Should i get a red tail boa?

Question

PLEASE only answer if you have a boa constrictor or similar snake.... Yes, this will be my first snake. Im not worried about them getting big because I just dont care, plus i dont think 8feet is very big, infact its a perfect size. Im also wondering if there are any good places thats sell custom enclosures. I was looking at monster cages.com at the 6x2x2 foot one is $425. Im not sure how good they or how i would heat the tank, its also alittle more then i would like to spend but if i have to it doesnt matter. Also would an adult boa eat rabbits or large rats? And another question i have is about how to keep the right tempature because they have a tighter heat requirement. Im also not sure about the whole BCI BCC thing. Wouldnt a red tail be BCI? And which would be better to get, male or female. THANKS!!!!!

Answer 1

ok i have a red tail boa i got him when he was like 3 months onld ans yea you can find them at any pet store their really common.

my boa was my first snake and they are very easy to take care of and they will hardly eveer be a threat to you because their one of the nicest snakes.

you can get a custom enclousure anywhere like all reptile shops have them.

im getting a 6 foot enclosure for my boa so that size should be good for him to kepp for a few years.

an adult boa would eat both small rabbits and extra large rats.so far im only at large rats with my boa though and hes almost 5 feet.

for the temerature keep it around 75-80 and keep it humid. get a light and put it on top of the cage and also put a heating mat under the cage.

if you need any more help with the boa email me.

if you do get a boa you will be happy cus he will be fun and you will be able to have him for a long time.

i have a male boa becuse he will get big but not up to 12 feet only to like 8 which is a perfect size to me.

Answer 2

ya red tailed boas can get up to about 12 feet and this snakes are very dangerous but i have an amazon tree boa those are pretty cool they have a wide range of color and they get about 6 foot so not to big but they are not to nice they are very snippy so ya but they are a great starter boa even though you need to make sure they have plenty of humidity because they are from the amazon rainforest and other places tlike that so ya they need about 80% - 100% f humidity and the humidity is a very major factor because they will not eat if there isn't enough humidity but if you get a fogger and a big tank like a 50 or 40 gallon tank or bigger and if you get live plants and something for them to climb on they will be great go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss-eNIb2U... to look at what the boa tank should look like and they come in every color except blue and green but yes they even come in purple no kidding but those are rare so ya but there closest  relitive is called a emerald tree boa and those are gree and blue and those get a little bigger like the amazon tree boa is long and skinney but this is long and fat

hope this helps

Answer 3

Before getting one of these as a pet, ask yourself if you can house an animal which will grow rapidly to several feet in length and eventually reach from 8 to 14 feet. You will need to provide a very large enclosure for such an animal. They can live over 30 years or more. Boas are not usually a starter snake, but if you do your research and are dedicated this will be an awarding experience.

When choosing a pet, look for an individual that is active and responsive to handling, and which feels strong and muscular. Animals which show loose folds of skin along the body (dehydration); lumps along the body; signs of external parasites such as ticks or mites (look closely around the mouth, eyes, and cloaca); signs of runny or bloody f***s in the tank (internal parasites), any discharge of mucus from the mouth, nose, or eyes may be unhealthy. If possible, find out if the animal is eating well, and what it has been fed.

It is not unusual for a snake to refuse to feed immediately when you change its environment. Provide a good set up, and give it some time to adjust to its new home. Try not to handle it or overly disturb it for about two weeks, then how it responds to contact and an offering of food. A visit to a veterinarian is recommended for a fecal exam to detect internal parasites.

As a general rule, the large boas tend not to be aggressive, but that does not mean they are not capable if biting and severely injuring you.

Recommended Supplies:

A secure enclosure

Heat mat

Heat lamp

A rheostat or thermostat to control heat mats

Thermometers

UVB light source(optional,but recommended)

Substrate

Logs or other items for hiding/climbing areas

Spill-resistant water bowl

Gloves

Snake hook

Care book

Housing – While young boas can be housed in small enclosures, you must be prepared to provide a much larger enclosure for an adult. The rule here is “the bigger, the better.” Ideally, you should provide an enclosure at least 6’L X 2’W X 2’H. The idea is to provide your animal with enough room to stretch out, and for a temperature range within its environment. Adult common and red tailed boas should not be kept in fish tanks!! You will need to provide a water dish large enough for the entire snake to soak in, some form of hiding space such as cork bark or a hide box, and some climbing branches will be readily utilized by these snakes. You can use paper, outdoor carpeting, cypress or aspen mulch,coconut fiber,alfalfa (rabbit) pellets, even potting soil that does not contain perlite as a substrate. Irregardless of what substrate you use, it is vital that you keep it clean.

Hiding Place

A hiding place should be provided for Boas. A half-log (available at pet stores), an empty cardboard box or upside-down opaque plastic container, both with an access doorway cut into one end, can also be used. The plastic is easily cleaned when necessary; the box can be tossed out when soiled and replaced with a new one. Many Boas enjoy hanging out on branches; provide clean branches big enough to support the Boa's weight. If you use a found branch, soak first in the bleach/water solution, then clean water to thoroughly rinse; place in cage only when completely dry. If you use rocks and bricks to construct a cave, be sure to affix them firmly in place. Boas are very strong, and can easily topple such a structure when moving about. When the rocks tumble on the snake, severe injuries may result

Lighting and Heating:

Your boa will need a source of daytime lighting which can be provided by using a reptile daytime spot light. This will also provide a source of heat and a basking spot. You may also wish to provide a nighttime bulb or ceramic heater to maintain the temperature at night without the bright light which would disturb the snake at night. Do not use a white light at night! You should provide an overall enclosure temperature of 80-85°F with a basking spot around 95°F. Night time temperatures can drop to 75-80°F. If using light bulbs for heat, be sure that they are placed in such a way that the snake cannot contact any hot surfaces. You can also provide heat through under tank heaters and specialty reptile heating platforms. Be sure to use a thermoregulator to allow for better control over the temperature. The heated area does need to be large enough for the entire snake to bask. A small spot of heat will not be enough for a large snake.

NOTE: UVb for boas is usually considered unnecessary but I still recommend it. I use full spectrum plant & aquarium fluorescent bulbs or 2.0 fluorescent reptile bulbs -these provide very low levels of UVa & UVb.

Humidity: The common boas require a high relative humidity around 55%-75%. Maintaining this level of humidity will help to avoid illnesses and also aid the snake in shedding properly.

Diet –  Boas devour a variety of prey in the wild - amphibians, lizards, other snakes, birds and mammals. In captivity, they should be fed pre-killed mice, rats and, when adults, rabbits and chickens.

BCI are commonly called Common/Columbian Red-tailed but BCC are true red tails.

Here is a good online care sheet, it is in PDF format and can be down loaded.

http://www.redtailboas.com/care/TheUltim...

Books, I feel that the last one is the best of the three and will be very helpful in recognizing the different BC sub-spieces.

-The Boa Constrictor Manual

by Philippe de Vosjoli

-Captive Husbandry and Propagation of the Boa Constrictors and Related Boas (Hardcover)

by David Fogel

-Complete Boa Constrictor: A Comprehensive Guide to the Care, Breeding, and Geographic Races

by Vincent Russo

Answer 4

Firstly, boas can get much biger than 8feet.Secondly,no real pet stores sell boas.(at least not where i live). The only way a boa would eat rabets is if it was very large. Also try and get them kinda small. So start out with rats the size depending on how large you buy the snake.When i had a bald python we just used a light bulb shining directly into the cage. I also think you should try to get a female because they wont be so teritorial

also you can go to this website

http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/boas_sur...

Answer 5

I would say go somewhere with an adult boa, make sure your still up for it. Look at vision cages, they are really nice and you can have heat added. Its really not to hard to keep the heat right. I have 2 boas, and its not bad. Set the cage up before you get the snake, to make sure you have the heat and humidity right. Get an accurite digital thermometor from walmart, its about 11 dollars and works great. It looks like this.

http://shop.com.edgesuite.net/ccimg.shop...

The BCC is a true boa constricor. They get alot larger and cost more.

BCI is not a true boa constricor, and they are smaller, most boas in the petstore are BCI's...Its harder to find BCC's. BCIs are just commons boas, alot of people have. I would also say get a male BCI..they average around 7ft. They are great pets if you know what your doing.