Columbian Red Tailed

[unknownclown]

Hello
I am planing on buying one or maybe 2 Colombian red tailed boas. Now I'm new to keeping snakes and very dumb when it comes to all the abbreviations BCI, BCC all that stuff, so if there's a thread going on about this please forgive me.

The 2 that I've found are tiny babies and maybe only a foot long. They are just adorable and eating f/t already which really sold me on the pair. Is there any special care I should give them since they are so tiny? Or should I treat them the same as I would an adult?

I also know that they can get to be quite large only there seems to be a debate on how large that is. I'm figuring 7-10 feet is that about right? Ok and how fast do they grow?

I've also heard that they will grow to eat rabbits which is no big deal, but when I said something to a lady at a different pet store than the one that had the 2 snakes I want, she said that they could just eat large rats... Is this true and advisable or was she just saying that cause I told her that I had a pet rabbit so I wouldn't be offended like some would be?

Also what is their life span I'm 33 so if they live for about 40 years that may be an issue I cant imagine a 70 year old picking up and hauling around a 10 foot snake..... But then again just because I can't imagine it doesn't mean it cant happen

Any pointers are more than apreciated I heard that these can be a great advanced beginner snake and they are just the most beautiful snakes in my opinion.

[Herp guy]

Um, well BCI are columbians. (Boa Constrictor Imperator)Just feed it appropriately sized food and other than that no other special care is needed.

[unknownclown]

Well thats just it Herp Guy, Im trying to figure out beforehand so I am prepared for the inevitable what the adults appropriate food size is

I'm sure I could just wait and see, but I'd rather know before hand what is acceptable. I mean it would be easier for me to feed a snake a large rat then a rabbit and if thats the appropriate size cool. But if its not and it will sooner or later have to eat rabbits I think it would be nice also to know since I will have to kill them. Buying f/t at the moment isnt up for debate I have a male bunny who would more than love a companion since he's always had one, but she died bearing their last litter.... too old I think. Since she died I have been thinking of getting him fixedand pairing him with a female since I'm tired of baby rabbits. Now if I am going to need his services later on in the future it would be nice to know instead of having to buy another male.

I dont mind feeding snakes the young rabbits but large adults would be different since they take up more time and space. I know that these snakes are tiny and it would take many years before I have to worry about this but I think as a responsible pet owner these things should be thought out since I am going to have to care for these snakes for a very long time.

[rattekonigin]

BCI's can run the gamut in length from 6ft - 13ft, but as I understand it, males are generally towards the lower end of the range whereas females are closer to the upper end, though a 13ft boa is considered to be unusually large. Apparently BCI's grow slowly for a large snake, usually attaining adult size in around 2-3 years (Though I have a young male that seems to be growing quite rapidly right now, so I would just assume they'd be adult size in a year to consider a worst, or best depending on how you look at it, case scenario)

As for housing baby boas, they require the same care as adults but they'd be better off being kept in a smaller enclosure to avoid stress and consequent feeding problems.

The larger boas will take rabbits, although I think a boa large enough to take a full grown rabbit is uncommon (unless it's a dwarf rabbit)...I'm sure any adult boa could take baby rabbits, but then they might as well take rats instead, being that they are of similar size...I believe that some people feed them guinea pigs too...I doubt if it would be terribly deleterious for a boa to live off of a couple of jumbo rats per feeding as opposed to a rabbit...So, I'd say that, yes, they could live off of rats alone.

As for life span, I believe the norm is 20-25 years.

A pointer, for baby boas at least, is to keep in mind that they're usually quite hissy and sometimes nippy. But, supposedly, they grow out of it as they get larger and no longer view you as a threat.

[unknownclown]

cool thanks
Which is the "preferred food"? I mean you can't realy stuff a guinea pig or a rabbit full of protein like you can a rat...can you? and I know that the rabbit has got to be a healthier meal... but guinea pigs dont smell half as bad as rabbits can or take up as much room to house. By the sounds of it I may nix the thought of feeding rabbits since I cant stand him spraying when he is around females (BLECH!)

[rattekonigin]

I'm not sure which food theboas prefer, I'm sure it's all the same to them...it's more of what you prefer to feed them.
It's true about the guinea pigs being less stinky and requiring less space, but you need to keep in mind that guinea pigs give birth to large, fully developed young (meaning they have open eyes and ears and they have a full complement of hair) so they only have 2-3 babies per litter. Also, if you do ever get around to breeding guinea pigs, it's important to make sure that the female is less than a year old, because if she hasn't had a litter before her first year her pelvic bones will fuse (so I've heard) and she won't be able to pass the babies when she is bred.

[unknownclown]

Thanks for your help it is much appreciated

[hip]

Well some good questions have been asked and some good anwsers have been given.Well for small boa's give them hides one in the cool end one in the warm end.If they are true bci humidity should be around 55 to 70% a hot spot of around 85 to 92 or so (I have found 88-92 to be very good) an average day time temp in the cool end of around 80-84 with a drop of a couple degrees at night should do the trick.I would feed them every 5-7 days with one prey item of proper size.Bci are not prone to regurigate but to much is not good either.A hopper mouse is usally a good choice for the first while(or a rat pup the same size)

Columbian boas can get pretty large with 10 feet being huge (female) and around 7-9 feet is the norm (plan for bigger when you buy or make encloseures),Males are more in the 5-7 foot range (but can be bigger) These boas usally stop growing after about 5 years(reaching most of thier full length after 4 years) and thickining up in the fifth year. Snakes are hard to judge for growth but the biggest growth area is usally between the second and third years. A one to two pound rabbit is a good choice for a full grown female ,and even for a large male.(always match prey size to snake size) Guinea pigs will put a lot of fat on a mature snake and are good to feed to breeding age females in the last 1-2 months leading up to breeding season,thusly they will make a male too fat,a mature male should be fed only every 3 weeks or so to prevent becoming fat with a female around the 2 week average.Plan on having a boa for 15-20 years if they stay healthy and are cared for properly.You will get bitten from time to time and you will also be astounded by these amazing creatures(they still hold my attention after many years). I wish you well and hope you have a long happy life with whatever boa's you may choose to share your life with.



Hip

[hip]

Sorry i forgot to add that you should house them seperatly this will reduce stress for both snakes.If you are worried about size try a hog island boa they do not get much past 6 feet and will do great on large to jumbo rats.Central american boas can also be found in different ssp that do not get to awfull big 5-7 feet (some can be cranky though) as I said plan on getting bitten from time to time (and yes it hurts when it is a mature boa and they mean it)


Hip

[Lasher]

I am amazed at the competent answers to be found here. In my experience, everything said is true. Red Tails are easy to care for, however I have had the best luch W/ yearlings. Be careful buying a very young snake. They are much more likely to get sick and the ones that you are describing are pretty small. As for temperment, I have one (apx 18" and one that is a yearling (apx 3 ft). The 3 footer is perfect. His name is Khayman and he lovers watching TV and hanging around my neck. His little 18" brother Caleb on the other hand, is a nightmare. He is still little and scared. I think he will come out of it in time. Just curious, so feel free to tell me to mind my own business if you'd like, but how much are you planning to pay for these two?

[unknownclown]

Actually I have decided against the babies and found a 6', 4-5 year old columbian male that I will be buying Friday for $125. I think this will be a better choice for me since I am 33 and even though I am still young I can't gaurantee a baby that I can hold on to it for its whole life like I can with an adult.
I have also decided that Rabbits are a better choice of food since they have more meat on them and the fact that my male bunny is getting fat from having no female bunnies to chase lately also helped in the decission. So I went to the feed store down the street and picked up a young black female mini lop who was dumped there. Aparently she was kept with her sister and brother and after checking her belly she is deffinately pregnant and will pop in 10-15 days. YAY! The feed store owners practically gave her to me since they dont want inbred babies and they wouldnt be able to sell her till she had them.
Now I just need to do some shuffling as far as enclosures are concerned I have one here that will work extras lights and all that but I am having somebody build me a much larger one.
Not that it matters but do they bite hard? My ball python has bitten me and it was nothing but aside from that Ive never been bitten by a snake.

[LdyDrgn]

Rabbits are ok as once in a while food. For a male Colombian bci, you shouldn't need anything larger than jumbo rats. Rabbits just have way too much fur for boas to have on a regular basis.

[Lasher]

A 6' can deliver a mighty bite if they take the notion. However, most are very tame by that time and 125.00 for a healthy 6 footer is a wonderful price. I paid 185 for a screaming red BCI and 85 for a "not so screaming" red. Good luck with the new boa and let us know if we can answer any questions.

[hip]

let me put it this way If you get bit by an adult boa you will never forget the experience (feeding responce or not).It hurts like hell I have been bitten by a few and the most painfull was from wild cought suri that I have now,he is much better and hasn't tagged me for a year I guess now but the last one he chewed me for about 2 min or so and I bled a lot.I am not gonna touch on the rabbit fur thing but feeding a wide varity of foods would be a very good Idea (I forgot to mention that) a Quail or two from time to time is ok too(stool will be soft and mushy and smell awfull) but boas do eat birds rodents and lizzards in the wild and are not to awfull fussy on prey for the most part(some are hell when it comes to being fussy)Just match the prey size to the snake size.




Hip

[unknownclown]

Haha... Hip, Lasher, youre supposed to tell me they hardly bite at all.
Oh and a variety of food is no problem since I have the bunnies, rats, and a feed store within walking distance that sells quail, pheasants, chickens and ducks from time to time and even turkeys every once in a blue moon.