgy looking yet but its a close thing

My big girl doesn't even have a crazy feeding response anymore like she did when she was younger. She is still alert during feeding time but she doesn't attack it anymore.

No problem! It's up to you, as long as she isn't overly chubby, it should be fine continuing with 7 days if you don't feel comfortable moving to 10 days quite yet.

Neither does mine, he'll strike and come out after his food, but he hardly ever hits his food that hard, and only half-heartedly coils. He's fed every 5 weeks atm, and this will be his second year where I fasted him for 90 days. Even right out of his fast, he didn't act all that hungry. He coiled a little tighter, but that's about it.

Originally Posted by DLLNP

Ya I definitely want to aim for a leaner, healthier animals as I am not interested in breeding.

Right now I have a little 6 month central american bci.. he is on 9-10g hoppers every 10-12 days.. he weighs about 75g. Maybe the hoppers are too much? They hardly leave a bulge at all, and I definitely wouldn't put them thicker than his widest girth.

I guess if anything I will keep him on the hoppers longer than I originally thought I would. Thanks for the advice!

If they hardly leave a bulge, they should be fine. I got my girl at 80 grams and hoppers left a bulge, but not that big of one. She's ~130 grams now and still happily taking hoppers. I'm probably going to move her and my BRB up to adult mice at the same time in the next couple of months.

[DLLNP]

Awesome! Thanks @bigsnakegirl! So an adult mouse would be the progression you go with after they grow out of hoppers? I wasn't sure if I should switch to rats after the hoppers.

I love how infrequently boas feed, nice on the wallet!

[riddick07]

Originally Posted by DLLNP

I love how infrequently boas feed, nice on the wallet!

I know what you mean! My adult Chinese beauty is eating 2 small rats every week and has hardly gained any weight. He still acts hungry after eating the two