i have a question about boas..help?

[Iceman]

hey every one..i havent posted in a while,i have a few questions for people who know about boas..

1:i want a central american boa,or a bci...does a central american have the same calm temperment as a bci?

2:what type of tank is better for them..a long one,like a 50 gal..or a tall one,both are made out of very thick glass..

3:anybody know anything about a rubber boa?i live in montreal..about how much would one be cdn? are they more expencive,or cheaper?

thanks in advance

[Zoe]

2hat type of tank is better for them..a long one,like a 50 gal..or a tall one,both are made out of very thick glass..
Neither. Tanks aren't for boas... go with rubbermaids or melamine/glass cages, they work best for humidity and ventilation.

Zoe

[ohh_kristina]

I agree with Zoe. Definately go with a rubbermaid, and then move up to a custom made enclosure (wood, plastic, etc)

[Iceman]

um..there custom made..reinforced glass..with alot of ventilation..and thick wood tops,with chicken wire type of thing..i get them custom made for each snake..depending on the snake..like my ball python,and calabar python..about the rubber boas?

[Jeff_Favelle]

um..there custom made..reinforced glass..with alot of ventilation..and thick wood tops,with chicken wire type of thing..


That is about the worst boa cage I have ever heard of. Sorry.

[Iceman]

lol,what the **** do i have to do to get my questions answerd..those tanks that this guy makes are amazing

[chappy]

Iceman you came here looking for advice, so rather then argue why don't you take what people are offering you? I'm not sure about the third person but I know the other 2 people who replied both keep boas. I agree with everyone else here, why not just spend $15 on a rubbermaid which is better for the boa and then you have an empty tank for future use.

And sorry I dont know too much about Rubber boas or their pricing.

Thanx
Nick

[Beardonicus]

Dude, calm down. You're questions are getting answered, but you're not getting the answers you'd like to hear. That is not the best cage for a boa......get a rubbermaid and move up from there if you wish. As for rubber boas....they aren't something I'd recommend. They are not commonly captive bred and the majority of the specimens out there are WC and are generally problematic feeders. Go with a nice CB boa of some other type.

[Iceman]

ok..sorry,tell me something..i could easyly get a rubber maid.. but im just doing whats easyer..a very strong tank,rather then drilling and building or whatever..in a few months..im getting a speacial made one, with plexi glass..so i could get strong snakes..it will be like a 500 gal,seperated in 3..but for now..i use a regular one..no biggy..if every thing go's good..in one part of the tank..brb...another...bci...and another? yellow anaconda..im just reading on temperments and such.. thanks for your help..

[chappy]

IMO you shouldn't have snakes if you would rather do what's easier then what's appropriate for your snakes. Also hows does it get any easier then buying a rubbermaid and drilling a few holes. It's more cost efficient and your boa will do a hell of a lot better, I just don't understand why you would come here and ask for advice, ignore peoples advice and waste your money on exspensive custom enclosures that are not nearly as good as a rubbermaid (not the ones you described anyway)


Nick

[snakemann87]

I have a custom made 4x2x2 for my boa(my burm is in it right now though).

[Iceman]

ugghh..thank you chappy...

[Iceman]

ok then mr chappy...just explain how to fix up a rubber maid... i just dont understand how the lighting would work? and the top..

[chappy]

Drill a few holes on each side of the rubbermaid, and get an UTH or some heat rope or heat tape and heat your rubbermaid with that. Newspaper or paper towel as a substrate and a water dish. Thats what works for me, I have been keeping some of my boas from this year in tanks because they look better but I have also been keeping some of my boas in rubbermaids and just recently I switched them all to rubbermaids because the ones in the rubbermaids looked so much better.

[Iceman]

what about the top?

[chappy]

The rubbermaid comes with a lid, I just stack my rubbermaids but will be getting a rack built soon. From what i have seen some people use lids in their racks and some don't, I probably will because most lids lock and I would feel better about my snakes not getting out. I use the Sterilite I think 12L? rubbermaids and I drill 8 small holes on each side lined up, or pretty close to it.

[wyz]

Hey ! Iceman ! you're looking for snakes now ? :)

How are the two little geckos you got from me doing ?

WYZ

[ReptiZone]

call me and come and visit me and you will see all my set ups and you will not have any more questions

[Invictus]

Well, to stick with the original questions:

A central american boa IS a BCI. I think you were comparing to a Columbian BCI. The central american ones tend to be smaller than Columbians, but their temperament is usually about the same. The ones I have encountered have been quite mellow.

As for the enclosure, do what you wish with it. BCI will use climbing branches if you give it to them, especially central American BCI. Columbians don't require it - compensate for their larger size by giving them more ground space.

As for humidity and ventilation, last I checked, central american and Columbian boas do not need humidity to be comfortable. Central American BCIs are usually from Sonora and Mexico, which, last I checked, are bone dry deserts. Columbians also vary in terrain from extremely dry desert to rainforest. They CAN do well with humidity, but do not by any means require it.

I have 3 Columbian boas, and they have all been at one time or another (or are currently) housed in an open-top enclosure. I've never had problems blocking off the top with towels during shed time to increase the humidity. Other than shed time, they do not require humidity.

Rubbermaids are great, but if you want to use a custom built glass cage, go fr it. Just make sure it is extremely secure.

[BoidKeeper]

anybody know anything about a rubber boa?i live in montreal..about how much would one be cdn? are they more expencive,or cheaper?
I know lots about rubber boas because I took the trouble to buy books and read them. I also read just about everything on line I could find. I live in Belledune...they are expensive because almost no one works with them in Canada.
Trevor

[djc3674]

I believe its Colombian instead of Columbian...correct me if im wrong.
Do they make rubbermaids big enough to house a 7ft snake? I have been using a glass tank 125 gal. w/ a wooden top that folds either way. I have had no problems with it so far. The room my snakes are in stays at a nice 75-80 degrees and they all have heat pads...and a cool side. I also use heat lights when needed. I spray the tanks down to create humidity during shedding. I would however like to get a nicer enclosure for my big bci at some point.

[BoidKeeper]

I believe its Colombian instead of Columbian
You're right.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Invictus]

Originally posted by djc3674
I believe its Colombian instead of Columbian...correct me if im wrong.

The coffee I buy says "100% Columbian" on the front.

And guess what... Denmark is actually spelled Danemark. It just depends on if you're using the english spelling or the spelling of the native tongue. Obviously in spanish, it would be Colombian. However, I've even seen maps and globes that spell it "Columbia". They're both right. It's a matter of preference.

[BoidKeeper]

The Boaphile calls them "Colombians" I'm not sure what he calls his coffee????
Cheers,
Trevor

[Zoe]

They are ColOmbians. It's the truth. ColUmbian is a word, too, but not the right one in this case.
http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/Colombia/

Iceman, one of the main reasons that your cage is extremely unfit for boas is the CHICKEN WIRE. It's wrong on so many levels. I have a rescue BCI here with a big scab on his nose from being kept in that type of cage. Ive been applying polysporin daily, and it's going away, but it's no good for the snakes. Simple as that.

And yeah, doing what's easiest for YOU and not what's best for the snake is pretty low. If you're concerned about lighting for the snake, get a rubbermaid that is transparent, or you can just a square in the lid and bolt some plexiglass to it. Lots of options, all better than what you have in mind.


Zoe

[Jeff_Favelle]

I'm not sure about the third person but I know the other 2 people who replied both keep boas.

Heh heh...I think I have a "few" boas. Not including rainbows, about 27 to be exact. With the Rainbows, that number jumps to 51 animals.

[foman]

It is colombian just look at the map. the same map will say british columbia and i know there ain't no red tails in bc.

[chappy]

Jeff, I was talking about you and Zoe. I wasn't sure about Kristina...

[ohh_kristina]

I keep boas as well..

[T.O-SK8TER]

Iceman, here is my set up I suggest you copy it if you are going to get a rubbermaid for a snake that large!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-9/370201/Dscn1091.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-9/370201/Dscn1092.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-9/370201/Dscn1094.jpg
That is my burm when he was 4.5 feet and at just over 5 feet now he will be in there till he is 6-7 feet, then he is off to his permanent home! I used galvanised steel cloth here and for all the other enclosures I build because I use ceramic heat emitters. I use steel cloth because it is much thicker than chicken wire, chicken wire is realy sharp because of how thin it is. The galvanised cloth is not sharp but rather dull, so do not use chicken wire!

[Jeff_Favelle]

LOL!

I have to digress and say how GREAT of pets boas make. There is a reason they have been so popular for so long. I love preaching about how great snakes are, and I think Chappy, Zoe, Kristina, etc etc can agree, that boas simply rock!

Kudos to all you guys (that I mentioned and that I didn't) who work with them. Keep up the good work! :D

[Iceman]

oh my god you know what..i really want a boa now..i went to chondro pythons house last night,amazing boas,thats the first time i hold one that big..now i under stand how the rubber maids work..thanks alot guys..

[Jeff_Favelle]

You are sort of out near Chris Marshell territory, so if you're in the market for quality, give him a ring. He's got some of the best Boas around, and I'm sure he could not only hook you up, but also be an invaluable source of info. I also replied to your PM Iceman, not sure if you got it. You can email me at jefffavelle@shaw.ca if you like as well. Thanks for the nice words as well!

Cheers,

:D

[Linds]

Rubbermaids are awesome, but they aren't the only enclosure suitable, especially for some of the snakes you intend on housing since they reach larger sizes. If you wanted to still go ahead with building custom enclosures for your snakes, then go ahead, but I would drastically alter the design you mentioned. Design the enclosures around the snake's needs ;) Chicken wire is dangerous in pretty well any snake enclosure. They may rub their nose which can lead to mouth rot or absesses. Also, unless it is a desert species, you will not want to have large open spaces for ventilation, but rather small, strategically placed vents so you can easily maintain humidity, as well as hold heat better. I house all my smaller snakes in rubbermaids (up to 6'), and the larger ones are housed in custom enclosures. Here's a pic of some of my custom enclosures (four 4'x2'x1').

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/504/22cages-finished.jpg">

[Siretsap]

Linds, what are your custom enclosures made of?
I am thinking of getting a few from boaphile but damn yours look so nice.

[Linds]

Thanks! I made them from OSB and pine. I had a very tight budget to work with, but still wanted nice looking enclosures that would stand up over time. If I had a little more money I would have gone a step up from OSB and gone with some sort of exterior grade plywood. Click <a href="http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27408">here</a> for a complete rundown on them ;)

[UpscaleBoas]

i'm new to this site but had to say i wanted to join when i read this thread.....great advise from alot of people...keep up the good work

[Linds]

Welcome to sSnakeSs.com, Upscale! :bounce:

[m1k3_88]

T.O-SK8TER how big is that rubbermaid? and also are you using just a ceramic heat emitter? if so what wattage?