Hello All

Kron · 08-01-14, 02:36 PM

Hope all is well with you folks.

As for me, I'm a recently divorced Pa. coal miner. The house is mine to do with as I wish, so the thought of including a scaled friend to share some space with has developed. I really have my eye on the red tailed boas. I'm not purchasing anything on a whim, so I am here to learn everything I can before the first purchase of anything (be it for the enclosure, heat supply, lights or snake) is even made.

Any encouragement or advice will be gratefully accepted.

NewSAHSnakeMom · 08-02-14, 11:53 AM

Snakes are great, I'm new to snakes myself as well I did a lot of research too before getting our first snake. Just realise the red tailed boa can get up to 10 ft long and would require a larger enclosure than your smaller snakes. They say a sq foot per linear ft of the snake. The temperature depends on the species and I didn't research that one. You'll need a cool side and a hot side. They are semi arboreal so something to climb on. (I think) No odours wood should be used to make the enclosure either. As least two hides and a water dish big enough to fit your snake in (no tap water). Make sure if you use an under tank heater its on a thermostat. That's about all I can think of but others should help more I'm really new to snakes! Lol

SnoopySnake · 08-02-14, 12:10 PM

Hey and welcome. Red-tailed boas can be awesome, not all of them get to be that big. Just do your research. The true red-tailed boas, boa constrictor constrictor, are the ones that usually get much bigger, there are many localities to choose from also, that will get achieve different sizes. Boa constrictor imperator are the ones you see that don't have the bright red/purplish tails, but you still find some that are really bright like BCC's, and there are still many localities to choose from. Some locales only reach around 4 foot, like Cay-caulker, crawl cay, etc. Hog islands get around 6 ft. Columbian BCI's get pretty large, around 10 ft.

NewSAHSnakeMom · 08-02-14, 12:32 PM

I did admit to not knowing much lol, hope he helped more than I did!

**Tsubaki** · 08-02-14, 12:35 PM

Welcome

Kron · 08-02-14, 01:30 PM

Thanks for the responses. The size of the columbian red tails that is sometimes attained is what drew me to them. Its hard to explain what I was building off of..but its the structure for a large greeting card display...metal frame with a base I can box in about 6' long and 2 1/2' deep by however high I wanted to make it. I thought of building out of melamine with sliding glass doors on the front.

Would it have to be pretty full of foliage and hiding spots not to stress out a baby boa and that size of an area

sharthun · 08-02-14, 09:28 PM

Hey and welcome!

Pirarucu · 08-12-14, 08:00 AM

Welcome aboard! I would say if you use melamine, be careful to seal it thoroughly. If any of the humidity from the cage reaches the particle board, it'll start cracking and warping. Yes, definitely lots of cover for a baby.

**EL Ziggy** · 08-12-14, 03:57 PM

Welcome and best wishes.

MCB · 08-12-14, 04:41 PM

If you want something with a personality it's got to be a Retic, however if your new to this than maybe something like a BP or Corn