[Feeding Issue] Should I be feeding every 5 days?

[MLynch]

My BCI has been showing signs of being really hungry 4 days after a feeding. She comes out at night and starts cruising the cage, and it's not the usual coming-out-of-her-hide-to-sit-in-her-vines activity... she's prowling. She burrows, climbs, examines, roots... and this morning I came down to find that she'd redecorated her cage again by moving everything around. And at one point last night I caught her rubbing and pushing on the screen mesh at the top of the cage - not good - that particular activity bothers me!

She's about 6 months old. I've been feeding her rat fuzzies every 7 days, but the last three weeks I've noticed they've been making almost no bulge at all (previously there was a slight bulge), and after 4 days she starts going on a rampage at night and acting very hungry. This type of activity used to occur after about 5 or 6 days following a feeding.

I have a couple of concerns: one is over-feeding by offering food every 5 days. The other is the change in schedule this would create. And once we eventually move up to the next size rat she may very well go back to wanting food every 7 days. ...changing the schedule again.

...Any thoughts?

[DIRTY SHOOTER]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

Well I doubt she's "out and about" because she's hungry. Eating once a week is a buffet to a Boa. Being out at night is normal activity for a Boa but if this is ABnormal for your Boa and it concerns you that much I would look elsewhere for the reasons.

Also, a "schedule" is more for your benefit than hers. I'm terrible at keeping a schedule. My life is chaotic and I try to feed roughly weekly or bi-weekly depending on age. Sometimes I miscount and don't thaw enough rats. Oops! My bad! I don't go and thaw another. I wait till the next go.

I know...I'm so bad! LOL!

Anyways, JMHO, I hope that helps brother!

[Morgans Boas]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

Once a week is the most often that you want to feed . Like DirtyBoas said , even that's alot for them .

[MLynch]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

Well I doubt she's "out and about" because she's hungry. Eating once a week is a buffet to a Boa. Being out at night is normal activity for a Boa but if this is ABnormal for your Boa and it concerns you that much I would look elsewhere for the reasons.

She's always comes out and explored a bit at night, however up until three weeks ago it was usually er coming out of her hide, getting a drink (maybe), exploring a bit and then perching on her vines near the top of the cage and sleeping there until morning. At which time she'd head back down to her hide.

Recently however, her night time activities have been much more ...active (for lack of a better word) and she's all over the place and for quite a while, but it usually starts 4 days after a feeding. And the pushing of cage decor around is new. Last week I found her water bowl all the way on the other side of the cage!

She's otherwise healthy - My temps and humidity are good, and I check my snakes over daily when I spot clean/check their cages. And aside from increased nocturnal activity she's the same snake she was four weeks ago. ...That's not entirely true - she's been showing more interest in movement outside the cage than she used to. It's not uncommon now to see her head pop out of her hide when I walk by, or if I'm near the cage. Here again this starts up about 4 days after a feeding.

So if she's not hungry is this just a normal behavior change?

[privateprty]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

maybe she is getting ready to shed i know mine like to rub up agianst things when she does its weird mine moves around alot during the day but then again i dont sit and watch her at night either.....

[MLynch]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

That's a good suggestion, but she just shed on October 22, and she's not showing any signs of being in shed cycle.

[dangles]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

Last week I found her water bowl all the way on the other side of the cage!

She's otherwise healthy -

she's healthy because she pushes her water bowl across the cage!

i wouldn't' worry about it too much. if you're feeding the right size, one/week is plenty for her age. like mike said, they eat much more sporadically in the wild, and a weekly feeding schedule is a FEAST as far as their instincts are concerned. as long as she's not looking thin and boney (if it gets that bad, you know either she's sick or underfed), i wouldn't be concerned.

she may just be getting more comfortable in her surroundings. it took our blood python a good 5 months to adjust to her surroundings enough to come out of her hide. she spent every hour of the day and night in there as far as i could tell for the first almost 5 months. now she comes out and soaks, or just sits there half out of her hide.

[MSwift]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

ya man once every 7 days at the most and some boas are just really active it all depends.... and you have lid clips right because if not he WILL! get out

[MLynch]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

she may just be getting more comfortable in her surroundings. it took our blood python a good 5 months to adjust to her surroundings enough to come out of her hide.

That's funny. My wife mentioned something along those lines this morning - wondering if maybe Bella hadn't finally gotten used to being here. My response was, "but she's had 4 months to get used to being here." LOL! Great minds think a like.

ya man once every 7 days at the most and some boas are just really active it all depends.... and you have lid clips right because if not he WILL! get out

Thanks, Mike. Yep, her lid is secure. It's actually held shut with a pad lock - both of my snake cages are. ...I'm currently using the Zilla terrariums that have the sliding tops that can be locked to the frame of the tank. ...I know, they aren't best snake cages, but they were free, and because they can be secured with a pad lock I don't have to worry about inquisitive 5 year old fingers opening the cage. ...especially since my wife and I are the only ones who know the combination. My next cages will be proper reptile enclosures - Boaphiles, Pro-Line, etc.

I've always clamped or locked my snake enclosures. My father taught me the value of them one day when I was teenager: I was away for the weekend and he was feeding my snakes and forgot to clamp my BRB's lid... she got out. I found her a week later, but his mistake taught us all how important a secure lid is. ...and that was about 25 years ago.

[satyra]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

i wouldnt feed more than once every week either. mine either seem to just wander around, just cause they want to, or they really move around cause they are hungry. ive noticed when mine are actually hungry, they will hear me come home from work or where ever, then they come up to the nearest corner of their cage and they just stare out at me waiting for their food. when they are just out and about, they will look at you when you go up to their cage, then continue about their business.

[b3napoleon]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

Maybe stepping up to the next size rat is appropriate? If it isn't making a slight bulge, your snake is probably ready for a slightly bigger rat.

[Fireproof]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

Suggestions above are good.

Another idea - If she's in an all glass aquarium, maybe she's feeling insecure and looking for a way out or somewhere to go hide since all four sides are "exposed" to the outside world. I know she has a hide, but sometimes they like to go find a better place.

You might cover the back and sides with something so it's more enclosed like Boaphiles or other wooden cages. See if that settles her down.

[MLynch]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

You might cover the back and sides with something so it's more enclosed like Boaphiles or other wooden cages. See if that settles her down.

Done and Done. I have jungle mural aquarium backgrounds wrapped around the sides and back of the tanks. I did this a couple of months ago for the very reasons you mention... and within a week I noticed behavioral changes in both my BRB and my BCI. They weren't acting as nervous, and my BRB was coming out more frequently at night.

You can see part of the wrap in this shot:

[Fireproof]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

Well - it sure sounds like you have all the bases covered.

[jgonzalez305]

Re: Should I be feeding every 5 days?

I have to agree with "Dangles" i really think she is comfortable with her surroundings...just make sure you are feeding her the right size rat for her size....

she might loose a couple grams from the cardio....but that's fine as long as you are feeding her appropriately. I also think this is the best time to take him/her out to handle it.....its allot less stressful on the snake.