New boa owner!

Well, after reading the onslaught of answers from my "Boas that great?" thread, my interest in RTBs really piqued. So I did some extensive research (almost obsessively :P) over the past few days, and sold my ball python to get a red-tailed boa. I had a male in mind, but this girl captured my heart, and she's such a light, silvery color. Her black scales shimmer green and blue in sunlight!

I named her Artemis, after the Greek goddess of the hunt and the moon. I'll post pictures below, for anyone interested.

I have read a few caresheets, and I have humidity and temperature right so far, but I did I have a couple of questions, though:

She's a Colombian Red-tailed Boa, which is BCI if I did all my research right. I'm hoping she'll get about 7 feet long, but I'd be okay with 8 feet. She shouldn't get any bigger, right? Can anyone tell how old she is from the picture below with the orange? I know she's a baby, but I was hoping to establish a birthday for her. :P Also, small mice - is that an acceptable size prey item fro now? And I need to feed her every 7-10 days, correct? And lastly, how long will a 20 gallon long tank suffice for enclosure size?

I just wanna make sure I got everything right. She's so docile and friendly, and much more intelligent and curious than my BP was. I'm falling for this little girl, and she loves attention. I didn't wait 2 days after getting her like I should have, but she seems to really enjoy being out of her tank and doesn't like going back in! I love how she just chills on top of my laptop screen. :)

Here are some photos!

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...98119092_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...60810731_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...30560287_n.jpg

I love her black lips!
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...18931870_n.jpg

Size comparison near an orange. :P
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...69105422_n.jpg

Beautifully speckled belly!
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...16059358_n.jpg

Anywho, thanks for looking, and thanks for any help and feedback! :)

Well, 8ft is average, they can get a little bigger. 10-12 feet is a pretty darn large specimen though.

Get that girl eating! :P

Enjoy your new boa!

Congratulations on your new little boa.If I had to guess her age at anything, I would say maybe 3-4 months. Jun- Aug is the main boa birthing season, and judging by the body size to head size, I would say it was probably born around mid to late August, or possibly early Sep.
When determining minimum cage size for boas, there are pretty much two opinions, so it depends on who you ask.
1) Some will recommend at least 1 sqare foot of floor space per 1 foot of snake.

2) The other opinion is the Length + Width method. This means, when the length of the snake exceeds the Length + Width of the enclosure, then it is time to upgrade.

If you are using a standard 4 X 2 enclosure, by applying method #1, then you could keep a snake up to 8 feet in it. If you follow method #2, then you could keep a snake up to 6 feet in it.

Personnally, I follow method #2. I would say that a 20 gal should work until your boa reaches about 30-36 inches, then will definitely need to be upgraded at that time.

I would recommend feeding about every 10 days. Boas should appear taller than they are wide, and have a more square type shape to them.

+1

As far as her age unless she has not been fed regularly she looks to be about 125-150 grams and maybe a sep-oct baby.

I like to feed mine every 5 days up to 500 grams and then 7-10 days till 1000-1500 and after that they will tell you. My biggest eats every 14 days and will typically refuse before that, my smallest around 500 grams will still eat a sm rat every 5 days but I try and hold off for 7.

your boa is about the same size as mine and i was told she was born in late summer. ive fed mine every 7 days so far and will probably stay there for awhile, dk yet though since this is also my first boa too.

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Originally Posted by rperry03

+1

As far as her age unless she has not been fed regularly she looks to be about 125-150 grams and maybe a sep-oct baby.

I like to feed mine every 5 days up to 500 grams and then 7-10 days till 1000-1500 and after that they will tell you. My biggest eats every 14 days and will typically refuse before that, my smallest around 500 grams will still eat a sm rat every 5 days but I try and hold off for 7.

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How do you get them to stay still so you can weigh them?

8 feet is average but they can get up to 10-12.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheWinWizard

How do you get them to stay still so you can weigh them?

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I put mine into a pillowcase and weigh her (which is a challenge, but very do-able) and then deduct the weight of the pillowcase from the total weight.

But with your girl being so small you could probably put her in a tupperware (with the lid on so she doesn't just climb out) and weigh her in that. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheWinWizard

How do you get them to stay still so you can weigh them?

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I weigh my smaller ones in Critter Keepers and then deduct the weight of the empty container and lid. The bigger ones, I just hold them and step on a bathroom scale.

Nice pick up!:gj: I'd say more like 6-8 feet is more accurate for an average length of female BCI's, all depends on how you feed them early on. They all grow differently I have a 2010 female that is bigger then most of my 2009 females lol Also 10-12 is more of a female BCC average not a BCI, although it can happen but most likely not gonna. Feed her an appropriate sized meal every 10-14 days they don't metabolize like other large snakes and can get obese very easy! Cage wise some people use 8' cages for 6'+ females, while I have my big girls in 6' AP T25's but that's personal preference. :D