As it is for Balls? George, my BCI, has eaten one meal a month since June. He stays right at 30 pounds and gains 3-6 inches in growth per shed. Which is about every other month. I figure him for about 7 years old. Is this normal? Thanks for any feed back.

Ours have always pounded the food, but somebody else may have experienced what you have?? All I can really say about that is that as long as he's growing, shedding, and healthy that must be normal for him.

All I can really say about that is that as long as he's growing, shedding, and healthy that must be normal for him.

Thanks Sara. That's the way I'm dealing with it for now. I did just notice he's getting ready to shed again also. Last one was a month ago so that's shortened up too. Maybe I'm just over reacting. :dunno:

Do you have a female?

Ya know Scott, I've never probed him. He was given to me as a male and he's the only one I own. Also, this is the first year for this kind of behavior. Usually ate a large or jumbo every week or two year round. Do they take this long to mature?

Ya know Scott, I've never probed him. He was given to me as a male and he's the only one I own. Also, this is the first year for this kind of behavior. Usually ate a large or jumbo every week or two year round. Do they take this long to mature?

I bet you can tell if it's a male or female just by looking at the tail.... I'm guessing this one is 6ft.... Or there a bouts?

The tail is actually long and thin. By that I mean it probably all of eight inches and doesn't taper from the cloacha. The spurs are fair sized and curl. They lay in their own little pockets. He broke eight and a half foot this last shed. Maybe I should bust out the probes eh? :eek:

He broke eight and a half foot this last shed. Maybe I should bust out the probes eh? :eek:

How old?


Sounds like a girl to me....

How old?


Sounds like a girl to me....

Near as I can figger, about 7 years

Near as I can figger, about 7 years

8 and a half feet... If I were betting money, I'd bet on it being a girl.

Is that the actual snake size or the shed skin length???

Is that the actual snake size or the shed skin length???

LOL, shed skin length comes out about nine to nine and a half feet. I saved the last one. You want a pic? :D

LOL, shed skin length comes out about nine to nine and a half feet. I saved the last one. You want a pic? :D

I agree with Scott then....:yessir:

8 and a half feet... If I were betting money, I'd bet on it being a girl.

:yessir:

Thanks guys. I think I'll break out the probes tomorrow

I wouldn't call it common, but it does happen with some. However in my experience, it's been the females that go off feed if they do. However, if he's eating a meal a month, he's not off fed IMO.

As for the tail, although with a lot of adults you can peg the sex by length of tail, they make exceptions to the rule sometimes. I have a Honduran female with a tail longer then most of my males. It does happen. I've also probed a female or two in my time that probed exceptionally deep (8 subcaudals deep) and fooled me into thinking it's a male. My friend has one that was supposed to be male, but had a litter because he co-housed "him" for a few months while getting more caging.

But the size is sorta unusual. Not unheard of, just unusual. I have seen males around that size. Most were either BCC or true Colombian though, and I don't think they were quite 30 lbs though. That seems sorta heavy IMO for a male.

As a general rule though, Boa do NOT go off feed like BP's do. When Boa go off feed, they are likely sick, or in a breed type mode. I've had females just stop eating, even when not bred, and cycle themselves, and spit out a litter of slugs at the end, without the introduction of a male. My F4 Albino is doing this to me right now, as did her mom at around the same age.

I still say if he's eating once a month though, then he's not off feed, and will likely do him some good stretching those meals out a bit.

Good luck. :cheers:

I wouldn't call it common, but it does happen with some. However in my experience, it's been the females that go off feed if they do. However, if he's eating a meal a month, he's not off fed IMO.

As for the tail, although with a lot of adults you can peg the sex by length of tail, they make exceptions to the rule sometimes. I have a Honduran female with a tail longer then most of my males. It does happen. I've also probed a female or two in my time that probed exceptionally deep (8 subcaudals deep) and fooled me into thinking it's a male. My friend has one that was supposed to be male, but had a litter because he co-housed "him" for a few months while getting more caging.

But the size is sorta unusual. Not unheard of, just unusual. I have seen males around that size. Most were either BCC or true Colombian though, and I don't think they were quite 30 lbs though. That seems sorta heavy IMO for a male.

As a general rule though, Boa do NOT go off feed like BP's do. When Boa go off feed, they are likely sick, or in a breed type mode. I've had females just stop eating, even when not bred, and cycle themselves, and spit out a litter of slugs at the end, without the introduction of a male. My F4 Albino is doing this to me right now, as did her mom at around the same age.

I still say if he's eating once a month though, then he's not off feed, and will likely do him some good stretching those meals out a bit.

Good luck. :cheers:

Thanks much. Once a month is just odd after being used to him eating every week or two And it's not like the meals are particularly large for him either. I guess I was more curious than concerned though. Thanks for your input.

I have a 9ft male is proven twice and this is his third season. For the past 4 years after the 6ft mark, he slowed. Hell, last year he ate 3-4 times out of the whole year, stayed stout too. This guy is rock hard and the best demeanor in a boa. Active as well.
He has the long thick tail and undisputable large spurs. Never had to probe him, as he has sired two litters alone.
Boas do plateau in growth. They shoot up, and slow. Then take off again before hitting 6ft. Then the growth is slower, but still making head-way. My 08s are just under 3ft, but about to go full throttle when weather warms up. I don't look to see over 5ft n them until 3yrs of age. I wait 4 years on females and over 6ft with 2-1/2 to 3 inches in girth (empty) before I breed 'em.
I also schedule mine so they don't just up and go off-feed like balls do. They go off feed when I want them to. Only 2yrs and under go year round feedings.