PDA

View Full Version : A Young Newbie...


Kyee
05-17-13, 08:51 PM
Hello!

So I've been creeping the forums for the past couple of weeks... I'm only 17 so I'm getting the feeling that I'm one of the younger ones here! Either way, I'm here to introduce myself and ask some questions! Let's start with how the love affair with the reptilian types began..

Just before I was born, my mom gave my dad a sweet little baby Sinaloan Milksnake. I grew up with this boy all my life, and as far as I was concerned at the time, he was my best friend. As a young kid I used to walk around the house with him around my shoulders and in my hoodie pocket. He was very docile and sweet, and my dad taught me to love and respect these snakes! We used to go out in the summers and find garters and gopher snakes hiding under the plywood in the yard, and I once found a garter snake nest and loved looking at all the little babies... Even though they didn't love me! I had Snakey as my own for the past few years but my dad wanted him back, and I recently found out he passed away at the old age of over 17 years old!

Besides Snakey the milksnake, I currently own and love my 4 year old leopard gecko. She's a sweetheart but quick footed so she has to be handled over somewhere safe like my bed... She loves exploring. ;)

Anyways, I've been looking around because I would love to get another snake who would be all my own. I love researching and finding out information, and I'm definitely not one to jump into anything! Anyways, at first I had been looking into another Sinaloan.. and then Cornsnakes and Ball pythons... And then I came across the Brazilian Rainbow Boa. I'm absolutely in love about everything about them. I love how they need high humidity (rainforest themed vivarium? Love designing!), and I won't lie.. The rainbow iridescence is gorgeous. I love their size, as I am not particularly large (5'1 on a good day.). What do you guys think? I found what looks to be a great breeder only an hour away.. I definitely wouldn't be able to get one until around September so lots of research time!

Good idea? Yes, no? I do want a snake that I can handle a couple of times a week at least, but I understand that they are a private snake. Any other suggestions?

Thank you and sorry for the super long read!

-Kyee

infernalis
05-17-13, 09:20 PM
sSnakeSs.com - Rules (http://www.ssnakess.com/index.php?page=rules)

http://www.varanid.us/mat.jpg

Donnie
05-18-13, 12:57 AM
Hello and welcome

SnakeyJay
05-18-13, 01:08 AM
Welcome.... Brb's are great snakes to own and very rewarding.. My female is a big girl at just over 6ft but my gf handles her fine and she is only 5ft2, so I'm sure you'd be fine.. They're reasonably slender and still quite strong so it's a good mix :)

I handle mine about 2 times a week at most but that's not to say you can't handle them 3 times a week as long as its not really long periods at a time.. Just keep an eye on it for signs of stress and if needed handle it a little less..

As for feeding, they have a good feeding response but are very shy about it. So it's good to offer prey in the evening with the lights low and I find this puts her at ease to eat.

Babies can be nippy and may bite however will grow out of this with time with handling.. If your worried about this buy a yearling that is already reasonably accustomed to handling/interaction...

I'm half asleep so if I missed anything or it doesn't make sense, just ask... Good luck! :D

NextMorph
05-18-13, 01:29 AM
Welcome!! Brazilian Rainbow Boas are beautiful snakes! Good choice. :) They do have a few special needs like the humidity as you mentioned and I've met a few who were rather nippy even in older age, but each snake is different. Overall they're beautiful and stay a nice manageable size. I hope you find all of the answers you are looking for on this site! :)

marvelfreak
05-18-13, 06:20 AM
23975

You can go wrong with a BRB. They are truly stunning snake and such so much fun to work with.

alessia55
05-18-13, 08:02 AM
Welcome! :)

Lankyrob
05-18-13, 08:21 AM
Welcome to the forum,

One thing to consider with your age, are you going to be shooting off to college or university? If so, are you going to be able to either take the snake with you of have someone responsible to look after it whilst you are away?

Kyee
05-18-13, 10:32 AM
Thank you for all the great welcomes, guys! Rob, I am planning on going to school in the area, and have planning on staying home for a few years and then moving out. I most likely will never be in dorms so I think I'll be okay. ^^

Brb's are so beautiful, now all I have to work on is convincing my mom that I really *do* need another large terrarium in my bedroom... Would a 36"x18"x36" be too small for an adult? Too big? I want height for some artistic flexibility, but maybe a 24" height would be better? I like the look of the PVC cages but I also like the glass look of the exoterra... I'm assuming I can fix the humidity issue with a sheet of plexi, which would be no problem since I have access to it for free through my woodshop. :D

Jules1618
05-18-13, 12:04 PM
Welcome

I love my BRB, had mine about 2 months. Sting feeding response which I find fun to watch.
They do well on F/T. she is a 2012. Next to my Carpet she is my favourite of my 8 "children"

desipooh.12
05-18-13, 12:27 PM
Welcome!
I love my baby BRB, theyre very different from other snakes,
mine has its own attitude, still a baby so I cant really take em out whenever I want
but it'll get use to it lil bye lil ..
I fell inlove with them as well & I had to have one & I don't regret it,
theyre the most beautiful ive ever seen !
23976
my baby after its first shed with me :)

Kyee
05-18-13, 12:43 PM
S/he's gorgeous! I love the rainbow sheen on it. :) Very sweet!

desipooh.12
05-18-13, 12:45 PM
Thank you !
Duno the sex yet, its to small ..
but I always call it a HE lol

Pirarucu
05-18-13, 01:12 PM
Welcome aboard!

Kyee
05-18-13, 01:35 PM
Thank you!

SnakeyJay
05-19-13, 07:49 AM
I'd say 3ft tall is way too high. I have a 4ftx2x2 for my female and she uses all the floor space.. I do have 2 strong climbing branches in there and she does use them on occasion but not enough to warrant more height.. As babies they climb often but grow out if it mostly.

While you may want it for artistic flexibility it's just more unused height to heat.

You can see the 2 branches I've got in this pic.

Kyee
05-19-13, 09:49 AM
So more length would be a better idea? And only a 2' height?

Deva
05-19-13, 11:54 AM
Brazilian rainbow's are among the most beautiful snakes I have seen. Welcome!

SnakeyJay
05-19-13, 12:03 PM
I'd say so yes.. For an adult anyway.