[General Care] Feeding Concern/Questions

[Velle96]

Good Evening, RTB Community


So, I have little of a concern here and it's in regards to my 2014 Female Albino-Motley Boa (Luna). I purchased Luna a couple months back 7/26/15 from Eye Candy Constrictors who has some amazing and beautiful Boas. When I purchased her I was informed that she was on a feeding schedule consisting of a small rat bi-weekly or every 10 days. I followed that schedule for a couple weeks gradually switching to once a week as I noticed she was quite hungry still. Once done, everything was pretty consistent. Defecation averaged 6 days after feed and her sheds were 50 days between. (Which I've only had 2 since I've owned her.)

Now...

My concern is every since the season changed she has decided to go off food. Last she accepted a meal was Oct 6, 2015, 26 days ago. Around that time her weight with an empty belly was 865 grams. As every feeding day came around I tried feeding her. And every attempt I failed. I even tried live which was VERY frightening to me because I don't like to see animals die and I don't want to see any of my animals hurt from a rodent bite.

10/31/2015, Halloween, out of concern I weighed her to see if she lost any major weight and she actually weighed 908 grams. A 43 gram increased. I was quite amazed. So questions to you guys: Have any of you experienced this with any of your females? Is it normal? I did find in reference to my "The Complete Boa Constrictor" book by Vincent Russo that "Boas grow more when you don't feed them." It says that a Boa's metabolism slows when food is in short supply, and the animal starts to store energy. While storing this energy the boa gains more muscle mass and this is key to getting a female boa into breed mode. Well, I'm not breeding her and I didn't purposely shorten her food supply. She decided to make decisions on her own. What do you guys think?

[acephantom903]

Re: Feeding Concern/Questions

I think she looks a little thick. She might just not be hungry until she works off the weight. I don't know much about what environment changes happen to make a female prepare for breeding.
Boas will usually want to keep eating until they are about to pop because they think they are black holes. Making them wait for food isn't a bad thing. My little guy is currently searching his cage for food knowing that Sunday is his feed day.

[Velle96]

Re: Feeding Concern/Questions

I think she looks a little thick. She might just not be hungry until she works off the weight. I don't know much about what environment changes happen to make a female prepare for breeding.
Boas will usually want to keep eating until they are about to pop because they think they are black holes. Making them wait for food isn't a bad thing. My little guy is currently searching his cage for food knowing that Sunday is his feed day.

Btw, those pics are pics I took when I first purchased her in July. Their the best pics I had to upload just so you guys can see her Beauty. She actually have defecated within the past 26 days she's been off food and nothing really comes out. I know for sure she has an empty belly and isn't thick. But again those are pics when I first got her.

[acephantom903]

Re: Feeding Concern/Questions

Can we have some more recent pictures? If you post them to photobucket and copy and paste the "IMG" url it provides, we can see a larger image. To me it sounds like she just doesn't want to eat from eating too much (twice as often as recommended). Ball pythons are notorious for doing this for 3-6 months even under a proper feeding schedule.

How long is she?

[Velle96]

Re: Feeding Concern/Questions

Can we have some more recent pictures? If you post them to photobucket and copy and paste the "IMG" url it provides, we can see a larger image. To me it sounds like she just doesn't want to eat from eating too much (twice as often as recommended). Ball pythons are notorious for doing this for 3-6 months even under a proper feeding schedule.

How long is she?

Absolutely! In the process now. She's 3' 10" currently. And 1 year 5 months old.

[Zaphod42]

Re: Feeding Concern/Questions

Has anything changed in her environment? What are the temps/humidity? I honestly wouldn't worry about it. A small rat weekly is a bit much for her age, I'd probably bump it back to every 10-14 days. Keep in mind that boas will always "look hungry", lol. Most of them will happily eat several times a week given the chance but in the wild most would be lucky to eat once a month and they'll go much longer than 26 days without eating : )

[acephantom903]

Re: Feeding Concern/Questions

She sounds a little long for her age, but that is understandable with how much she has been eating. I'll wait for the pictures.

[Velle96]

Re: Feeding Concern/Questions

Okay. I just snapped these pics a few minutes ago. As I mentioned, she has defecated within the past 26 days she decided to go off food and rarely anything has come out. I know for a fact she has a empty belly. As you can see from the indent that runs down her spine she isn't fat, thick, or overweight.

[acephantom903]

Re: Feeding Concern/Questions

Good looking snake. You're right, she isn't over weight. If you could answer [MENTION=11504]Zaphod42[/MENTION] 's questions about environment, that would also be helpful.
From what I see it looks like she is doing fine. Just offer every couple weeks a normal sized food (not live) and she should take it when she is ready. Don't be afraid to leave it in the cage over night because they sometimes want privacy for what ever odd reason. If she doesn't take food by mid December, let us know and we can offer solutions then.

[Velle96]

Re: Feeding Concern/Questions

Has anything changed in her environment? What are the temps/humidity? I honestly wouldn't worry about it. A small rat weekly is a bit much for her age, I'd probably bump it back to every 10-14 days. Keep in mind that boas will always "look hungry", lol. Most of them will happily eat several times a week given the chance but in the wild most would be lucky to eat once a month and they'll go much longer than 26 days without eating : )

Environment temps and humidity has been consistent and are all the same for all my boas. Hot spot is 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Ambient temps during the day is 82 degrees fahrenheit with a few degree drop at night. Btw, I live in Michigan and it's already freezing outside. Ah, and humidity 70% as of now.

[Velle96]

Re: Feeding Concern/Questions

Good looking snake. You're right, she isn't over weight. If you could answer @Zaphod42 's questions about environment, that would also be helpful.
From what I see it looks like she is doing fine. Just offer every couple weeks a normal sized food (not live) and she should take it when she is ready. Don't be afraid to leave it in the cage over night because they sometimes want privacy for what ever odd reason. If she doesn't take food by mid December, let us know and we can offer solutions then.

Thank you. She's never been an aggressive feeder since I've own her though. My male is already at the top of the tub when I walk in the room with food and I never really get the chance to get the lid all the way off. I LOVE his feeding response. I tried leaving food in her tub all night but not over night. But I'll try overnight next time. Thanks.

[Morgans Boas]

Re: Feeding Concern/Questions

IMO...... Weekly feedings are okay for about 6 months. Beyond that, it is only being done for the sake of convenience --- I'm guilty of it too.. If I continue weekly feedings, then I keep it on the smaller side. I prefer to work toward a 10-14 day cycle, which I believe is more natural for a Boa. Even when young.

[Velle96]

Re: Feeding Concern/Questions

IMO...... Weekly feedings are okay for about 6 months. Beyond that, it is only being done for the sake of convenience --- I'm guilty of it too.. If I continue weekly feedings, then I keep it on the smaller side. I prefer to work toward a 10-14 day cycle, which I believe is more natural for a Boa. Even when young.

Yeah, and I do keep her rats on the smaller side. Barely visible after she downs it and after 2-3 days she looks empty. And as I mentioned before, she defecates every 6 days after a feed.