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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
 
HerpHobbiest said:
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
HerpHobbiest said:
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...
Click to expand...

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
 
JCCS said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
mxracer4life said:
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.
Click to expand...

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



JCCS said:
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
Click to expand...

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



mxracer4life said:
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.
Click to expand...
 
Here is a conservative fed 07 DH/SG

DSCN0886.jpg


DSCN0888.jpg


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 . . . . . :rolleyes:


mxracer4life said:
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.
Click to expand...
 
Metachrosis said:
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
Click to expand...

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
 
Not exactly agreeing

I do not feed my baby boa just because they drop their first skin
I do not offer their first prey until 3 weeks after they shed
They are maintained at 2 week feedings until 6 months,they then go out to 3 weeks.
After 1 year they then get on the 3 for 3 then 4 then 3 for 3 weeks feedings.
Even at this rate they wouldnt come close to such a success rate in the wild.


HerpHobbiest said:
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
Click to expand...
 
mxracer4life said:
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.
Click to expand...

You weren't around in the early days of Boas, were you? LOL I haven't seen any monsters for years, but many an old school Colombian EXCEEDED 11 ft. My mom had one that was 13 ft and 65+ lbs. :yesnod:

Was it me Jeremy, I wouldn't increase her intake. If she ain't growing any faster with that generous diet you mentioned above, then she ain't going to. Pretty foolish to try and make it happen.
 
Metachrosis said:
Here is a conservative fed 07 DH/SG

DSCN0886.jpg


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 . . . . . :rolleyes:
Click to expand...


She is 4 years old and 4 lbs... Probably 4ft long?

So if you wait to breed her at 12 lbs you need what... 8 more years?

She may not be starved... But she is not going to breed at 3-1/2 years and 16 lbs either...

When do you expect her to be ready to give you some 30 babies litter?

Hey maybe you got it Right... Kudos to you man!!!

Luis
 
Not everybody has the goal of rapid production and high numbers...there's something to be said for longevity, you know.
 
Yeah breeding is probably out of the question by most folks thinking:shrug01:

But! "Thinking as most do" has this hobby in the shape it is in now:ack2:

Here is her current 112+ day(POS) pics are mere minutes old



DSCN1985.jpg


DSCN1987.jpg


:thumbsup:
 
Jeremy, I'm glad that you brought this up because I've been wondering about one of mine. She's barely 4 feet (maybe a few inches over, but I never measured her "exact length"). If size were the only factor, I would never even contemplate breeding...but she's 8 years old!

Now I know that some of her smaller size is due to being a CA, but she was owned by a paraplegic friend that I later found out was unable to take care of her (better care was taken earlier in her life, but he started having problems with nurses taking care of him and pets were at the bottom of the "priority list", hence my rescuing her). I can't help but think that she wasn't fed enough as a baby, and maybe that stunted her growth?? :shrug01:

Has anyone had any experience with CA boa that small?
 
crotalusadamanteus said:
You weren't around in the early days of Boas, were you? LOL I haven't seen any monsters for years, but many an old school Colombian EXCEEDED 11 ft. My mom had one that was 13 ft and 65+ lbs. :yesnod:

Was it me Jeremy, I wouldn't increase her intake. If she ain't growing any faster with that generous diet you mentioned above, then she ain't going to. Pretty foolish to try and make it happen.
Click to expand...

I know boas used to get bigger, and you still can see one occasionally but not like they used to be back in the day. And concerning my female, I wasn't necessarily going to try and "bulk" her up for this fall, just keep her feeding consistent. In fact, I may decide to lengthen her feeding a little more if she is going to take f/t XL rats. I was considering a 14-21 day period. My albino male is who really needs bulked up, he is skinny, I am getting some of that Pro-biotic you mentioned in another thread to help condition his insides.
 
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I wouldn't try and bulk her up either. I would keep her on a nice steady diet of 1 xlg rat every 2 weeks. Boas don't need to eat like alot think. They don't benefit from all that food intake if they can't digest all of it(hence larger bowelmovements). And that extra food intake is harder on the digestive system. Besides, I feel and believe that a lean boa is a healthy boa, they will generally give you a better litter and live longer. As well as bouncing back from giving birth quicker than a fat blob. If I can breed a 5 or 6ft female boa and get a nice litter of 15 babies give or take with no slugs, I couldn't be happier. That meas that you had a 100% conception rate. I hope this made sense, I need a refill on the coffee.

Jeremy, I give ya props for posting this thread. I believe it is something that does need talked about and input from everyone. This is the only way that the hobby gets better.
 
jmwboas said:
I wouldn't try and bulk her up either. I would keep her on a nice steady diet of 1 xlg rat every 2 weeks. Boas don't need to eat like alot think. They don't benefit from all that food intake if they can't digest all of it(hence larger bowelmovements). And that extra food intake is harder on the digestive system. Besides, I feel and believe that a lean boa is a healthy boa, they will generally give you a better litter and live longer. As well as bouncing back from giving birth quicker than a fat blob. If I can breed a 5 or 6ft female boa and get a nice litter of 15 babies give or take with no slugs, I couldn't be happier. That meas that you had a 100% conception rate. I hope this made sense, I need a refill on the coffee.

Jeremy, I give ya props for posting this thread. I believe it is something that does need talked about and input from everyone. This is the only way that the hobby gets better.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeffrey. People who over feed there boas to get them larger quicker, not only putting the female at risk health wise, they are shortening her life, shortening her breeding career and waisting money. You feed them to much and like you said it just passes right through. Most people don't know that boas do a majority of there growing when there not eating.
 
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