Breeding size of adult female boas

That sounds great... If I may suggest, try 2 smaller rats to equal the same as an XL rat...

As she looks right now, I would Not breed her... But with a healthy feeding schedule, and a warm environment, she may be ready... From here to October she may grow some 6 inches or more, and thicken up a little more...

Best of luck... Luis

Originally Posted by HerpHobbiest

That sounds great... If I may suggest, try 2 smaller rats to equal the same as an XL rat...

As she looks right now, I would Not breed her... But with a healthy feeding schedule, and a warm environment, she may be ready... From here to October she may grow some 6 inches or more, and thicken up a little more...

Best of luck... Luis

I actually attempted that in the first 2 feedings. She is a one time feeder, thats why I moved her up to the XL, they are smaller XL compared to what I got last time. I have an abundance of small rats and would have rather fed her that way, but she will only take 1 at a time, which I have a few boas that will do that.

Originally Posted by HerpHobbiest

As she looks right now, I would Not breed her... But with a healthy feeding schedule, and a warm environment, she may be ready... From here to October she may grow some 6 inches or more, and thicken up a little more...

Like I said, I will not breed her untill this fall. And just to point out, this thread isn't really about if I should breed MY boa at her current size, it is about everyone's opinion on breeding an older, smaller female.

Luis, I wanna see these 11+ foot Colombians you speak of. I've never seen one over 9.5' and I've seen a lot of boas. Also, you speak of all this like it's a mathematical equation. It's not by a long shot. Yes, larger females tend to have larger litters, but it ain't always the deal.

Personally, four yr old females that I've slowly let mature and are big strong boas have always given me the best results. Not just in number of babies, but in health of the litter as well. I also always give females a year off after a litter, lets them get their weight back comfortably, and makes for better breedings down the road. I think it will probably also extend their breeding life in the long run.

Chris

Originally Posted by JCCS

Luis, I wanna see these 11+ foot Colombians you speak of. I've never seen one over 9.5' and I've seen a lot of boas.

Me too. I have had some large females, over 40lbs and pushing 10ft, but never bigger, and they were old females, 15 years +. I believe the age of the large boas is slowly coming to an end with selective breeding, cross breeding and everyone wanting smaller boas so they can house more.

Originally Posted by mxracer4life

Like I said, I will not breed her untill this fall. And just to point out, this thread isn't really about if I should breed MY boa at her current size, it is about everyone's opinion on breeding an older, smaller female.

Got ya!!! I think as long as the Snake in question has the mature muscle tone... Not just muscle tone, it's not a question if the snake is strong... It's the look of a mature animal... You know those Boas that look thick heavy body... I have seen 4-1/2 ft Sonoran Boas with that same look...

Luis

Originally Posted by JCCS

Luis, I wanna see these 11+ foot Colombians you speak of. I've never seen one over 9.5' and I've seen a lot of boas. Also, you speak of all this like it's a mathematical equation. It's not by a long shot. Yes, larger females tend to have larger litters, but it ain't always the deal.

Personally, four yr old females that I've slowly let mature and are big strong boas have always given me the best results. Not just in number of babies, but in health of the litter as well. I also always give females a year off after a litter, lets them get their weight back comfortably, and makes for better breedings down the road. I think it will probably also extend their breeding life in the long run.

Chris

My Salmon Hypo stock Came from Brian Luebking bloodline... He used to have a site www.BallsandBoas.com... He had a two huge female Salmon Hypo Boas that were every bit of 11 ft long... They would eat two 4-5 rabbits... I recall a litter of 40 some babies and about 15 slugs from one of those monster females...
I have also seen a wild Boa of 3.45 meters (11.3 ft) at the Guatemalan Zoo. Again these are the exception of the rule...

As far as babies is not a mathematical equation... Is not like I am saying at 23.5 lbs you will have 37 babies, everytime... I am just giving you a broad range of what it is normal to expect from a healthy, mature Boa...

While some people may desire a ball python size pocket pet Boa... A normal size Boa is an impressive and beautiful animal... Even a 9-10 ft Boa is dwarfed by a 16 ft Burmese Python or a 20 ft Reticulated Python...

Dwarf Giants are a joke... The beauty of the true giants is in part their impressive natural size... People that keep from feeding their animals, so they stay smaller should reconsider keeping the bigger species...

Luis

The steady decline of older age boa's is due to being fed 3-5 times what nature would naturally provide.
Boas are not designed to exist on regular/steady diet's found in culture

Originally Posted by mxracer4life

Me too. I have had some large females, over 40lbs and pushing 10ft, but never bigger, and they were old females, 15 years +. I believe the age of the large boas is slowly coming to an end with selective breeding, cross breeding and everyone wanting smaller boas so they can house more.

Here is a conservative fed 07 DH/SG





She has been fed every 3 weeks since 6 months of age
Every 4th feeding is stretched to 4 weeks followed by 3 consecutive 3 week feedings.

Starved isnt she . . . . .

Originally Posted by mxracer4life

I couldn't get the greatest pictures due to lighting, but here are a few to show my 07 DH sunglow female and her size. She is in the middle of a shed and these pics were taken just before she was sprayed down.

Originally Posted by Metachrosis

The steady decline of older age boa's is due to being fed 3-5 times what nature would naturally provide.
Boas are not designed to exist on regular/steady diet's found in culture

That is something we can both agree with!!!

Also, the fact that in captivity they generally do not get a chance to free-range and exercise...

Once a Boa is mature, feeding should be reduced from growing, to maintenance...

Luis

That should read 2006 and not 2007
here is her 06 boy toy,fed out the same as her