Keeping Red Tail Boa Outside in Florida

[eddy350]

Has anyone ever kept a boa outside. I have a few ball pythons and they are all in tubs inside but i just got a male redtail boa. I am thinking about keeping it too but i am woried about their large size. he is only about 3 feet at the moment but if he gets over 6 i will not be able to keep him inide. Has anyone kept one outside? i live in South Florida, Burmese here are doing it in the wild, Why cant a Boa?

[aldebono]

One of the many reasons I would be worried to keep a large snake like that outside is the chance it may escape or another animal may attack it (break the cage etc.).

Another thing to consider is a wild snake has miles and miles of room to travel. If they get hot, they find a burrow or water to cool off in, if it storms, they can find shelter. Your snake will be stuck in a cage and you will have no way to regulate the weather and temperatures.

I wouldn't, for the snakes sake. I would find a home that would be able to provide indoor housing for it.

My thoughts.

[eddy350]

Can i expect him to stay at around 5.5 feet?

[aldebono]

It depends on the local he is, genetics, husbandry, among other things so I wouldn't be able to tell you yes or no.

A 5ft snake really isn't that big. Our Hog Island is pushing 5 and she is housed in a 40 breeder which will be good even if she hits 6ft.

[aldebono]

What about a xmas tree bin? I would think that would be plenty big enough for him at least for a few years.


http://www.irisusainc.com/p-680-ve-175w.aspx

[llovelace]

Did you read about the escapee boa in Juno Beach a couple weeks ago? I do not recommend keeping him out side, I have an 8+ foot boa and she's doing quite well in her enclosure that is 4ft.

[Jonas@Balls2TheWall]

I dont know if its recommended or not but I have a buddy with a huge snake collection down here in miami. He has a shelter with some homemade melamine/wood cages under it and his snakes all look very healthy. He does however bring them inside when it gets too cold and regularly monitors the temps, etc.

[cmack91]

in addition to what everyone else is saying, i dont even let my BP crawl around in the grass because of all the bugs!

[minguss]

The VE175 are great. They are close to 4" x 2', the minimum recommended size cage for adult boas. Both these females are are between 6-7 ft.