Some beginners questions for a Red-Tail Boa

[AwesomeGuy376]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

I wouldn't worry about the substrate sticking to it, as long as your snake is properly hydrated and kept warm, it will easily pass whatever it swallows.

You should always wait a week after getting a new snake before offering any food, it likely refused because it was still stressed from the move.

At 5 years old, your boa only needs to eat every 3-6 weeks. 4 weeks being the best, 3 weeks being the absolute most often, and 6 weeks as the least often.

You need a hot spot of 88-90F and ambients no lower than 80F if possible, and no lower than 75F at the absolute coldest. Humidity should be 70-80%.

The only advice for raising humidity I can give you is ditching the tank and getting a modified tub or PVC. What you can do for now is cover 2/3 of the top with aluminum foil or cling wrap.

Here's a video of how I maintain humidity in my enclosures, I would advise doing the same since you're using EcoEarth. It will be much easier on you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=1O-JNnS6XfM

Make sure the bedding falls freely from your hands as demonstrated, and no water strains out. Doing this, I only have to do this maybe once every 1-2 weeks and I can easily keep it 70-80%. You may not have such luck with your tank, but blocking off as much airflow as you can may help.

For the temps, what is your room temp? You may have to heat the entire room to bring the temperature up, it's unusual that two heat lamps can't bring it above 75F. Are you using a digital thermometer, and where are you placing it?

There's no need to treat the water at all unless it's unsuitable for consumption, in which case you wouldn't be drinking it either.

You only got the snake 2 days ago and it hasn't eaten, you shouldn't be handling the snake whatsoever. Give it 7 days, offer food, and then wait until it takes 2-3 consecutive meals without hesitation before you begin handling it. Snakes stress easily, and your boa has already refused food, I'd back off it for the time being.

Thanks for your long response! Anyways, I went back to the store and asked about the temp, and he just gave me another heat lamp which actually worked. I also asked him about the feeding, which he agreed with you, but he also said that i should handle him lightly just to make sure hes still docile so idk .-. But thanks so much for all this info!

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by AwesomeGuy376

Thanks for your long response! Anyways, I went back to the store and asked about the temp, and he just gave me another heat lamp which actually worked. I also asked him about the feeding, which he agreed with you, but he also said that i should handle him lightly just to make sure hes still docile so idk .-. But thanks so much for all this info!

Yes, you can handle, but not until he starts eating.

When the snake has successfully taken 2-3 consecutive meals without refusing, then you may begin handling the snake. 2-3 times a week should be sufficient, and how long those sessions are depends on the snake's attitude.

If it is uncomfortable with you and striking, biting, hissing, or posturing at you, keep the handling sessions no more than 15 minutes or whenever the snake stops hissing/biting/posturing. You don't want to stress them out, but you also don't want to encourage defensive behavior.

If it's perfectly chill and doesn't seem to mind, I would start out with 15-30 minute sessions and once you've had it a few months and gotten a feel for it you can have slightly longer sessions.

Again, snakes stress from handling, so you don't want to overdo it. But snakes also don't revert to a defensive personality simply because you don't handle them if they started out already docile.

Handling is not necessary whatsoever in the keeping of snakes, it is for your benefit only.

[dannybgoode]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

Yes, you can handle, but not until he starts eating.

When the snake has successfully taken 2-3 consecutive meals without refusing, then you may begin handling the snake. 2-3 times a week should be sufficient, and how long those sessions are depends on the snake's attitude.

If it is uncomfortable with you and striking, biting, hissing, or posturing at you, keep the handling sessions no more than 15 minutes or whenever the snake stops hissing/biting/posturing. You don't want to stress them out, but you also don't want to encourage defensive behavior.

If it's perfectly chill and doesn't seem to mind, I would start out with 15-30 minute sessions and once you've had it a few months and gotten a feel for it you can have slightly longer sessions.

Again, snakes stress from handling, so you don't want to overdo it. But snakes also don't revert to a defensive personality simply because you don't handle them if they started out already docile.

Handling is not necessary whatsoever in the keeping of snakes, it is for your benefit only.

For an adult boa personally I wouldn't wait 2 or 3 maps simply due to the length of fine between feeds. Could be 18 weeks our so.

A juvenile sure because feeds are much more frequent.

5-7 days settling in, feed and then another 5-10 days post feed should be plenty.

Other than that I would agree with your other handling comments...

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by dannybgoode

For an adult boa personally I wouldn't wait 2 or 3 maps simply due to the length of fine between feeds. Could be 18 weeks our so.

A juvenile sure because feeds are much more frequent.

5-7 days settling in, feed and then another 5-10 days post feed should be plenty.

Other than that I would agree with your other handling comments...

I am only suggesting this because the snake has already refused food, we want to be sure it's eating before we handle. If it's already showing an inclination to not eat, it could further reinforce it's food refusal. It's simply a matter of patience on the owner's end, and won't affect the snake in a permanent way.