And my girlfriend purchased a red tail boa

[Skyrivers]

Her name is Lucy. She is a rescue with deep scars from live feedings in the past. She is 5 feet long. Great personality. Scars healing nicely. She had been underfed most of her life. Fed her pre killed large rat last night. No signs of mites and vet visit planned for later this week. She was soaking in her water bowl this morning. I don't think she's ever had one large enough to fit in till now.

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[ElliotNess]

Did you prep her enclosure with Prevent a Mite... Always prep as part of new animal introduction. Remember to remove the water bowl when you treat and let dry...

[Starscream]

I don't own boas, but I would like to point out that's pretty dang difficult to underfeed a boa. Just looking at body condition, the snake has a nice square shape, which is what you want in boas. With them, less is typically more.

She could be skinnier than she appears in the photos, though.

[bcr229]

She doesn't look at all underfed. Boas should be square, not round like a ball python or blood python.

If she's soaking check for mites.

[Skyrivers]

She doesn't look at all underfed. Boas should be square, not round like a ball python or blood python.

If she's soaking check for mites.

I checked yesterday for mites using a paper towel. Did not see any evidence of mites. Also she is in quarantine from other snakes

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[KevinK]

I would be cautious though, not to worry you.

In the past, out of all the boas I have owned I have never had one that liked to soak unless there was a problem:

A) Mites

B Too hot of temperatures

Some people have reported perfectly healthy mite-free boas that enjoyed a soak temporarily but I just never had it happen to me. Mites are incredibly difficult to find on boas though, they can be anchored in the cloaca, around the eye sockets, anywhere really.

[Skyrivers]

I would be cautious though, not to worry you.

In the past, out of all the boas I have owned I have never had one that liked to soak unless there was a problem:

A) Mites

B Too hot of temperatures

Some people have reported perfectly healthy mite-free boas that enjoyed a soak temporarily but I just never had it happen to me. Mites are incredibly difficult to find on boas though, they can be anchored in the cloaca, around the eye sockets, anywhere really.

So what is the best way to spot them?

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[bcr229]

You can find them drowned in the water bowl.

Spray a white paper towel with Reptile Relief and wipe the snake with it every 3 days. The Reptile Relief is a solution of salts that kills mites by dehydrating them.

Otherwise minimal handling, you definitely want to keep your snake away from your clothes, the cloth couch, etc. while in QT as those will provide hiding places for mites and let them spread to your other snakes.

[KevinK]

So what is the best way to spot them?

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Even though you wiped her down with the paper towel, in the past when I suspected mites I would change the actual substrate to white paper towel (do not feed on paper towels however - I have actually viewed pictures of a snake that ingested it because it stuck to the rat) and keep cage accessories to a minimum. Mites like to cling and not move but the longer the snake spends on a white surface, the more easily spotted they are.

Try keeping her on paper towel for a week or so and see if you spot any. If not, maybe she just likes to soak but this has never been a common occurrence with my boas.

[Sauzo]

You can also check around the eyes, nostrils, the fold of skin under their chin and cloaca.

Some boas do like to soak here and there. My sunglow will sometimes try and fit into her bowl lol. But for the most part, none of my boas soak.

But, best to quarantine and just set up a temporary cage with paper towels sprayed with a little PAM. If there is mites, you see them by the next day easily.

And i agree, that boa doesnt look underfed. Boas love to eat and boas have a slow metabolism. So boas get fat quick and lose weight slow. It's like a recipe for disaster by Mother Nature lol.