Never owned a snake, A friend needs a home for her Hog Island Boa advice needed ASAP

Khleese · 08-05-15, 03:08 AM

Hi There,

I really need some advice, a friend of mine needs to find a home for her Hog Island Boa, He is 10 years old she has had him for 5 years, eats fine, regurgitates his food rarely is that normal?

He is docile, hisses in his viv but is fine when out?

she just wants him to go to a good home, I have 3 young kids although they will not be allowed to handle him yet. I have a boxer too who again will not be allowed near him.

I basically need some advice as it is our first snake, ive done some research some of it is contradicting so i thought actually snake owners are going to be a better advice source.

Thanks!

Khleese · 08-05-15, 09:25 AM

Hi there!

I thought I had posted earlier but I cannot see it!

So i'l start over!

A friend of mine has a 10 year old Hog Island Boa he is 5' and she has had him for 5 years. She doesn't have thee time for him anymore and doesn't want him neglected, so she is asking if her friends can give him a nice home.

I have always wanted a snake and my boys have also taken an interest they are very young however and I would never let them deal with the snake yet.

My questions are ;

He sometimes regurgitates his food is this normal?
He hisses in the viv but is fine once out, i have read this is common in Boa's?
As a first snake is this just too much to take on?
Id like to help her out and also love to home a snake in need she says he is very docile and has never struck out at her.

There is some contradicting info online in regards to Hog island's so i thought i should ask people who know what they are talking about!

thanks Im looking at him over the weekend so would love some feed back asap

SnoopySnake · 08-05-15, 01:47 PM

I wouldn't say regurging is normal. The likely culprits are temps may be too low or too high, he could be being handled too soon after eating and regurges due to stress, or his meals could be too big.

Hissing in the viv is common for some types of boas, I had one that would hiss but be fine once he's out. Look up hook training on here. That may be something you should look into with him.

As long as he's docile and you make sure to do your research I would say it shouldn't be too much. Boas often make wonderful pet snakes. If he's not calm I would look for a baby, as it can be difficult to take on a full grown defensive/snappy adult for your first snake.

Snakesitter · 08-05-15, 02:02 PM

To add to SnoopySnake's excellent answer on regurgs, it also depends on *what* they regurg. There is a world of difference between a full (entire meal) regurg, and the occasional puking up of some of the harder-to-digest bits such as hair and tail. Ideally you want to see neither...but the former is much worse than the latter.

Zcorpshea · 08-05-15, 06:57 PM

I have a Hog island boa and believe they make excellent starter snakes. I have a female and shes a puppy dog. hog island boas are small - well tempered and easy to care for. Caring for common boas in general is easy enough. just make sure they have fresh water and the temps / humidity are within range and an appropriate size viv with some furnishings and your good to go. Can feed weekly or bi weekly what ever suits you best.

Khleese · 08-06-15, 02:19 AM

Ah thank you! I will ask in regards to the regurging, she feeds him every 3 weeks is that not often enough? s

he has 4 kids so it is used to be handled. Im popping round this weekend to hold him and have a look. As much I wanna help out if he is not goig to be ideal for us then I don't want to get her hopes up.

SnakeyJay · 08-06-15, 06:51 AM

As long as your confident handling the boa then you should be fine.. Maybe a vet visit just to check on the regurge issue... One thing I will say, even the calmest boas have nasty days so you gotta be prepared to deal with that too.

**Minkness** · 08-06-15, 08:35 AM

I have a BP who hisses at me any time I reach into his tank, but once my hand is around him, he relaxes and is a great snake to handle. Sometimes it's just part if their personality.

BWBrown · 08-25-15, 10:40 AM

Don't let the hissing bother you. I have a young female that, once in a while, gives me a hiss when I take her out but I just rub her gently and pick her up anyway (talking to her the whole time like she was a kid - "don't give me that!!" as if she hears, etc). They make for a great snake - beautiful and fun and eats like crazy! I have no experience with regurgitation with either of my snakes but hopefully that goes away or you identify the reason for it.