Boa info wanted

Boafan9876 · 12-02-10, 01:33 AM

Hi I am thinking about getting a boa I have had ball python and one nasty Burmese python that I ended up getting rid of so what should I expect from a boa vie heard both that they are great pets and very tame a docile and I have heard that they are very aggressive and I don't want that

Swan · 12-02-10, 01:55 AM

They are going to give you what you give them. If there husbandry is good and you handle them regularly the are very docile. The only person that I personally that had been bitten by a red tail was because she was holding the rabbit in her lap and when she got home she put the rabbit in the tub and went and grabbed her boa. ( without de-senting or changing) the boa was hungry and got confused. Totally her fault 100%! with the right knowledge they are incredible pets.

TeaNinja · 12-02-10, 02:11 AM

i got bit by a red tail trying to take it out of the bath tub after feeding (when it was still hungry) once again, my fault.
my dumerils boa is as sweet as can be.

(he looks evil in that last pic, but he's sweet. lol)
i hold him at least once every 1-2 days, unless he has just eatin or is going into shed. sometimes i take him outside and let him slither around the grass and gravel and such, he likes that.

Boafan9876 · 12-02-10, 03:06 AM

What type a cage should I start with I found a baby boa and the guy said I could keep him I'm a ten gallon for the mean time but that seems a little small

Xanafein · 12-02-10, 04:15 AM

i keep pythons in a 10 gallon when they are small, but i usually bump em up fast, my JCP is moving into her brand new 4'x4'x2' tank at the end of this month

and her boyfriend (a newly hatched irian jaya jag) is moving into the ten till he gets bigger( dont wanna put em together right now, shes easily twice his size

measure the boa, for temporary housing( and i do mean temporary) he shouldnt be any bigger than id say 3'

but im not a pro

Boafan9876 · 12-02-10, 04:28 AM

What's the best way to keep heat and humidity in the cage

Xanafein · 12-02-10, 04:31 AM

i have an auto mister and a canvas sheet i put over the mesh top...

presspirate · 12-02-10, 04:32 AM

As for heat, there are a few different options, depending on the type of cage you use. I use ceramic heat emitters in my wood and plastic cages. I have one aquarium I am using temporarily that I use a uth with an infrared bulb. Humidity, I mist the cage daily and use cypress mulch for bedding.

Xanafein · 12-02-10, 04:32 AM

although i did not think that boas had difficult humidity requirements(at least not red tails)

Boafan9876 · 12-02-10, 04:35 AM

I'm starting off with a glass cage is that bad?

Nafun · 12-02-10, 06:58 AM

First, there are a lot of boa species. You haven't mentioned a species, most people are assuming you mean a red tailed boa (boa constrictor), but there are also rainbow boas (several distinct varieties), dumerils, tree boas, sand boas, rosy boas, rubber boas, and of course 4 species of anaconda. Some (such as anacondas) are semi aquatic, some live in the jungle, some live in the desert. It is important that you tell us *which* species, because if we assume you're talking about a boa constrictor, and you're talking about a sand boa, you're going to end up with a dead snake.

I wouldn't start your snake off in a 10 gallon if it is bigger than a sand boa. I would get a 20 gallon to start with. The reason being, it is very hard to maintain a temperature gradient in a small enclosure. Glass is fine, but if you have a tropical boa, you will have to work very hard to maintain humidity. Aquariums vent at the top, and warm air rises. Twenty minutes after misting you're going to be back at ambient humidity.

I keep my rainbow boa in a visionarium (a 20g footprint stackable enclosure). It's got a vent on the top. I covered it with paper towels, and I soak the paper towels every morning in addition to misting.

Regardless, be sure you invest in a quality hygrometer (humidity meter), this means a digital electronic one, NOT a dial one. The dial ones are rubbish. Write a number between 1 and 100 on a piece of paper. Congratulations, you're more accurate than a dial hygrometer!

For heat, I recommend heat cable. It's safe to use inside enclosures. I just bury it in my rainbow's substrate, set the thermostat, and he's good to go. You can use overhead heating, like ceramic heat emitters, or red heat bulbs, but they're expensive and inefficient. I use them for my basking reptiles, but rarely for snakes (Only one of my snakes (JCP) gets a ceramic heat emitter because every time I take it away she finds a way to escape, breaks into the water dragon enclosure, and camps out next to his ceramic heat emitter)

And finally, as for docility, I more or less agree that you get out of a snake what you put in. If you handle the snake without fear, and keep your husbandry spot on (clean water, proper temp gradient, ample hides, sufficient humidity, etc) most snakes, regardless of species will tame down and be perfectly happy to treat you as a warm tree that fruits rodents.

There are, however, exceptions. Some individual snakes will hate you whatever you do, this is always wise to remember when considering a snake (such as a Boa constrictor) that is big enough that it shouldn't be handled alone.

To quote the simpsons...

"Well, animals are not like people, Mrs. Simpson. Some of them act badly because they've had a hard life, or have been mistreated. But, like people, some of them are just jerks--Stop that, Mr. Simpson."

Boafan9876 · 12-02-10, 07:25 AM

Thank you nafun and yes I am talking about a red tail boa. Jus try to get as much info I can so I can care for the snake properly

Nafun · 12-02-10, 09:39 AM

Keep in mind, snakes grow fast and are long lived.

You can expect 6-8 feet (male) or 10-14ft (female) within 3-4 years, and either of those is going to require a significant purpose built enclosure. They are also avid climbers, especially as juveniles, and will need more "head room" than a typical aquarium offers. You can start it in a 20 gallon aquarium, but you'll find yourself needing to move up to a 40 very quickly, followed by a 75+, until the snake reaches adult size, at which point aquariums aren't really practical. For a full size BCC, I would recommend an enclosure 6'L x 2'D x 3'H *minimum*. Keep in mind, superior diet tends to make these snakes grow larger in captivity than in the wild, and like all large snakes, they're prone to obesity, especially if their enclosure is too small to allow for adequate movement.

Lankyrob · 12-02-10, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nafun

You can use overhead heating, like ceramic heat emitters, or red heat bulbs, but they're expensive and inefficient."

Not wanting to start ana rgument just looking for clarification as to why you thing ceramics are expensive and inefficient? I use them for all my snakes and whilst they are more expensive to start off with looking at costings for the lifetime of the equipment my research says they are the least expensive. They also give a really good heat gradient throughout the vivariums as well as a good "hotspot" for basking.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts???

Boafan9876 · 12-02-10, 10:37 AM

are females or male any more aggressive then the other?