New to the site, but not the hobby!

Strutter769 · 03-30-11, 03:14 PM

Good day all! I have been a member over at redtailboa.net for several years, and adopted my first herp, a Columbian Boa named Lucy in 1996 as a baby. She is now about 9' long and lives happily in a custom 9' long cage. About 4 months ago, we also adopted Lola, another Columbian, also as a baby. She may be about 2' by now.

Most recently, I purchased Nona, a Brazilian Rainbow Boa, also a neonate. We've had her now through two of her first three sheds. You'll probably notice most of my posts being about her, since she is my first BRB.

We are also the proud parents of two dogs, five cats. five Beardies and a hamster. (He's upstairs, so as not to tease the snakes with a "steak" they can't eat!)

Anyway, thanks for reading my first post, andI look forward to everyone's input!

infernalis · 03-30-11, 08:27 PM

mld · 03-30-11, 08:58 PM

Welcome to the site, sounds like you have a wonderful collection! Pictures are always welcome!

belovedboas · 03-30-11, 09:36 PM

Welcome!!

Damion930 · 03-30-11, 11:09 PM

Welcome aboard I just got my "first" bci and she's great can't wait to see pix of your snakes

stephanbakir · 03-31-11, 04:06 AM

I have a question regarding your snakes and dogs/cats in the same house.
Do the dogs and cats have access to the reptile room at any time?
If so, do your snakes react to the smell?
If they get exited do you deal with the smell and continue with routine?

I'm asking because every time one of our cats/dogs walks into the snake room the snakes go from mellow to either exited or hungry, the retic and the burms start rubbing like crazy and pushing on the door, the only method we have found is to clean the room and then leave the snakes alone for 1-2 days or to just feed them early.

Lankyrob · 03-31-11, 04:25 AM

All our animals co habit in the same room - our cats will sleep on top of the snakes vivs as it is nice and warm. Have noticed no reaction from the snakes except once when the cat jumped past the glass doors and our SD retic struck at her.

In the same room we also have hamsters and guinea pigs.

emilie · 03-31-11, 06:29 AM

Hi and welcome!

Strutter769 · 03-31-11, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

I have a question regarding your snakes and dogs/cats in the same house.
Do the dogs and cats have access to the reptile room at any time?
If so, do your snakes react to the smell?
If they get exited do you deal with the smell and continue with routine?

I'm asking because every time one of our cats/dogs walks into the snake room the snakes go from mellow to either exited or hungry, the retic and the burms start rubbing like crazy and pushing on the door, the only method we have found is to clean the room and then leave the snakes alone for 1-2 days or to just feed them early.

We don't have a "reptile room" per se; however, my dogs and cats don't get along, so the cats and hamster live upstairs, while the dogs, snakes and dragons reside downstairs on the main level. The snakes pay absolutely no attention to the dogs, even though my custom enclosure is on the floor, not a stand or dresser or anything. When Lucy is really active, my Mastiff, Caesar may take notice, but it doesn't excite either very much as far as I can tell. I'll have pics up soon, but Lola has just come out of "blue" and will shed soon, so she won't be ready to be handled for a couple days. Last night was feeding night so this morning I'll see whether or not she has eaten as well. Same for Nona. I like to put her food on the other side of her enclosure from where she is, to kinda give her a bit of exercise, and force her to come out of her hide occasionally. (-: Now that I think about it, I do have some pics of Lucy and her enclosure I can post now. Stand by.......

marvelfreak · 03-31-11, 09:32 AM

Hello and welcome! Sound like a sweet collection. Can't wait to see pics.

Strutter769 · 03-31-11, 10:02 AM

Did someone ask for pics? Careful what you wish! (-:

Enclosure 1.jpg

Strutter769 · 03-31-11, 10:07 AM

Lucy shedding 2.jpg

Nona.jpg

Strutter769 · 03-31-11, 10:25 AM

Ok, the little cylindrical thing you see on the right side of the cage is Lola's initial enclosure. Really a butterfly enclosure, but we'd run out of cages and outlets! She is now in a 10 gallon, still inside the large enclosure. Lucy appears to hardly know she's there. Another reason she's in there is to take advantage of the heat and humidity. Now, I've read the posts about housing snakes together, I know it's not a good idea; however, my wife is convinced they will be fine. In fact, at one of the best reptile stores in the area (Chicago Reptile House) they have far smaller cages with multiple Columbians in them. The staff there is very knowledgable, so I'm guessing they know what' they're doing when it comes to housing their animals, no? I mean, it really is their business, right?

Now, of course I'll leave Lola in a tank inside the large enclosure until she's probably 3'-4' so she doesn't get smashed. And I know that if one snake gets sick, I've got ill snakes, or 2 snakes with mites (been there once with them, hopefully NEVER again!) We of course have them in there together for the reasons I stated above (we're out of cages, space and electrical outlets!) Can someone please reassure me that we'll be fine when Lola is big enough and we have them in the cage together like at the Reptile House? I know, no guarantees, but I'd like to at least be a bit more comfortable with the idea so I can stop arguing with my wife and dreading the day we put them together! Oh, BTW, Lola is a few inches longer than her 10 gal. so she may be a bit over the 20" I listed in my sig.

dshin963 · 03-31-11, 10:28 AM

Wow that is a wicked viv how much did it cost to make and how much time did it take?

Lankyrob · 03-31-11, 10:54 AM

Pet stores will always house snakes together as it makes business sense, not necessarily the best thing for the snakes tho - as long as they arent actively attacking each other the shop probably wouldnt care about the stress side of things.