My Very First Boa!!! And boy is he different than a bp!!

[mamaodie]

Well he's here and I am in looooove! I have ball python that's been kicking around in his hiding spots for almost a year now. He's never particularly excited to see me nor be handled, but he is a gentle fellow so I can't complain.





As soon as I opened the bag on this little guy, who has since been named Ludo, he was slithering out to explore as fast as he could. I hadn't handled him aside moving to his enclosure until this evening as I wanted to let him accomodate and get a meal in him first. He's had a full 48 hours since the meal that he absolutely ATTACKED like a boss. I squealed because it was such a contrast to Juju (bp) who barely strikes his food and often seems afraid of it even (Such a weenie!) Ludo will celebrate his first birthday in the end of May and he's such a little thing, though he is quite healthy (very bread loaf in shape and no excessive loose skin). I'm amazed at how much he grips onto my hands, and how curious he seems to be, not to mention the complete lack of any sort of head shy behavior. Seriously guys... had I known how gentle and laid back boas were I think I may have skipped the bp. (Not to say Mr. Scaredy Pants will be loved any less.)

[Sauzo]

Boas are definitely more active than a BP. Not sure I will agree with the feeding though as my BP slams rats like a freight train when she is hungry. She just isn't a garbage can like the boas or retic are. If you really want something that is active, get a retic lol. They make boas seems like BPs haha. I usually only take Caesar out for about 20 mins every couple days as he is just nonstop gogogo whenever he is out.

[mamaodie]

ooo.. Retics are so so so so so gorgeous, but they kind of scare me. I just don't think I'll ever quite be ready for something that big!

[Sauzo]

Get a superdwarf/dwarf. I too didn't want a 15'+ snake so I ended up getting a SD. He's such a spazz. Always on the go and wanting to know whats up yet he is mellow. I accidently hit him in the snoot with my arm as I turned around after feeding a snake next to his cage when he was hanging out the door looking behind me lol. He just backed up a little into his cage and just looked at me. I felt bad for him so I gave him his rat next. He was happy to grab it, eat it and then went in the back of the cage and went to sleep while I finished feeding everyone else. He's pretty used to snoot boops as that's what I do to him wth a twisted up paper towel when he gets extra excited when I open the doors to let him know, its not dinner time, it's time to get dragged out and bugged haha.

[cletus]

Congrats on your new boa! I fed my new female for the first time last night and she was a beast as well. She smelled the rat instantly and was striking the sides of the tub while I was undoing the latches. My BPs have pretty strong feeding responses as well so I can't count them out, but they are not on the boas level. Congrats! Beautiful snake!