Might get a bigger snake

[Jay_Bunny]

When I was little we had two snakes, a ball python named Aries (who was a sweetheart) and Sheena, a red-tailed boa, who didn't know the difference between a mouse and hand. Sheena was but a baby when we had her, no more than 1-2ft long. I can't remember exactly how big she was at the time. We ended up having to find a new home for both snakes when we moved in with my grandmother, so I never got to experience a red-tail as an adult. Actually he only snake I experienced as a full grown adult was Aries who was a small male.

So, after looking at some pictures of red-tails, I realize they get much bigger than a ball python. But I still have an urge to have one. So, I have a few questions.

How are they to handle? Are they bulky and hard to keep hold of? Or are they rather calm?

How often should they eat? I read that its best to feed them either small meals once every week or a good sized meal once every two weeks. What is a good sized meal for a full grown adult male red-tail?

Enclosure requirements? Tub or Tank? (I'll be looking that the caresheet momentarily for temp and humidity requirements.)

Temperment? Mean little SOB's? Puppy Dogs? In between?

Compare their bite to a ball python bite. Worse? Doesn't hurt that bad? Do they bite and wrap? Or is it more of a bite and let go kind of thing like ball pythons do?

What do you do if a red-tail starts to wrap around you?

[Rapture]

There are many different species of Boa constrictor to choose from. Some are on the smaller size and some larger. I am assuming that you are referring to the common red tail, aka Boa constrictor imperator - Columbian locale. Males will generally reach 6-7 feet long. A large or jumbo rat once a week or every two weeks should be fine once he has reached his adult size. If you prefer a smaller boa, I would do some more research about different species and locales.

Most of the boas I've had the pleasure of handling or keeping had good temperments. It seems to be a good idea to handle them every now and then to keep them "tame." If I were in your situation, I would talk to a breeder to find one with a nice temperment to begin with. Then as it grows, just continue to handle it. Once large, they are very muscular and super strong. They are more aboreal than ball pythons, so their body is more adept to climbing and wrapping. A large feisty red tail can be a challenge to handle.

While they are younger and smaller, a tub is a good choice of enclosure. As they get larger, and if you'd like a nice display enclosure for them, a well-manufactured reptile cage would be a great choice, and easier to control than an aquarium.

Temperment can be different with each snake. Look for one that already has a good temperment and you shouldn't be disappointed. They are very curious and perhaps more active than ball pythons. Many boa keepers say their boas enjoy time out of their enclosure to explore.

If a boa mistakenly strikes at you and realizes you are not food, it should let you go, just like a ball python. If it strikes at you defensively, it is trying to scare you off and should still not wrap. The reason for striking is not going to be much different from a ball python.

[ladywhipple02]

I had this long, beautiful response all written out for you... and then internet connection is lost and it disappears! ARGGGG!

*slams head on desk*

Anyway, here're a couple of pics for size comparison, anyway: This is a three foot, full grown female BP and a six foot, full grown female Columbian BCI:





I would write more, but I don't want to further irritate my frustrations with the internet connection here.

Let's just say this: I love my boas. They are amazing snakes to own. You need to stay aware when handling them, but you need to stay aware when handling any snake. They are quite curious and will get into anything they can, so you have to keep your eye on them.

As for feeding: unless they're sick, boas will eat whenever you put food in front of them (some will have amazing feed responses... they will get into a routine, and will strike on feeding day. They're not trying to be mean, they're just hungry!). I feed my babies one appropriately sized meal every week. At about a year, I move it back to two weeks. There are others that feed once a week the entirety of the snake's life, and there are others that feed once every two weeks from birth. When they're small, they burn off that food through growth... but boas do have a tendency for obesity as they age and stop growing so quickly.

Hope this helps!

[Jay_Bunny]

Thanks to both of you for your responses. I am going to Off the Ark tomorrow (where we get our feeders) and he has fully grown boas there. I might ask to hold one and get a feel for how they are to handle. He has some babies there I might hold as well.

If I were to get a columbian, what size tub would it need as a baby? What size enclosure as an adult?

Any pics of enclosures?

[ladywhipple02]

I keep babies in shoebox tubs much like baby BPs. Once they get some growth, I move them up into sweater tubs... and eventually into underbed storage tubs. My biggest girl, the six footer pictured above, is in one of these with no problems to speak of. When my other girls get up to weight, I will probably get them 4' by 2' cages, if not bigger, for breeding purposes.

I don't have any pics of mine, but if you want to keep them in tubs their entire lives, check out this site: http://www.reptiletubs.com/

Eric is a great guy, and he carries the VE series tubs which are huge! You could effectively keep an adult boa---male or female---in one of those for it's entire life.

[Jay_Bunny]

Well I got to hold a columbian red-tail. She wasn't full grown but definatly not a baby. While I was a bit hesitant to hold her by myself, I did and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. I got a little nervous when she turned around and rested her head near my bare hand, but she moved on and all was ok. She was heavy but not too heavy. I could hold her with one arm, no problem. Beautiful and quite calm. I talked to the guy at the store for a bit and he keeps boas. He says he's never been bitten by any of his boas at home and that they are great snakes to keep. So, maybe I'll go back and hold a red-tail again and get used to the idea of a snake bigger than a ball python and possibly get one. They did have a baby there.

[TheMissingLink]

I'm looking at getting a ghost boa going to check out Daytona this year hope to pick one up there.

[Jay_Bunny]

I intend on picking up some ball pythons from Daytona. If I become more comfortable around a boa, I might end up picking up a little something extra from Daytona.

[ladywhipple02]

I'm looking at getting a ghost boa going to check out Daytona this year hope to pick one up there.

Ghosssstts... Ghosts are my favorite morph of boa. I'm looking to make some of my own here in a couple years. My goal is to make very clean, very light ghosts (gotta couple ideas for doing so )

Glad you had a good first experience Jay_Bunny!

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

I consider them started snakes personally as long as you have the space and you start with a nice calm baby. They will grow with your confidence rather than jumping into an intimidating 7' female. When we have young children over, I hand them a boa over a ball personally, they are sweet snakes and never a problem to handle, unless they don't want back into their enclosure