RTB's

emseeKAY · 01-26-10, 09:36 PM

hey looking around at RTB's and read quite a bit but im looking to get a more personable answer, so for those who have them, or any experienced keepers, how are they? im just looking for a sort of care sheet so if any of you have any comments let me hear them!

thanks in advance!

emseeKAY · 01-26-10, 10:43 PM

sorry about the double post but what i meant was RTB's and BRB's

Will0W783 · 01-27-10, 09:31 AM

I have both RTBs and a rainbow boa. My rainbow boa is a Peruvian, though, not a BRB. But the PRB is basically the same, they just tend to be redder and have a slightly stronger color contrast. My PRB, Picasso, is an awesome snake. He's currently about 3 feet long. The thing with BRBs, PRBs, CRBs, etc, is that they require high humidity, like a GTP or ETB. I keep Picasso in a 36-gallon bow-front tank with a custom plexi lid with a few screen cutouts for air flow. I have him hooked up to my MistKing system which also mists my arboreals, and does a great job of keeping humidity ideal. I've found him easy to care for- he eats well, is very docile, and is beautiful.
I also have two male RTBs- a normal Colombian (Brutus), and a hypo salmon Colombian (Dante). They are both very docile, easy to care for snakes. RTBs are considered good beginner snakes, in that they are generally docile, and they don't have very strict humidity requirements. I keep my RTBs in 3"x2" melamine cages, which have dividers that can be removed as they grow to accomodate them. Currently the normal is around 3 feet and the hypo is around 4 feet. I absolutely love Dante's coloring- he is reddish-orange and peach and has pewter eyes with a burgundy stripe through them. He is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous in my eyes. He was not handled much by his previous owner as he was mostly a show snake, so he gets a bit squirmy when picked up until he realizes he won't fall. I try to handle him 2-3 times a week, so he will slowly get used to it without being too stressed.
Great snakes. In my mind you can't go wrong with either a RTB or a BRB/PRB, but go with the RTB if you foresee having trouble keeping humidity up around 75%.

emseeKAY · 01-27-10, 10:13 AM

great! thanks again kim!

Hillsberry · 01-27-10, 10:18 AM

They are such pretty snakes!! Get one!!

emseeKAY · 01-27-10, 12:45 PM

lol i just dont know! ive done quite a bit of research on them both for the past couple months as well as a BP but i really love the colours and iridescence of the BRB's lol

Will0W783 · 01-27-10, 06:15 PM

I agree. But I do recommend strongly that you not get a hatchling BRB if you get one. They are very fragile, and very very fast and are escape artists. They aren't really a beginner snake, but if you take the time to keep them right they are very rewarding.

st3v3n · 02-05-10, 02:42 AM

Hey I was wondering if any one could tell me Y my RTB is flinching/jerking for no reason I'll b watching him n he just likes jumps like suttin scared him it's weird. Thx.

Will0W783 · 02-05-10, 06:03 AM

St3v3n, can you describe it a bit better? It's quite possible he is scared; some will do that when scared. Pay attention to his body language and what is going on in the room when he flinches. Are there any shadows across his cage? Are there any loud rumbling noises- snakes have no external ears, but they can feel vibrations.

st3v3n · 02-06-10, 12:35 AM

No no loud noises and he opens his mouth n twistes it like it's bothering him.

Jendee · 05-06-10, 09:14 AM

http://www.redtailboas.com/forum/articles.php?c=110
this is the best care guide on the net put together by the top breeders in the boa world!!