Help Feeding schedule

Malloryashtenn · 08-02-14, 03:04 PM

I have a baby red tail boa. He's feeding excellent on an adult mice but I was told to wait 10 days to feed again but it's too long for him. He never goes in "feeding mode" and everytime I see him he has his head out of his hide, looking for something to eat. Can I stick to the 7 day schedule? I just think 10 days is too long. I feel like he's being starved. He usually loves being held and this was never a problem when he was on a 7 day schedule. It's like now he doesn't want me to touch him or open his cage unless it's feeding time and he's definitely never striked at me for trying to hold him. And I don't handle him a few days After feeding him so it's not trying to handle him too soon after feeding

**EL Ziggy** · 08-02-14, 04:08 PM

How old and how large is he Mallory? I don't have boas but I wouldn't think every 7 days would be too much for a young snake. I used to feed on a more rigid schedule now I alter my meal sizes and feeding frequency a bit more. When I know the snakes are hungry, I feed them. When I know one is just being a pig I make them wait a bit. They eat roughly 10-15% of their body weight per feeding.

Malloryashtenn · 08-02-14, 04:48 PM

That's the feeding scale I'm going by.. He's eating 18 grams. But when he was on a 7 day schedule he never really acted hungry but he would eat when offered food. Now he's always hungry it seems? He always looking for food and he never use to do that. I'm guessing he's a few months old

NewSAHSnakeMom · 08-02-14, 04:51 PM

I'm new to snakes but we have a juvenile Sinaloan that we feed when he's hungry. But he was way underfed before we got him. He's your snake hun feed him when you feel you need to feed him as long as he's not getting obese. That's my opinion anyway.

franks · 08-02-14, 08:34 PM

Snakes can go long periods without food and consequently are opportunistic feeders. He would eat every few days if you allowed him. That being said, he needs adequate time to digest. Keeping a snake in a state where it is constantly expelling energy to digest prey is not healthy in the long run and constitutes "power feeding." Feeding every 7 days, 10 days, or 14 days is all fine. For larger meals you can allow more time in between. Personally, I feed my baby snakes and young snakes all once a week. Adults get fed "around" every 14. Sometimes more sometimes a little less.

FluffyGerbil · 08-02-14, 09:26 PM

My red tail was purchased when she was about 2 months old. Personally, I wouldn't feed a baby (under a year) less than once every 7 days. Especially with babies of larger breeds that have so much growing ahead of them. Boas are opportunistic feeders and it's not out of character for them to literally eat themselves to death, as in powerfeeding. Red tails are also prone to obesity so finding a good balance is key. If you feel he needs more food, don't hesitate, especially at that point in his life when it's crucial to grow as much as he can and become strong and healthy. I guess you could try feeding every 7 days at this age and size, I certainly would. Most breeders I've known have fed them weekly up until a year and a half to two years before increasing time between food intakes. Just keep in mind that the snake you have is unique, and as the new parent, you know your boa better than any of us do. You be the judge. Good Luck and best wishes!

Mad Max · 08-02-14, 10:57 PM

My snake isn't a red tail, he's a baby BCI, but the breeder recommended that I feed him every 7 days and he seems pretty content with that schedule. It seems like a red tail should also be able to eat every 7 days as long as it doesn't become too chunky or anything.

Teal · 08-03-14, 02:36 AM

Who told you to up his feedings to every 10 days?

I don't feel like 7 days is too short of time at all for a young snake. I feed, generally, on a similar schedule as franks... youngsters once a week, and older snakes every 14 days or so depending on meal size.

Malloryashtenn · 08-03-14, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teal

Who told you to up his feedings to every 10 days?

I don't feel like 7 days is too short of time at all for a young snake. I feed, generally, on a similar schedule as franks... youngsters once a week, and older snakes every 14 days or so depending on meal size.

Someone on a red tail boa site. He said the adult mice was more to digest from the pinky mice so I needed to give him more time to digest but he's digesting it just fine.. Just isn't having the waiting 3 days longer. LOL I was thinking that's too long for a baby snake anyways, to wait 10 days like that

Teal · 08-03-14, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malloryashtenn

Someone on a red tail boa site. He said the adult mice was more to digest from the pinky mice so I needed to give him more time to digest but he's digesting it just fine.. Just isn't having the waiting 3 days longer. LOL I was thinking that's too long for a baby snake anyways, to wait 10 days like that

It's a bigger prey item, but if it is the proper size then he should digest it in the same amount of time I would think? Lol. He's a growing young snake!

franks · 08-03-14, 01:04 PM

Once he starts eating prey with developed bones he will grow alot quicker than when eating pinkies. I would go with 7 days and make sure you keep your temps set correctly. As long as he has heat he will eat digest and grow.

Snakesitter · 08-04-14, 01:56 PM

A baby snake should be fine every seven days. That said, going longer will not hurt him, just slow his growth. Snakes can go a looong time between meals if they need to.

If it helps, I feed my babies once per week, my juvies every other week, and my (nonbreeding) adults every third week.