Size of baby boas?

[RioBravoReptiles]

Here's a quick image illustrating the potential size-range of newborn Boa constrictor ssp...
.

.
At left is a Caulker Cay boa, Cayos los Cochinos (Hog Is.) in the middle and an average-sized Peru redtail baby at right. The Peru boa is about three times as large and many times as massive as the Caulker Cay animal. Many baby CA and Mexico boas as well as other things like short-tailed Boa (Amarali) can be in the same size-range as the Cay boa when newborn. Few newborn Boa are as large as a big Peru baby.

This is only a small example of the complex differences among the various races and locales of Boa, which go way beyond what color or pattern they have, even their size or size potential as shown here. The differences extend into their care and feeding requirements as well. If a fat rat pup is the correct size of a meal for the Peru Boa, what then is the correct prey-item for the others?

There is a lack of understanding of these differences between the Boas and how these differences effect care requirements. Standardised and simplified, "one size fits all" husbandry techniques and recommendations, like prey size or type selection, temperatures and more blind us to the fact that the animals are diverse, as races and as individuals.. Not seeing this and failing to learn and making adjustments to our routines may doom some animals which require other consideration to survive and thrive. And it will cripple you if you want to excel at breeding Boa.

I hope this starts some people thinking about boas as individuals with differing requirements and potential..

Thank you for reading through this.

Gus

[normballpython2]

Um how much do cay caulker's run for? are they anything like nicaraguan's?(temperament/size wise) that was a great statement and i really was un aware that peru babies were so big lol. thnx

Brian

[mo1416]

Feeding for instance what is your opinion on what those 3 should be fed? Oh yea amazing babies and great camera shots.

[Tom]

Hi Gus,
When you are done playing with "my Peru boa" can you send him back home I miss him. LOL
My Vet is still working on getting some St. Lucia boas. If he ever gets them I will let you know.
Glad to see you posting here. One of these days I will have to come down and meet you and pick up some boas.
You have some of the best looking boas out there I think.

Take care
Tom

[RioBravoReptiles]

Here's a short excerpt from the Care section of my website dealing with feeding:

"How often do I feed my boas?"
About every ten days. Feed a growing red-tail as often as it will take food but you must wait until all signs of the previous feeding have gone. In other words, don't feed it if it is still bloated with the last meal. Depending upon the temperature cycle it is in and the size of the prey item this can take from 6-15 days. If unsure, wait another day or two. It is a practical impossibility to underfeed a normal healthy boa kept in the proper conditions. Many people find it entirely effortless to overfeed theirs! The single most frequently identifiable factor in premature death, poor fertility and other problems with captive boa, especially red-tails, is obesity resulting from over feeding.

"How big a meal is right for my boa?"
If the food item is not big enough to make a noticeable lump in the snake, feed something larger. If your snake is unable to crawl or coil normally because of the size of it's distended belly after feeding, you have fed a meal too large. Generally, the diameter of your boa at the widest part of the body is about the same as the largest meal you should offer. But no rule is applicable to all animals at all times. An obvious exception to this simple size rule would be a gravid female bloated with babies, if it were to be fed a gigantic meal as large as it’s distended body pre-mature birth or even death might result. There are other exceptions and animals which do not completely digest or meatbolise meals should also be fed more sparingly. No rule, guide or schedule is anything other than a starting point. You have to observe your animals and apply what you learn to their care.

Here's link you may find useful..
http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/index_care.htm

The point I try to make about Boas and keeping and raising boas is (again) that no rule or schedule or guide (even mine) is more than a starting point. You have to watch your Boas and see what is going on and learn how to improve their care and health under the conditions you provide. That's what works.

Gus

[mo1416]

Thank you........

[RioBravoReptiles]

Originally Posted by Tom

Hi Gus,
When you are done playing with "my Peru boa" can you send him back home I miss him. LOL
My Vet is still working on getting some St. Lucia boas. If he ever gets them I will let you know.
Glad to see you posting here. One of these days I will have to come down and meet you and pick up some boas.
You have some of the best looking boas out there I think.

Take care
Tom

I'm not sure which Peru boa I have here is yours!? drop me a note and remind me.

Thanks for the props. Keep up the good work.

Gus

[Tom]

Hi Gus,

I was just joking about the you having my Peru boa. I should have said "just joking" after my little joke. I just like the way he looked and wished he was mine. But like I said someday I will come down to meet you and buy a few boas. You are one of the better breeder out there in my opinion.
I have even told people about you when I don't have any boas for sale and they are looking for some good quality boas. Don't know if they bought any from you but I did tell them to check you out.

Take care
Tom

[tarantulakeeper]

I have two of last year's Caulker Cays (Gus's) that I'm enjoying the heck out of. I needed something small as my wife is afraid the bigger boas might eat one of her cats. Gus, any news on the tarahumaras? John, Phoenix

[RioBravoReptiles]

Originally Posted by Tom

......I have even told people about you ..... I did tell them to check you out.

So YOU sent those clowns over here!

Nah.. no problems, was just messing with ya hoping to get some chat going and it worked!

Thanks, hope tp meet up some time too.