New member, but issue

[shelly2314]

I have an interesting issue. I have wanted a snake since I was a little girl! My mother and then my long-time gf refused!

Fast-forward to now...my wonderful wife wanted to surprise me for my birthday and got me a gorgeous 18 month old Argentine Boa. She is beautiful, friendly, and wonderful. I am in love with her:blink:

Here comes the issue :hmm:...my wife did not do the research BEFORE GETTING HER and is now really uncomfortable with how large the boa will get. So I now have to sell her! I am heartbroken, as she is a fantastic specimen! :unhappy:

She eats f/t rats and loves to be handled. If anyone knows of a GOOD owner looking to purchase her, please let me know!!! I am not willing to just get rid of her, so the wife will have to hold on until I can find a good home

[shelly2314]

I am trying to figure out how to post a classified for my beautiful 18 month old argentine but I cannot find anyplace to create a new post! Please help>

[infernalis]

the classifieds require that you are a member. Congrats you are now ;)

chit chat with the group a little, and after a handful of posts, the classifieds should allow you to post the snake, if someone does not snap it up from this thread.

[SnakeyJay]

If only I wasn't in the uk :(

[Donnie]

Hello and welcome
Maybe if you do a bit of research and find somebody else with one, and take the wife to see a fully grown one you can see if she still feels the same or you might be able to change her mind?

[MoreliAddict]

Sorry about your wife's change of heart.

Without pushing it on her, maybe if she ended up handling it once or twice she'll start to get more comfortable with the snake, and will grow to accept the snake before you can find a good home...

[Swany]

Sorry about your wife's change of heart.

Without pushing it on her, maybe if she ended up handling it once or twice she'll start to get more comfortable with the snake, and will grow to accept the snake before you can find a good home...

Sound advice. I know my partner wasn't happy when I first spoke about getting a snake. A bit of gentile persuasion and a lengthy chat with the breeder she relented and now we have two ;-)

[alessia55]

It might also help to remind her that the snake will grow slowly, and when you see them on a day-to-day basis, you don't notice the growth that much. ;)

Otherwise, good luck finding the snake a new home :)

[blindfireak40]

Without pushing it on her, maybe if she ended up handling it once or twice she'll start to get more comfortable with the snake, and will grow to accept the snake before you can find a good home...

EVERYTHING about this. My girlfriend has always been an animal person, but not super-enthused about reptiles. The more she's been around them, however, and the more of them she's seen, the more she's wanted more. She went from "You have a snake, that's enough" to "Yeah, when we have our careers we can get a Burmese Python maybe" in the span of about 5 pet store visits. Everyone's different, but it sounds like your wife has a foundational acceptance of reptiles.

What also may be worthwhile is visiting a shop or show that has a well-adjusted adult specimen (or an adult of any larger constrictor); snakes are deceptive in size. That is, oftentimes an 8 or 9 foot reptile doesn't seem that large in person. When we think "8 or 9 feet" it seems mind-bogglingly large, but in my (admittedly limited) experience, I've been surprised several times to learn that the snake I guessed at 5 and a half feet is pushing 7 and a half.

Above all, I hope you can find a good home for your boa; it would be wonderful if you could keep it and I wish you the best of luck :)

[marvelfreak]

If it was a male i take it in a heart beat. Been trying to find a male for my female for a couple months.

[MoreliAddict]

EVERYTHING about this. My girlfriend has always been an animal person, but not super-enthused about reptiles. The more she's been around them, however, and the more of them she's seen, the more she's wanted more. She went from "You have a snake, that's enough" to "Yeah, when we have our careers we can get a Burmese Python maybe" in the span of about 5 pet store visits. Everyone's different, but it sounds like your wife has a foundational acceptance of reptiles.

What also may be worthwhile is visiting a shop or show that has a well-adjusted adult specimen (or an adult of any larger constrictor); snakes are deceptive in size. That is, oftentimes an 8 or 9 foot reptile doesn't seem that large in person. When we think "8 or 9 feet" it seems mind-bogglingly large, but in my (admittedly limited) experience, I've been surprised several times to learn that the snake I guessed at 5 and a half feet is pushing 7 and a half.

Above all, I hope you can find a good home for your boa; it would be wonderful if you could keep it and I wish you the best of luck :)
My girlfriend is the same way.

When I met her, she had never held a snake before, and was not exactly a snake person. She fell in love with my Ball Python because he's so docile. It eventually got to the point that she would feel comfortable taking him out and handling him when I wasn't even home. http://www.lilwaynehq.com/forums/images/smilies/shocked.gif

Now it's reached the point that she has a dream snake of her own, a super zebra carpet python.

[dinosaurdammit]

My girlfriend is the same way.

When I met her, she had never held a snake before, and was not exactly a snake person. She fell in love with my Ball Python because he's so docile. It eventually got to the point that she would feel comfortable taking him out and handling him when I wasn't even home. http://www.lilwaynehq.com/forums/images/smilies/shocked.gif

Now it's reached the point that she has a dream snake of her own, a super zebra carpet python.

Ive been so lucky that my husband isnt really afraid of anything, convincing him to get a snake was the biggest issue but once I got jerry rice home and let him name him he just grew on derrick. Then we got athena and when she passed he cried with me.

To the OP, boas grow pretty slowly, the only way I notice JR got a good growth is by looking at pictures. Getting an animal is a commitment to that animal for its whole life. Its not fair to get it then get rid of it because someone didnt do their homework :C

[TheSnakeChild]

I have an interesting issue. I have wanted a snake since I was a little girl! My mother and then my long-time gf refused!

Fast-forward to now...my wonderful wife wanted to surprise me for my birthday and got me a gorgeous 18 month old Argentine Boa. She is beautiful, friendly, and wonderful. I am in love with her:blink:

Here comes the issue :hmm:...my wife did not do the research BEFORE GETTING HER and is now really uncomfortable with how large the boa will get. So I now have to sell her! I am heartbroken, as she is a fantastic specimen! :unhappy:

She eats f/t rats and loves to be handled. If anyone knows of a GOOD owner looking to purchase her, please let me know!!! I am not willing to just get rid of her, so the wife will have to hold on until I can find a good home well...first of all boas are large snakes in general, I really don't know many Boas that AREN'T large, and if you loves snakes so much...they should've known what they signed up for, lol shame I couldn't give the beauty a home, but my parents won't let me keep a snake until I live on my own

[shelly2314]

She is fine handling her right now and she is about 3.5 feet. I am working on seeing how the boa "grows" on her (pun intended).

However, if I find a good home in the meantime, we will go with that.

And for those of you that judge her, don't. She is trying and I understand her fears. Instead of judging her, I am trying to educate her and move forward

[TheSnakeChild]

I'm sorry i wasn't trying to make fun of her, but it's just...if you get with a snake fan, you have to pause to think you may deal with snakes later, half of america is scared of snakes anyways, it's nothing to laugh at, it's a serious phobia...well if it's spawned from a phobia, if it's spawned from one at least, I have phobias myself. It's good that you're trying to educate her, and such, that's the best route, much better then the method my friends are trying to get rid of my acrophobia...they're throwing me on tall amusement park rides and hoping I'll get over it after like fifty of them...*swirly eyes*

[Pareeeee]

Um, she got you a birthday present, now she wants you to get rid of it? I wouldn't...

[TheSnakeChild]

Um, she got you a birthday present, now she wants you to get rid of it? I wouldn't... it's because she's uncomfortable about how large that kind of boa can get, which is understandable, some boas can grow to massive sizes, but plenty of handling while they are young and warming up to them is easy enough, hopefully with some warming up, she won't have to get rid of the beauty.

[Aaron_S]

If it was a male i take it in a heart beat. Been trying to find a male for my female for a couple months.

Dude! Go for the trio Chuck!

[Ms. Medusa]

Hi and welcome to the forums. I think you are going about it in the right way by slowly introducing her to him--- have you thought about looking into a smaller type of snake, and seeing about a trade that the two of you could research and find? You might find some people very interested in doing so.


I do think education and exposure is a really great way of trying to help her overcome her fears and phobias. Best of luck with it and keep us posted on the progress!

[shelly2314]

Everything was moving in a positive light, and then Calliope (her name thus far) was having a "MOODY" day and struck and hissed a lot at my wife. Nothing major, but enough to keep my wife nervous.

We've handled Calliope since then and she is much calmer now and even more adventurous. After many conversations, it isn't the length that concerns my wife, but the weight. We have been looking into a trade, but I am unsure of that b/c I like what I got. If we have to get rid of Calliope, I understand, but I am not in the market to replace her as of yet.

She has eaten for us (about a week ago) but hasn't pooped. Is this normal???

[Aaron_S]

Yes it is.

[Pareeeee]

My BP eats like a pig and still only poops once every 1.5 to 2 weeks. So a snake that isn't eating isn't gonna poop much. Don't worry, new snakes often don't eat the first few attempts. Just try not to handle him until he does.

[Philmul]

My wife no to a bp but now I also have a common boa.

[shaunyboy]

try to get your wife to handle the snake while its still small,she may get over her fear,

in the begining my wife was scared of snakes,now she assists in giving medication,etc,and thats on carpet pythons up to 8ft

cheers shaun

[shelly2314]

My BP eats like a pig and still only poops once every 1.5 to 2 weeks. So a snake that isn't eating isn't gonna poop much. Don't worry, new snakes often don't eat the first few attempts. Just try not to handle him until he does.


She has already eaten one rat...not too worried about her eating b/c she does fine with that...just didn't want to have some sort of backup or toxic gas issue

[KORBIN5895]

Everything was moving in a positive light, and then Calliope (her name thus far) was having a "MOODY" day and struck and hissed a lot at my wife. Nothing major, but enough to keep my wife nervous.

We've handled Calliope since then and she is much calmer now and even more adventurous. After many conversations, it isn't the length that concerns my wife, but the weight. We have been looking into a trade, but I am unsure of that b/c I like what I got. If we have to get rid of Calliope, I understand, but I am not in the market to replace her as of yet.

She has eaten for us (about a week ago) but hasn't pooped. Is this normal???

Good. Now that we are at the root of the problem let's try and solve it. How much does she think your snake will weigh as an adult?

[Corey209]

well...first of all boas are large snakes in general, I really don't know many Boas that AREN'T large, and if you loves snakes so much...they should've known what they signed up for, lol shame I couldn't give the beauty a home, but my parents won't let me keep a snake until I live on my own

Amazon tree boas, rosy boas, kenyan sand boas, hog island, Nicaraguan, central american, viper boa, soloman island.

@OP, if you're looking for a smaller snake I'd show your wife a Children's python. They stay pretty small.

[KORBIN5895]

Amazon tree boas, rosy boas, kenyan sand boas, hog island, Nicaraguan, central american, viper boa, soloman island.

@OP, if you're looking for a smaller snake I'd show your wife a Children's python. They stay pretty small.

Personally I would still consider hoggs, Nicaraguans and CA's larger snakes. They still have a large body mass though they only hit six feet or so on the long end.

I honesty think amazons, viper boas and Solomon island boas ( the growing and tree boas) should of been classified as less heavily bodied snakes but terrible attitudes the op should avoid.

The downside with rosy, Kenyans ( or any sand boa) and rubber boa is they don't really look like boas.

[shelly2314]

She thinks Calliope will get up to 50 lbs. She isn't sure how we would be able to handle her should she get that big. She is saying that she doesn't want a 50lb 10 foot long snake.

[decesare23]

Hey all! I'm the wife in this thread, Monique. I have read all of the posts in this thread and really do appreciate the information and advice posted. Just to clarify a couple of things: I am not afraid of snakes, have always liked them, and admit I was wrong for not researching her breed prior to just accepting the breeders offers (had he mentioned she is one of the heavier breeds, we would not have got her); however, it was our fault for not researching her needs and cares prior to the purchase. And initially, I also thought I'd be gifting Shelly a Sand Boa because that is what she wanted.
When Callopie had her "hissy" striking fit, not going to lie I was startled, considering she struck right at Shelly's face and hitting her in the eye. Um, Shelly is my wife and anything "striking" her is going to make me nervous. I have however, held Calliope since (after reading about how these are some common behaviors), and I am working on trying to understand her, more. I participate in feeding, handling, and, for a lack of a better word, raising her.
My initial worry after doing the proper research on her was "Holy ****, this chick is going to be HUGE, and where the hell are we going to put her." Not only that, if she got to 50 plus pounds and needs two people to get her out to "handle," clean, etc. is that really fun? I want the experience of owning a snake to enjoyable, not stressful. I am a realistic person and was just trying to do right by Callopie. I am not talking about releasing her into the wild, or doing anything inhumane. I am trying to take responsibility for my actions.
I have researched other boas that run on a "smaller" scale, and really like the Rosy's and Sands, but for now we will raise Calliope.

0.1 Wife, 0.2 Pit Bulls, 0.1 Boxer, 0.2 Cats, 2.1 Argentine Boa

[SnakeyJay]

If you can handle 2 pitbull's you should be fine with a single boa lol.. 10ft is a big bci, not that common from what I've seen but they do happen.

[KORBIN5895]

Hey all! I'm the wife in this thread, Monique. I have read all of the posts in this thread and really do appreciate the information and advice posted. Just to clarify a couple of things: I am not afraid of snakes, have always liked them, and admit I was wrong for not researching her breed prior to just accepting the breeders offers (had he mentioned she is one of the heavier breeds, we would not have got her); however, it was our fault for not researching her needs and cares prior to the purchase. And initially, I also thought I'd be gifting Shelly a Sand Boa because that is what she wanted.
When Callopie had her "hissy" striking fit, not going to lie I was startled, considering she struck right at Shelly's face and hitting her in the eye. Um, Shelly is my wife and anything "striking" her is going to make me nervous. I have however, held Calliope since (after reading about how these are some common behaviors), and I am working on trying to understand her, more. I participate in feeding, handling, and, for a lack of a better word, raising her.
My initial worry after doing the proper research on her was "Holy ****, this chick is going to be HUGE, and where the hell are we going to put her." Not only that, if she got to 50 plus pounds and needs two people to get her out to "handle," clean, etc. is that really fun? I want the experience of owning a snake to enjoyable, not stressful. I am a realistic person and was just trying to do right by Callopie. I am not talking about releasing her into the wild, or doing anything inhumane. I am trying to take responsibility for my actions.
I have researched other boas that run on a "smaller" scale, and really like the Rosy's and Sands, but for now we will raise Calliope.

0.1 Wife, 0.2 Pit Bulls, 0.1 Boxer, 0.2 Cats, 2.1 Argentine Boa

Well hello Monique! I am very glad you decided to join.

First off though purchasing an animal before research isn't always the best idea, almost all of us have done it. Secondly to admit that you may have bitten off more than you can chew shouldn't be shameful. If you feel this one may be too much then rehoming it will be in the snakes best interest and again their is bo shame in that.

Now for size concern I purchased a female boa last summer that was around 8' long and 35-40 pounds. Now she was morbidly obese, literally. She died from kidney failure that I believe was caused by her obesity. She was at least ten pounds over weight and I had her on a diet.

Where your girl may truly become a monster I highly doubt she is going to get over 8' or 30 pounds. Now that is just a complete guess of course but really big bci are just not common anymore.

[shelly2314]

Thanks guys...we are in discussion about her

[KORBIN5895]

Good luck! If you have any questions just ask.

[shelly2314]

So far so good. Monique keeps wavering. I think she might be getting more comfortable with the idea of it all. We had Calliope out yesterday and she was loving the time out with Monique and I! Posted a few pictures of her in the Boa forum. Will definitely post more when I can.


On a side note, one of my pits have discovered her in the cage and was very confused! I explained that they were friends, but never going to "hang out." I think they were both ok with that LOL

[SnakeyJay]

Noooo, a fish tank!! Lol :rolleyes: nice boa and congrats on being able to keep her. :)

[shelly2314]

I know:laugh:

but it was free and will do until we have her larger enclosure built

[SnakeyJay]

Just teasing you mate, it's personal choice. How do you find keeping the temperature right in it? One thing I will suggest is that you cover the sides aswell as the back.

[decesare23]

Just teasing you mate, it's personal choice. How do you find keeping the temperature right in it? One thing I will suggest is that you cover the sides aswell as the back.

It is an ongoing practice to look at the temperature and adjust if needed, to include the humidity. It has become habit now, and we have been able to sustain the appropriate temp; however, will definitely try covering the sides. Could not pass up a free 55 gallon, especially after paying all the "start up" costs with adopting her.

[decesare23]

I know:laugh:

but it was free and will do until we have her larger enclosure built

ummm, in a couple of years...

[lady_bug87]

Honestly I just moved my yearling bci into a tub I bought from Walmart. She's about 4ft long

[SnakeyJay]

It's all on thermostats tho yeah? :)

[Lankyrob]

Our dog was quite interested whenever the snakes moved when we first got them but now he barely notices them at all. One even struck the glass as he walked by and he didnt even look around :)

[Theweinz]

It might also help to remind her that the snake will grow slowly, and when you see them on a day-to-day basis, you don't notice the growth that much. ;)

Otherwise, good luck finding the snake a new home :)

This is a very good point! So true
JW

[decesare23]

It's all on thermostats tho yeah? :)

Oh yeah, 4 of them - temp gradient, warm side between 90-95 and cool side mid 80's / another in the middle of the tank w/ humidity guage and then the last positioned at the bottom near the floor