joining the red tail club!

[BFT12890]

Either tonight or sunday ill be picking up a 5~ foot hogg island. My buddy is moving and cant keep him. He is calm as can be and very curious.

Right now hes in a 30 breeder, but I have a AP T8 on the way for him.

Other than the basic stuff like quarantine, make sure temps are good and such, anything else i should know about boas???

Also pics will be up later, im on my phone at the moment so i cant post any.

EDIT: Correct me if im wrong, but Hogg Islands do fall under the red tail catagory. Correct?

[Daybreaker]

Congrats on the new boa! It's great to hear you're upgrading him to a nice cage.

For boas, one big thing is you shouldn't feed them as frequently as balls: I feed babies every 7-10 days, sub adults every 10, and for adults (like your guy sounds like at about 5') every 2 weeks. My boas also do better in slightly cooler temps over my pythons.

Hog Islands (spelled with one "g") are a BCI boa so technically they wouldn't be considered a "true red tail boa" (like the BCC localities) so I just call my Hog a BCI boa. Same with Colombians, other desert locales, and Central Americans (just to name a few): these are BCIs and though boa constrictors I personally think calling them "red tails" is incorrect.

[BFT12890]

Congrats on the new boa! It's great to hear you're upgrading him to a nice cage.

For boas, one big thing is you shouldn't feed them as frequently as balls: I feed babies every 7-10 days, sub adults every 10, and for adults (like your guy sounds like at about 5') every 2 weeks. My boas also do better in slightly cooler temps over my pythons.

Hog Islands (spelled with one "g") are a BCI boa so technically they wouldn't be considered a "true red tail boa" (like the BCC localities) so I just call my Hogg a BCI boa. Same with SameColombians, other desthesmallestert locales, and Central Americans (just to name a few): these are BCIs and though boa constrictors wouldI personally think calling them "red tails" is incorrect.

Excellent, thank you for the advice! Please excuse my ignorance. Specifics in regaurds to boas are fairly new to me.
(i have been researching about housing and such, im not going into this blind) but coming from balls i knew there would be some differences. I made it a priority to get a different enclosure, i am a big fan of the t8's and think for his size its thw smallest acceptable enclosure (i currently have two already) i look forward to time with him and will keep everyone posted!

[Daybreaker]

We've all been new to things before so that's great that you're asking questions and have a desire to learn! There's many on the forum that would be happy to help with boa things; feel free to ask me directly if you need help too. Can't wait to see pics of your new guy.

[thinkbig317]

Congrats on the boa!! I have a Columbian that I love to death!!! BCI's also require and seem to like slightly cooler temps on the hot side than balls do. Just an FYI.....

[BFT12890]

Here are a few pics (of him before picking him up, his enclosure will be changed as soon as I get him home)

[Evenstar]

Congrats on the new boa! It's great to hear you're upgrading him to a nice cage.

For boas, one big thing is you shouldn't feed them as frequently as balls: I feed babies every 7-10 days, sub adults every 10, and for adults (like your guy sounds like at about 5') every 2 weeks. My boas also do better in slightly cooler temps over my pythons.

Hog Islands (spelled with one "g") are a BCI boa so technically they wouldn't be considered a "true red tail boa" (like the BCC localities) so I just call my Hog a BCI boa. Same with Colombians, other desert locales, and Central Americans (just to name a few): these are BCIs and though boa constrictors I personally think calling them "red tails" is incorrect.

Exactly right! Congrats on your new baby! He looks great - we'll want to see more pictures once you get him home!

[Gio]

Congrats on the new boa. All you've been told is true. "Hog" with 1 G,, "Colombian" not Columbian.

I see most people like the cooler temps. I personally have great success with 81 ambient and 92-93 basking. HOWEVER,,,, I use my Herpstat and have a night temp drop every night. Down to 76 ambient and 86 basking.

Come late fall I plan on cycling my day ambient to 75 and my warm spot to 85 and night drop will be 73-74 cool and 83-84 warm with a bit less humidity and a more spread out feeding regime. This seasonal change is highly recommended by Vincent Russo and Gus Rentfro two of the most experienced, well versed boa men in the hobby.

Enough about my plans LOL!

I do think you should buy THE COMPLETE BOA CONSTRICTOR By Vincent Russo. It's a great read and a great addition to your boa hobby. You also may want to build or buy a climbing post. Hogs like to climb and a T-8 is 12" high if I'm not mistaken. No worries on the cage if you handle him and let him get out and exercise.

Congrats and good luck.

[BFT12890]

Exactly right! Congrats on your new baby! He looks great - we'll want to see more pictures once you get him home!

Thank you! Here is one picture of him pretty much right after I got him home



that was about an hour ago, unfortunately the guy I got him from didn't quite understand humidity so his enclosure wasn't really set up properly and he has some stuck shed.

ive since added two temp/humidity monitors, and two different hides (cat litter pans flipped upside down, same size and all)

For heat he has a 75 bulb with a regulator (not my choice of heat AT ALL) but its only temporary.

Ali at AP said my T8 should be send out in about 2-3 weeks so he should be in that within a month.

For now im going go say hes about 5 feet and 2000 grams (thats a rough guess on the weight im trying to compare the feel to my ball) Ill get more pics and more accurate length/weight once hes settled in.

I appreciate everyones info and help so far!

Congrats on the new boa. All you've been told is true. "Hog" with 1 G,, "Colombian" not Columbian.

I see most people like the cooler temps. I personally have great success with 81 ambient and 92-93 basking. HOWEVER,,,, I use my Herpstat and have a night temp drop every night. Down to 76 ambient and 86 basking.

Come late fall I plan on cycling my day ambient to 75 and my warm spot to 85 and night drop will be 73-74 cool and 83-84 warm with a bit less humidity and a more spread out feeding regime. This seasonal change is highly recommended by Vincent Russo and Gus Rentfro two of the most experienced, well versed boa men in the hobby.

Enough about my plans LOL!

I do think you should buy THE COMPLETE BOA CONSTRICTOR By Vincent Russo. It's a great read and a great addition to your boa hobby. You also may want to build or buy a climbing post. Hogs like to climb and a T-8 is 12" high if I'm not mistaken. No worries on the cage if you handle him and let him get out and exercise.

Congrats and good luck.

Thanks for the input. I also use a herpstat with the night drop (like to keep it realistic) and I could see why the cooler temps in the winter would be recommended. Yes the T8 is 12", but I do like to get them out regularly and let them roam. As much as I would love to give him ample climbing room, after hearing my ball do that in her old enclosure and falling all the time and smacking her head on the glass or whatever else im afraid they will hurt themselves with to much vertical room lol.

I will certainly look into the book!

[Gio]

Thank you! Here is one picture of him pretty much right after I got him home



that was about an hour ago, unfortunately the guy I got him from didn't quite understand humidity so his enclosure wasn't really set up properly and he has some stuck shed.

ive since added two temp/humidity monitors, and two different hides (cat litter pans flipped upside down, same size and all)

For heat he has a 75 bulb with a regulator (not my choice of heat AT ALL) but its only temporary.

Ali at AP said my T8 should be send out in about 2-3 weeks so he should be in that within a month.

For now im going go say hes about 5 feet and 2000 grams (thats a rough guess on the weight im trying to compare the feel to my ball) Ill get more pics and more accurate length/weight once hes settled in.

I appreciate everyones info and help so far!



Thanks for the input. I also use a herpstat with the night drop (like to keep it realistic) and I could see why the cooler temps in the winter would be recommended. Yes the T8 is 12", but I do like to get them out regularly and let them roam. As much as I would love to give him ample climbing room, after hearing my ball do that in her old enclosure and falling all the time and smacking her head on the glass or whatever else im afraid they will hurt themselves with to much vertical room lol.

I will certainly look into the book!

HA HA,,, Royals think they are climbers sometimes LOL!

You could give your boa a 10 foot high cage and he'd be up there with his tail wrapped tight around something looking down at you saying "Where are the flying birds I like to eat?"

Boas don't fall like our Royals LOL!. Mine climbed a door in the bathroom tonight and used the knob and the tiniest router crevice to advance upward. I thought he had glue on him LOL!

You'll be fine with the T-8. Nice cage with a nice look. Just get him out and moving.

Excellent T-Stat too! I have a Herpstat II for the Royal and a Herpstat I for the boa. Best thermostats around IMO.

Aaron (Serpent Merchant) a member here, told me about them and I could not be happier.

You're gonna love boas!!!!!!

When are you getting your second LOL!!