2 month update on Athena and some advice

ReticMan123 · 03-02-13, 12:03 PM

Well here she is. So I did weight and measurement today 2 months after I got her. She only grew an inch and about 20 grams. She weighs 130 and 27 inches long. She's been eating a rat pup every week sometime 10 days depending on the weight. The rat pups are about 30 grams. Once she weighs about 180 grams I'm going to give her one a week. Then at about 250 grams I'm gonna give her weaklings (60 grams) every 10 days. Anyway I explained before I feed equivalent of 1/3 body weight until 4 ft then 1/4 then 1/5 at 5 ft then 1/6 at 6 and so on finally cutting bak to 1/10 once she reaches about 8 ft and
Close to max growth. Every 2 weeks. Or for example give an adult 1/5 every month instead. Sorry I just like to be specific. Anyway is she growing normal isn't that a little slow. This is my first bcc. Her habitat seems to be great. 95 on hot side 82 on cool during the day with a drop to no lower than 75 cool side at night. Humidity is good. She hasn't shed yet though how often does that happen. I don't know how old she is at 27 inches I guess about 8 months? Sorry for all the questions but also I have a small space heater in her room to keep up ambient a it runs 24 hours it's a 1000 watt heater. Does that cost a lot to run? I feel like my electric bil Is obserd it was 250 and I live in a one bedroom apartment! And barly run my heat! Anyway I'd like input on all my annoying questions thanks in advance u guys have been great. Is like to see some growth pics as well or bcc to compare

how long until she reaches adult size? Thanks
Mike

ReticMan123 · 03-02-13, 12:04 PM

Another pic of her

ReticMan123 · 03-02-13, 12:05 PM

Blades fake btw

Reptile_Reptile · 03-02-13, 12:08 PM

everything is great except the space heater it dry's the atmosphere in the room making humidity requirements hard to handle. im no expert though so i could be wrong

nicolerae · 03-02-13, 01:47 PM

I have a beautiful red tail that is about 6 months, so fairly close yours. Just over 2 ft now and weighs 229g . We feed her every 7 days. She is currently eating weaned rats, and has shed twice.

Do you notice a bulge in her stomach when she eats? if so how long does is stay? If it goes away in 30mins you need to up the food amount. Instead of focusing on the weight of the food, maybe go by the largest part of her body and feed her accordingly.

nicolerae · 03-02-13, 01:50 PM

Here is a picture of the size of food she has been eating.

nick654377 · 03-02-13, 01:58 PM

it looks like his is a bcc as to where yours is a bci. bcc are touchy with the size of their food and cannot be powerfed or they will regurge.

nicolerae · 03-02-13, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick654377

it looks like his is a bcc as to where yours is a bci. bcc are touchy with the size of their food and cannot be powerfed or they will regurge.

hmmm good point! Thanks.

Just to be clear though, we don't power feed our snakes. Her largest size of her body is the size of rat we feed...

Ddub · 03-02-13, 03:04 PM

Sounds about right reticman. Mine were all on small rats by their first birthdays. They just grow slower. I have two that are a year and a half old that are around 3.5 feet and several 2.5 year olds that are between 4-5 feet with the females being on the bigger end. You will notice a surge in growth at some point most likely. I usually notice it around the time they hit medium rats. Have patience, she will grow for you!

nick654377 · 03-02-13, 03:57 PM

my male bcc is about 18 months old and is just at 48 inches eating weened rats....

ReticMan123 · 03-04-13, 11:13 PM

Thanks everyone. ! So does anyone know the amount of electric it costs to run my small heat all day? And yes she has a bulge for a good 4 days so I'm gonn feed her every 10 days rat pups 30 grams which is about 1/3 ever 2 weeks. Once she's 4 ft ill switch her to 1/4 every 2 weeks and 1/5 at 5 ft and so on until she's adult size around 8 ft ill switch to 10 percent every 2 weeks. That's not over feeding is it? I'm used to retics
And
After only
A year I switch them to 1/5 every 2
Weeks
But they also
Reach adult size much faster
But so every 10
Days with a rat pup
For now is good? In about a month or 2 more of girth shell
Go on every week with them. She's i guess about 8 months old if she's 150 grams and 27 inches right? When should food be cut back? Sri I like I be reall specific does anyone else do a percentage method like I do? With bcc or even bci in curious to hear then

Ddub · 03-05-13, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReticMan123

Thanks everyone. ! So does anyone know the amount of electric it costs to run my small heat all day? And yes she has a bulge for a good 4 days so I'm gonn feed her every 10 days rat pups 30 grams which is about 1/3 ever 2 weeks. Once she's 4 ft ill switch her to 1/4 every 2 weeks and 1/5 at 5 ft and so on until she's adult size around 8 ft ill switch to 10 percent every 2 weeks. That's not over feeding is it? I'm used to retics
And
After only
A year I switch them to 1/5 every 2
Weeks
But they also
Reach adult size much faster
But so every 10
Days with a rat pup
For now is good? In about a month or 2 more of girth shell
Go on every week with them. She's i guess about 8 months old if she's 150 grams and 27 inches right? When should food be cut back? Sri I like I be reall specific does anyone else do a percentage method like I do? With bcc or even bci in curious to hear then

First off, your boa looks great and not overfed! It's great to see folks that are concerned with the health and well being of their boas. As for feeding, you might be over thinking it a bit. It's really easy and you don't need a schedule. The thing about feeding schedules is you have to keep adjusting them! All you do is feed an appropriately sized meal and wait till all signs of the meal are gone and feed again. As they get bigger so does the prey. Aim for a muscular loaf of bread shape. If they start loosing that shape and become pudgy then spread out your feedings a little more. That's it. You will find that things like when to cut back will be self adjusting if you just observe your boa and let them tell you when to feed. Some will take off and grow insanely with the same feedings as another that might be taking a little longer to digest and thus not growing as quickly. IMO a more proactive approach like this is better at helping each individual to reach their own potential adult size.

ReticMan123 · 03-06-13, 10:49 PM

Thanks

I do over think it. Also at night sometimes here in Philly it's causing cool side temps to drop into sometimes low 70s. She always has a 90 hot side so is this ok? She seems fine with it.

Ddub · 03-06-13, 11:15 PM

I don't think you have anything to worry about there.

Jendee · 03-11-13, 09:24 AM

Over thinking is a good thing. It means your forever looking for better ways to care for your snake!! Bcc are dificult and will teach you to keep your husbandry skills on point at all times

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicolerae

I have a beautiful red tail that is about 6 months, so fairly close yours. Just over 2 ft now and weighs 229g . We feed her every 7 days. She is currently eating weaned rats, and has shed twice.

Do you notice a bulge in her stomach when she eats? if so how long does is stay? If it goes away in 30mins you need to up the food amount. Instead of focusing on the weight of the food, maybe go by the largest part of her body and feed her accordingly.

A 6 month old boa on weaned rats is an over fed boa in my opinion. My yearlings(2012)most of them on medium mice, a few on rats pups. My (2011) just got put on small rats.
To the OP be very cautious when feeding your baby if you play it safe you will never have problems