Hello.. Interested in a Rainbow Boa

[BiG_KiD]

Hello all, this is my first post to this site I hope it is beneficial.
I guess I should start with a little background. I am interested in getting a snake. I live in a 2 bedroom apt. I have a 55 gallon Reef tank right now. I say this to inform people of my commitment to a new pet.. I have had this tank for 6 years. Four years as fresh water and 2 as salt.. I love it.. I have been thinking about a snake for a couple of years now..The landlord says absoulutey not to a dog.. So I have had this unsatisified desire for a pet that is a little more physical than my fish.. I have always thought about having a snake but never really knew much about them..So I am here to learn before I buy.. I stopped by my local pet store today and was looking around for new corals, didn't see anything I liked but I walked over the reptile section and saw a few.. Then I saw a Brazzilian Rainbow Boa (BRB).. These are the species that most interest me.. I can only base this on appearance as I do not know a whole lot.. Anyway I guess this is were my questions start..

1. Is this a good snake for a beginner.
2. What is a fair price for a young one
3. What are the husbandry requirements for BRB.
4. What should I look for when purchasing?..

Thank you for the input and please be kind if I have made any real newb mistakes already..

[BiG_KiD]

Sorry to apend my first post but I also Love the Jungle carpet python.. Please give me some info about those as well.. Thanks again

[Big_V]

Id say its not the best snake for starting. I just got one after dealing with snakes for 3 years. They have husbandry requirements that are hard for a novice to keep. Id say stay away from a BRB for your first snake.

Best thing to do when looking into a snake is too look for some care sheets and get some basic info. Its the best way to go about things as there is so much to know about different species. This site has some caresheets that would probably help you more in your decision.

[mykee]

Firstly, welcome to the site. I would go out and do a little research by buying a book on the captive husbandry on both species, and read all you can so that you would have enough information to determine which snake would better suit your needs and abilities and skill level. Good luck.

[Edwin]

Welcome to ssnakess. If you like fish too, you should check ssnakess' sister site, www.allthingsaquatic.com

[Big Mike]

Welcome :cool:

Good on ya for doing your research beforehand. As mentioned BRB's would be considered more advanced because they have more specific husbandry requirements. They require very high humidity.

If you do the research and feel confident that you can provide the proper habitat for a BRB, I'd say get one...they are absolutely beautiful.

I would caution you about getting a snake from a pet store. While some pet stores are OK, it seems that most only carry snakes because of the huge mark up they can put on the price. All too often at the expense of the animal's health. You would be better advised to find a breeder or a local reptile show. You will get a better price and most likely a healthier animal.

I don't know where you are located but Jeff Favelle in B.C.(member on this site) breeds some of the best looking BRBs that I have seen.