Question on feeding

cwburns32 · 07-15-16, 12:01 AM

Hello all,

Fed my Tara 14 days ago and I was going to feed him today when I realized he hasn't pooped yet from his last meal. I know some people stick to the same schedule every feeding and others will actually wait til they poop before feeding again. I think it took him about 18 days for him to poop and then I fed him a few days after that - this is a rough estimate as I have only fed him once so I am basing the 18 days off of what the breeder told me. Should I go ahead and feed him tomorrow or wait until he poops and then feed? Thanks!

Ian of Oldham · 07-15-16, 02:56 AM

If he is looking for food then it is time to feed, he knows when he is hungry.

2 Royals 1 Corn 1 boa and a mad Cat.

DLLNP · 07-15-16, 07:18 AM

Yes, I would just go ahead and fed him. I've had my boas go almost 30 days before pooping... which would be too long to wait for a young boa to fed

**Andy_G** · 07-15-16, 07:23 AM

Boas will eat to the point of regurgitation...I've had some that would eat every day if they could...they've evolved to eat whenever prey is available in the wild (opportunistic ambush hunters) so they eat whenever they can, not just when they're hungry.

Every 14 days should be fine. How big/old is Tara?

cwburns32 · 07-15-16, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian of Oldham

If he is looking for food then it is time to feed, he knows when he is hungry.

2 Royals 1 Corn 1 boa and a mad Cat.

Thank you, sir.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DLLNP

Yes, I would just go ahead and fed him. I've had my boas go almost 30 days before pooping... which would be too long to wait for a young boa to fed

Thanks was worried he wasn't pooping often enough, good to hear that some go a long while between poops.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_G

Boas will eat to the point of regurgitation...I've had some that would eat every day if they could...they've evolved to eat whenever prey is available in the wild (opportunistic ambush hunters) so they eat whenever they can, not just when they're hungry.

Every 14 days should be fine. How big/old is Tara?

10 months probably 20-21" and he is stubborn about staying put on a scale so I can only take a gander at his weight. Attached is a photo for reference. Will feed him tonight.

Thank you all.

SWDK · 07-15-16, 04:55 PM

I'd go ahead and feed as well. 14 days I plenty long enough between feelings. My Dumerils boa has a large BM about every 3 weeks. I also find that my Dumerils will eat at any opportunity. I feed her a med rat every 14 days and she out searching for food a day or 2 later.

**Aaron_S** · 07-15-16, 07:32 PM

Boas will eat to the point of regurgitation...I've had some that would eat every day if they could...they've evolved to eat whenever prey is available in the wild (opportunistic ambush hunters) so they eat whenever they can, not just when they're hungry.

Every 14 days should be fine. How big/old is Tara?

sattva · 07-15-16, 07:44 PM

You might want to get a log book... My purple albino retic, has eating twice since his last poo... He had a big dark poo 6/28... ate the 30th and again 7/10 and I am still waiting for a poo. This is what my life has come to... Just waiting on poo... haha... I think hes ok!

bigsnakegirl785 · 07-15-16, 10:56 PM

I'd go ahead feed him every 14 days, that will be fine. Boas are known for holding onto their poop, some poop within a week, some go after a couple weeks, some wait to go once every 1-2 months. Although spacing out feeding can help them to poop more frequently, I don't really think it's important to wait so long as they regularly poop and aren't constipated. Plus, at 10 months there's no need to go less than every 14 days.

As already stated, boas will eat themselves to an early grave, so feeding should not be based off behavior. They're almost always going to want or accept food. lol

Ian of Oldham · 07-16-16, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sattva

You might want to get a log book... My purple albino retic, has eating twice since his last poo... He had a big dark poo 6/28... ate the 30th and again 7/10 and I am still waiting for a poo. This is what my life has come to... Just waiting on poo... haha... I think hes ok!

Bang on the money I use a log book for all my snakes, It has feeding, poo shed and cleaning with all dates to for refs

2 Royals 1 Corn 1 Boa and mad Cat

cwburns32 · 07-16-16, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWDK

I'd go ahead and feed as well. 14 days I plenty long enough between feelings. My Dumerils boa has a large BM about every 3 weeks. I also find that my Dumerils will eat at any opportunity. I feed her a med rat every 14 days and she out searching for food a day or 2 later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Boas will eat to the point of regurgitation...I've had some that would eat every day if they could...they've evolved to eat whenever prey is available in the wild (opportunistic ambush hunters) so they eat whenever they can, not just when they're hungry.

Every 14 days should be fine. How big/old is Tara?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sattva

You might want to get a log book... My purple albino retic, has eating twice since his last poo... He had a big dark poo 6/28... ate the 30th and again 7/10 and I am still waiting for a poo. This is what my life has come to... Just waiting on poo... haha... I think hes ok!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

I'd go ahead feed him every 14 days, that will be fine. Boas are known for holding onto their poop, some poop within a week, some go after a couple weeks, some wait to go once every 1-2 months. Although spacing out feeding can help them to poop more frequently, I don't really think it's important to wait so long as they regularly poop and aren't constipated. Plus, at 10 months there's no need to go less than every 14 days.

As already stated, boas will eat themselves to an early grave, so feeding should not be based off behavior. They're almost always going to want or accept food. lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian of Oldham

Bang on the money I use a log book for all my snakes, It has feeding, poo shed and cleaning with all dates to for refs

2 Royals 1 Corn 1 Boa and mad Cat

This is all excellent insight. Thanks a ton everyone. You all collectively have put my mind at ease about his pooping. He will be eating in about an hour or so. I will definitely start logging all of his feedings, poops, sheds, etc. in an excel document. Thanks again!

macandchz · 07-16-16, 08:59 AM

dear cw, i also have kept a record of mac since i got him. it comes in especially handy when you want to check when he shed last. as for weighing him, get a container,weigh it 1st, then weigh him and the container and subtract.

cwburns32 · 07-16-16, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macandchz

dear cw, i also have kept a record of mac since i got him. it comes in especially handy when you want to check when he shed last. as for weighing him, get a container,weigh it 1st, then weigh him and the container and subtract.

Wow, yeah there is actually a tare option on the scale and that is exactly what it is for. Thanks for the tip. I already have an excel doc saved with his first meal, shed and poop with me. Will keep it from now on.

cwburns32 · 07-16-16, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macandchz

dear cw, i also have kept a record of mac since i got him. it comes in especially handy when you want to check when he shed last. as for weighing him, get a container,weigh it 1st, then weigh him and the container and subtract.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwburns32

Wow, yeah there is actually a tare option on the scale and that is exactly what it is for. Thanks for the tip. I already have an excel doc saved with his first meal, shed and poop with me. Will keep it from now on.

He is 159 grams. Just ate.Thanks again.