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Obese adult boa constrictor9/22/2023 Most subspecies will reach this size or larger within 6 years when they are fed slowly to favor healthy growth. She will need an enclosure that is at least 8 feet by 4 feet by 4 feet high. An 8-foot long female is an average for most subspecies. Some owners start them in smaller enclosures and are shocked when the snake outgrows it within a year.Īdults from the larger subspecies will need enclosures that are much larger. Most boas are started in 4-foot enclosures and need to step up by the time they reach 6 feet in length. Generally, a boa will grow around 18 inches during its first year. This is because many owners aren’t aware of how large their snake will end up being. (see my enclosure setup recommendations on my boa constrictor care sheet) Growth Rateīoa constrictors are well-known for outgrowing their enclosures quickly. Many of these snakes are also overweight or even obese. Most reports of very large boa constrictors in captivity are individuals that were power fed to encourage growth. Snakes that are fed more frequently will also grow much larger than snakes kept on a more modest diet. However, fast growth is typically less healthy for the snake and risks causing obesity. Young boas fed weekly will grow much more quickly than snakes fed less often. The actual growth rate depends on how often the snake is fed and how large the prey item is. Growth rates are typically a pretty steady upward climb so long as the snake is eating every meal offered. In CaptivityĬaptive boa constrictors can rely on regular meals from their owner. Males only invest enough energy to search out receptive females. This is partly because breeding takes a lot of energy for female snakes. Most females wait until they have a good body condition to breed. Males typically breed yearly once they are old enough, but females rarely breed every year. This can mean that it may take longer for the snake to reach adult size and sexual maturity. They can survive long periods without food, but growth and particularly weight will be stunted in favor of surviving lean times. This can leave snakes without much food for months. Many island populations rely on nesting migratory birds for the majority of their diet. Since prey availability can change wildly in some localities, this means that snakes can’t rely on regular meals. As ambush predators, they need to hope prey that will fit in their mouths will come by. Since wild snakes have to wait for prey, they can have inconsistent growth.
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