Rubber boas?

[XburntbythesunX]

Do people still keep these? I know when I first started reading about snakes, a long time ago, they sounded like a fun pet, but I guess they were difficult to take care of or something? Is there any where in particular to get good info on them, or does anyone here keep them?

[Andy_G]

I know of a few keepers who breed them up here in Canada but I unfortunately can't help you out with anyone down there. The neonates used to be thought of as very difficult to begin feeding, but that's because nobody knew back then that the babies NEED to be brumated before they will eat, so keep that in mind...if it's 2016 and you can find some, only buy 2015 because they'll have just begun to fed.

[XburntbythesunX]

Ah well if people understand how to care for them now, I might have to put my name on a waiting list. They sound like one of the best pet snakes out there that their are, even if they are $250.

Does anyone here have experience with them? I would love to find out some more info from anyone who has kept them. Thanks!

[pet_snake_78]

There are a couple of breeders in the US but no one is mass producing them by any means. WC sometimes won't take lab mice, they take a long time to mature, they are small, and they don't have huge numbers of young so I expect they will forever be uncommon.

[ThirteenRavens]

I know this is an older thread but thought I would chime in...I have one :) I was able to find a CBB litter on kingsnake.com and snatched up a female. She has been super easy to care for, aside from having to figure out that she doesn't like to eat in a separate bin (I feed all of my other snakes in a separate bin, personal preference and makes it easier for me to clean/change water/etc without feeling like I'm bothering them). She is a fancy girl and will only eat in her viv out of her little green ceramic dish, which I have hidden under her plastic vines lol. She has been THE coolest snake so far...she was one of my "holy grail" snakes, and if I have the chance to get another one I certainly will (possibly male? ;) )

[Minkness]

What makes these so cool?

[ThirteenRavens]

I would say personality? Mine is super sweet, docile and fairly inquisitive. She will curl up around my fingers when I have her out and just hang out, occasionally she will explore. They aren't the "prettiest" snake out there, like rainbow boas and such but they are lovely in their own way, at least in my opinion :)

[pet_snake_78]

I did have some luck with WC taking lab mice by washing a live fuzzy with both soap and water to remove the lab mouse smell. They will take voles no problem. I have a few sheets of plywood around my overgrown yard, sometimes I can still a litter of vole babies that way. Old fields (if the land owner lets you) are a great place to try to find voles if you need them but the babies are hard to come by usually just adults or left over nests. Some people catch and breed deer mice for them. You can also buy them from a lab if you're concerned about disease (an unlikely but possibly serious consequence).

[ThirteenRavens]

I've been lucky that mine will take f/t mice that I get from Layne Labs with no issue. I just put them in her dish after they've thawed and she eats 'em right up...haven't had to fuss with her much about her food which has been nice...she is CBB though, not wild caught.