What is a proper feeding schedule for boas?

[the gecko geek]

Comparing Mammals, fish and reptiles hardly argues the point validly IMO. Their needs are vastly different. Their metabolisms are completely different.

If a baby mammal, rodent or fish doesn't eat within a certain time after birth, it will die. I've had new born Boas (1 actually) that went it's first 2½ months without eating, and this is without getting the benefit of yolk absorption. And I bet they can go even longer and still end up thriving.

The animal mentioned above was fed every couple weeks for 3 months after finally deciding to eat, then went to 3 week intervals just like the rest. She seems to be thriving too, even if she is smaller then most 3 yr olds I've seen, and is not any smaller then her litter mates that ate right away, and 4-5 extra meals.


I see what you are saying. But to me, just because something can go a period of time without anything, doesn't mean it should. And that's just my opinion. I know that a snake can go VERY long periods without food. I've seen a bp go 7 months without food and still be perfectly fine. I guess I just don't really agree with feeding something that's in my eyes a baby less often than once every 14 days. I do agree that as it gets older, less often feeding are vital to maintaining healthy weights, because just like anything, with age the metabolism slows down.

 

[Metachrosis]

Thats EXACTLY what I did when I asked about the comment
"to help them grow"
Your the one with sparks flying out your butt like a bottle rocket

Instead of telling people they are wrong, why not just play a little devil's advocate and get the gears turning in their brains. That is one of the best ways to spread knowledge. Make people think.

 

[Metachrosis]

. . . . . . .

.
I see what you are saying. But to me, just because something can go a period of time without anything, doesn't mean it should. And that's just my opinion.
here you are on one side of the fence
I know that a snake can go VERY long periods without food. I've seen a bp go 7 months without food and still be perfectly fine.
now on this side of the fence
I guess I just don't really agree with feeding something that's in my eyes a baby less often than once every 14 days.
then back on this side of the fence
I do agree that as it gets older, less often feeding are vital to maintaining healthy weights, because just like anything, with age the metabolism slows down.
then back yet again . . . . .

 

[Metachrosis]

crap!
You mentioned the lack of prey diversity your your other
posts.
FWIW (we cover that here with our snakes as well)

 

[the gecko geek]

I see both sides of the issue.
Is that not allowed or something?
Why am I not allowed to see the positives and negatives for each side, and agree with things from both?

And I've always been taught to view both sides of the fence. It keeps you from getting closed minded.
You can either handle it or not, but I'm always going to play both sides of the fence

And I'm not saying why can't we just agree on something, because I know that we won't. We all have different views and opinions on certain aspects.

 

[mxracer4life]

I see both sides of the issue.
Is that not allowed or something?
Why am I not allowed to see the positives and negatives for each side, and agree with things from both?

And I've always been taught to view both sides of the fence. It keeps you from getting closed minded.
You can either handle it or not, but I'm always going to play both sides of the fence

And I'm not saying why can't we just agree on something, because I know that we won't. We all have different views and opinions on certain aspects.

I agree 100%. That is what this thread is for. To educate others on what works for each of us so they can take that info and make there own decision. No one has the "perfect" way to feed anything.

 

[Metachrosis]

have it anyway you want it,just dont crawfish out when you get asked
the topic is feeding snakes,over feeding goes completely against their design.
Proof has been given,references to the Pa Zoo with the oldest living captive snakes
being fed every 3-4 months.

Pretty well puts "subjective" back in the box,no you dont not have to agree,but . . . .

 

[Metachrosis]

When my kids were in school I had no problem
questioning what they were being taught,same applies here

If you have junk sceince going in,you get junk coming out
It really isnt about "perfect" now is it ?

I agree 100%. That is what this thread is for. To educate others on what works for each of us so they can take that info and make there own decision. No one has the "perfect" way to feed anything.

 

[mxracer4life]

When my kids were in school I had no problem
questioning what they were being taught,same applies here

If you have junk sceince going in,you get junk coming out
It really isnt about "perfect" now is it ?

And as I stated before. It's not about just one opinion. Thank you for your input.

 

[the gecko geek]

I'm not crawfishing out.
Overfeeding is completely against anything's design. Be it animals or humans. I'm not saying that overfeeding is right. And evidence is solid, I agree with that too. I guess I'm just having trouble going against what I was always taught.

 

[Metachrosis]

Having an opinion is one thing,ignoring objective proof is entirely different
If Russo would have put these truths in his book the world of snakes
would have immediately rallied to the cause.
There is a name for that and its not opinion

People wonder why most of the pioneers have pulled away from this
dog and pony show called the "reptile hobby"
Many are still around,doing what they love to do
You will not find them posting to "ANY" of the public forums
because people want to argue against their decades of google free experience.In all honesty can you blame them ?

Take away "google" and the reptile forums where everything is free
for the begging,how many opinions would there be then ?

And as I stated before. It's not about just one opinion. Thank you for your input.

 

[crotalusadamanteus]

I see what you are saying. But to me, just because something can go a period of time without anything, doesn't mean it should. And that's just my opinion. I know that a snake can go VERY long periods without food. I've seen a bp go 7 months without food and still be perfectly fine. I guess I just don't really agree with feeding something that's in my eyes a baby less often than once every 14 days. I do agree that as it gets older, less often feeding are vital to maintaining healthy weights, because just like anything, with age the metabolism slows down.

How often, in your eyes, does a new born eat in the wild? First 2-3 weeks of their life is spent hiding out in a wallow, or nook of a tree until they shed. Then they START the natural process of finding food.

I guess the way I see things is, if evolution designed them a certain way, it probably had a good reason. Who am I to mess that up more then I already do? I mean, even by my meager feeding regimen, they get probably 2 to 3 times what they get in the wild each yr.

I'm not crawfishing out.
Overfeeding is completely against anything's design.

Not quite everything...

Tom, although I too do the occasional chicken leg, you know damn well that don't even come close to the variety of critters they'd consume in the wild. You'd have to be filthy rich to be able to pull off a diet that would even compare.

 

[the gecko geek]

Hey overfeeding a bear is possible. And very bad to do, because then they come to you when they are hungry...

 

[zn394]

OK, I have a question - what would be the best way to eliminate the fat on an overweight boa?

Fast them for as many weeks/months as it takes, or continue to feed but use smaller, less frequent meals for as long as it takes?

 

[JCCS]

Smaller, less frequent meals until it get's to where it needs to be would be how I'd go about it.

Chris

 

[crotalusadamanteus]

Me too.

 

[the gecko geek]

okay, so now lets flip that scenario. You have an underweight snake that needs some extra weight. Do you feed it more prey items per meal, or more frequent meals? And how do you know when to stop that regimen?

 

[Payara]

Would the feeding regiment work for pythons? Is the metabolism of boas and pythons that different?

 

[zn394]

This discussion has got me wondering the same thing. I think I got my schedule from reading about ball pythons and then just applied it to all our snakes.

However we have boas (BCI and Dumeril's), ball pythons, carpet pythons, blood pythons, corn snakes and a milk snake. I am starting to believe they may all have different requirements.

 

[crotalusadamanteus]

okay, so now lets flip that scenario. You have an underweight snake that needs some extra weight. Do you feed it more prey items per meal, or more frequent meals? And how do you know when to stop that regimen?

IMO no, you don't increase feed schedule or amount, you just feed normally. They will put the weight back on. I don't feed my females, who just went off feed for 3+ months, plus had a litter draining them, any more then the rest, and they bounce back just fine after parturition.

On the flip side of that, we're talking a Boa that wasn't over weight to start with. It's been my observation that the ones that have been pumped up to "breeding size" don't recover this lost weight as quickly after parturition, and some people tend to feed them extra to accomplish this. I don't agree with this though.

But if a Boid is that under weight, I'd be looking into parasite problems first. They'd have to be practically starved to loose enough weight for concern, unless something else is taking that sustenance away.

Would the feeding regiment work for pythons? Is the metabolism of boas and pythons that different?

They may have similar metabolisms, but they aren't exactly the same. Extra fat has been proved to be destructive to Boas, I haven't read anything to say this is also the case with Pythons. I would assume it is similar though since both are Boids. I believe it was the same PA Zoo that recorded a record longevity of Ball Pythons at 75 yrs. (what's the oldest one you've seen in captivity?) Knowing how they feed their Boas, I would assume they don't treat the pythons much differently. I fed my BP's about the same as I feed my Boas, and never noticed any ill effects from it.

But as with keeping ANY species of reptile, observation is important. You can't just take what people tell you, including me, and run with it. You have to observe the results and go from there, making any adjustments that might be needed as you go.