Help! Lump/swollen tail?

[Albert Clark]

Absolutely a exotic vet is the one that you need. Swellings don't occur for no reason. They are either traumatic or pathologic. The history of present illness will be very important as will any past medical or traumatic history. Good luck and I hope it's not serious.

[bigsnakegirl785]

If a boa was fat enough that fat was storing in the tail to that degree, just the obesity itself would be a serious problem. Obesity kills snakes, it can easily cause liver failure.

This is likely an infection of some sort, definitely get to an exotic vet that specializes in snakes. The more general of an exotic vet they are, the less likely they are to be helpful as well. Get one that works mostly/only with snakes, and one that has experience with boas if at all possible. The more specialized the vet, the more knowledge they will have in their field and the more helpful they will be.