Uh Oh, Possibly buying a RTB, need help

[dsmalex97]

Well actually I'm kind of excited because I've been wanted to branch out and get a different snake rather then a ball for sometime now, but the oppritunity never presented itself I guess. Whether it be funds or just things coming up, but now I think the time has come.

They have a red tail boa at my local pet shop not sure how old, and there claiming its a male, and I do trust them because they have a lot of snakes and are very knowlegable. I'd say he's probably about 4.5-5.0 feet, and a really friendly guy, only thing is he has a huge scar down his belly from some operation he must of had. Neither of the owners knew what it was from, I was thinking some kind of belly rot due to how long the scar was. The wound seemed fine now, and deffinately seems like it wasn't yesterday that this happened. Apparantly he hasn't been selling because of this reason, so they lowered the price for christmas to 75 bucks. I don't see myself being able to pass this one up lol.

Now I have loved RTB's for a long time now just because of there size and there awesome paint job of course, but I have had a bad expierence. One time at petco some guy apparently gave jerry the snake guy (employee) 2 baby rtb's for free, just because he couldn't care for them. He said he was going to try and sell them, and offered one to me. Before agreeing I wanted to handle it to see what I was getting into, and this guy was nuts. I held him and he would just constantly move, FAST too! It was hard to keep up with him, and eventually I guess he got uneasy and bit the crap out of my hand, which does hurt a lot more in comparison to a ball haha. I don't know if its just the way he was, but this other one is a total mush. Very friendly guy, totally trustworthy. I just don't want a snake of that size doing what that little one did, because that was a little crazy for me.

So if anyone wants to try and talk me out of this purchase please come and do so, because I need some reasons not to buy this haha. Just if someone can let me know what I'm about to get myself into would be awesome.

[boasandballs]

First off, Quarantine for 6 months. This means don't handle him and them your bp's.
Second: Boas move more than balls so bigger cages and all, you know.
Third: The little one probably was scarred when it bit you. Babies are much more defensive than adults. They are prey for everything and like little dogs stand up and hiss or snap to scare you away. Older ones are much calmer.
Fourth: Did I say quarantine? Boas have to have to be quarantined and if anything is weird like poop or RI. Start the qt time over.

[dsmalex97]

honestly I never really quarentined anything lol

I usually just don't handle for like a week before feeding so on and so on. Now are you saying I can't handle him for 6 months, or just never handle him and then my balls without cleaning my hands?

[dr del]

Hi,

There is a particularly nasty disease ( IBD ) boa's can carry without symptoms for a long time ( possibly even their whole lives ) that will kill your ball pythons in a couple of weeks.

Skipping quarantine if you are mixing in boas with BP's is just plain risky.

And when dealing with animals in quarantine it is important not to share any equipment and to always take care of your established collection before going near the quarantine area.

The idea being to make sure you reduce the chances of anything being transfered from the new animals to your established collection.

I have no idea how widespread IBD really is so I can't help you evaluate the risk.

Possibly some of the bigger boa guys might be able to help but I don't know how much work has really been done to find out.


dr del

[boasandballs]

This is what I do. I quarantine in a separate room. I never go into that room until the last thing, and then never into my boa or ball room after the qt room. IBD is a retro virus and does not live long outside the host body. But there is so much more to learn about this and other decease why take the chance.