Rudy as live snakeskin belt

[MM1]

Rudy, my 33 year old Haitian Boa, decided to set himself up around my waist/hips this past Sunday when it was time to change out the Reptibark substrate. I usually place him in a big pillowcase to keep him out of trouble when I have to do anything that requires removing him from the enclosure. But he kind settled there as I was getting the pillowcase. He seemed pretty calm and settled, so I snapped a couple of phone pics:

[MM1]

One more from the front

[millertime89]

Very cool! Awesome species as well! Have you had him his entire life?

[SoPhilly]

Haha, awesome! Haitian Boa High five! I just recently got one of the red ones - there seems to be some, um, tension over what to call them. I've been going with Hispaniola Boa, but regardless, they are very cool snakes.

33 years is fantastic, do you mind if I pick your brain a little on husbandry? I'd love to get 33 years out of my guy. He's only 8 months right now.

[Pirarucu]

My retic and burm do this all the time, especially if I'm wearing a belt.

[Snakesitter]

Aged 33? Wow, *well* done! Just goes to show people what proper husbandry can do for these creatures.

[sharthun]

Awesome!!!

[MM1]

Originally Posted by millertime89

Very cool! Awesome species as well! Have you had him his entire life?

I got him when I was 12 (Dec 1982) from a pet shop in New Rochelle, NY. If I had to guess, I would say he was 6-12 months old.

[MM1]

Originally Posted by SoPhilly

Haha, awesome! Haitian Boa High five! I just recently got one of the red ones - there seems to be some, um, tension over what to call them. I've been going with Hispaniola Boa, but regardless, they are very cool snakes.

33 years is fantastic, do you mind if I pick your brain a little on husbandry? I'd love to get 33 years out of my guy. He's only 8 months right now.

I just say Haitian out of habit. It was what he was labeled when I got him.

I'm no professional keeper, but he's about 6 feet and change and resides in a plastic enclosure 5'L x 2'H x 2.5'D. There is a ceiling mounted radiant heat panel offset to one side with a hide and some fake vegetation. The warm side is low to mid 80s depending on height and distance from panel. The far side of the cool end is room temp to mid 70s. Big water bowl on the cool end. In the winter it can get a little dry, so I occasionally mist part of the substrate and some of the decorations to ensure good hydration and sheds. There is a 2" dowel set up that runs the length of the enclosure, allowing more temperature choice and exercise. There' some additional fake greenery and driftwood to add clutter for exploring. He patrols every night after dark and sometimes during the day. His diet at this point is a medium or smaller end large rat every 2-3 weeks. In the early days he at live mice, until I became aware of frozen rodents. This keeps him looking strong and muscular; not fat, not scrawny. He is very mild tempered, the worst I've ever gotten was musked. I only handles him once or twice a month, but he usually comes to check me out when I change the water, so I'll give him a little stroke as he glides by.

[MM1]

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

My retic and burm do this all the time, especially if I'm wearing a belt.

Yeah, more common forms is to get one arm treated at a tree branch; or, if I'm careless, get my hands cuffed together. He's sneaky wiry strong.

[MM1]

Originally Posted by Snakesitter

Aged 33? Wow, *well* done! Just goes to show people what proper husbandry can do for these creatures.

Thanks, but I consider him pretty forgiving and hardy since I certainly didn't know all one should as a kid in the 80s. He's always seemed healthy and I am extremely thankful to have been able to enjoy his presence for so long.

[Snakesitter]

Well said!

[Albert Clark]

Beautiful reptile and congratulations on your commitment to consistency with him. He looks fantastic!