So it seems I'm now taking care of a snake

Kortanul · 04-26-17, 06:47 PM

A roommate moved out and the snake's still here. In the living room. Past couple of months I've been putting a rat in there every few weeks, and I pour water into the tub (not cold or hot, about 78 degrees, distilled, same as I do for aquarium top-offs), and she seems happy with that--though she does not like me opening the tank.

Seems defensive which is understandable. I'd be pretty freaked out if I heard loud noises and my roof slid open. I can't say I really know much about snakes, though I know it's a boa and I know I don't wanna piss it off.

So I'll be here now, I suppose, to figure out how to work with this thing. It's kinda cool anyway.

So hello there, expect me to lurk some and other times ask dumb questions.

Scubadiver59 · 04-27-17, 06:08 AM

Welcome to sSNAKESs!!

Hope your snake inheretance goes well...but what snake did you end up with?

jay's reptiles · 04-27-17, 08:23 AM

what are you using to heat the cage? Is it shedding alright? have you tried cleaning the enclosure? does it look really skinny? How long is It? does it have some hides? What kind of bedding are you using? Do you know the species of boa?

Btw, welcome to sSNAKESs!

**Andy_G** · 04-27-17, 08:49 AM

Use spring water instead as distillee is missing some minerals that can be beneficial for the snake. Ask away!

GyGbeetle · 04-27-17, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_G

Use spring water instead as distillee is missing some minerals that can be beneficial for the snake. Ask away!

I concur.

You also need to clean their water dish out every so often to remove any grime and slime from it.

trailblazer295 · 04-27-17, 11:57 AM

Welcome to snakes

Can you take a picture of the cage and snake?

Kortanul · 04-27-17, 12:43 PM

I'll try and get a picture tonight.
Kinda fat, seems about normal for a boa, 6' long, I don't remember the exact type of boa so a picture would probably help you guys tell me what...

Definitely shedding regularly, with the shed skins strewn about the tank (I need a do a full tank cleanout but she and I are not friendly so I only grab what I can while she's on the other end)

I clean out the water dish/tub/thing (the bottom half of a litter box) about once every 2-3 weeks--when it's not full of water and she's not next to/in it. Use spring water instead? Good to know. Hate to do her harm by depriving her of some of the benefit of the water.

For heat, she's got a 200W ceramic heat lamp over her box--I move it to the end of the tank the day before, when I want her behind the box so I can get the water dish out. Spends about half her time perched on the box under the lamp, the rest either in the water or behind the box where it's not so warm.

There's also a heating pad--such as for indoor gardening stuff--under the tank to keep the bottom warm rather than just room temp. She avoided the bottom more before that was added. Tank temp is 78 on the cool end, slightly above room temp (which she goes to of her own accord, mostly see her there when I get up in the morning), 80-82 on the warmer end. I don't know the temp under the lamp but it's only 3" above her when she's on the box.

Kortanul · 04-27-17, 12:44 PM

Oh, and she's got a coco fiber substrate, though what's in there is due for replacement.

GyGbeetle · 04-27-17, 01:34 PM

You can handle her. What gives you the impression she's not friendly? Does she hiss? Is she lunging or anything? Or does she just seem squimish when you put your hand in there?

jay's reptiles · 04-27-17, 01:38 PM

honestly if you're to scared to handle her, than you should just sell or give the snake to a person who can provide for her.

RAD House · 04-27-17, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay's reptiles

honestly if you're to scared to handle her, than you should just sell or give the snake to a person who can provide for her.

Why? The snake doesn't need to be handled and probably would prefer not to be. It seems the op is doing pretty well providing for the animal and is here to fill in the gaps. There is no problem with this animal being a display animal if that is what the op wants.

jay's reptiles · 04-27-17, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

Why? The snake doesn't need to be handled and probably would prefer not to be. It seems the op is doing pretty well providing for the animal and is here to fill in the gaps. There is no problem with this animal being a display animal if that is what the op wants.

Not what i ment^^^

But, she needs to able to take it out and clean the enclousre completely, she need to pick it up and take it to the vet if the snake becomes sick, she need to treat the snake if it gets mites, and if the snake gets out, she need to not be scared to grab it and put it back in! Im alright with displaying snakes. But when some problems show up, she will need to learn to handle them!

**Andy_G** · 04-27-17, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

Why? The snake doesn't need to be handled and probably would prefer not to be. It seems the op is doing pretty well providing for the animal and is here to fill in the gaps. There is no problem with this animal being a display animal if that is what the op wants.

If it's to the point of being afraid to touch it at all I completely disagree with you here, Anthony. It would need to be removed perodically for general maintenance and if any health issue were to arise, and if an owner is not able to do that the snake will suffer.

Keep asking questions, Kortanul. We aren't here to judge but here to guide you and help out however we can.

jay's reptiles · 04-27-17, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_G

If it's to the point of being afraid to touch it at all I completely disagree with you here, Anthony. It would need to be removed perodically for general maintenance and if any health issue were to arise, and if an owner is not able to do that the snake will suffer.

Keep asking questions, Kortanul. We aren't here to judge but here to guide you and help out however we can.

This is why you're my favorite.

RAD House · 04-27-17, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay's reptiles

Not what i ment^^^

But, she needs to able to take it out and clean the enclousre completely, she need to pick it up and take it to the vet if the snake becomes sick, she need to treat the snake if it gets mites, and if the snake gets out, she need to not be scared to grab it and put it back in! Im alright with displaying snakes. But when some problems show up, she will need to learn to handle them!

The op seems to want to take proper care of the snake, so I am not sure why you would jump to telling them to get rid of it. You could have stated they will need to move the animal periodically for cleaning, and let them decide if they are up to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_G

If it's to the point of being afraid to touch it at all I completely disagree with you here, Anthony. It would need to be removed perodically for general maintenance and if any health issue were to arise, and if an owner is not able to do that the snake will suffer.

Keep asking questions, Kortanul. We aren't here to judge but here to guide you and help out however we can.

You are making a lot of assumptions.