Getting a hog island

I will be getting a hog island soon once the breeder gets 3 meals in the recently born boas. I have a few questions about hog island boas personalities and what to expect from my new addition. Are they more handleable then a ball python? I read conflicting care sheets of them being nippy and cage aggressive and then others say they are the best tempered snake they own. Also care on these boas are hard to find. I have a 10 gallon and 20L tank.. Which is better to start a 2013 baby in? Also which substrate is best cypress or aspen? Should i add climbing accessories to the tank since they like to climb? And also i cannot find a accurate temp range for these guys. I know they like it cooler but whats the optimal temperature and humidity for these guys? Thanks for helping me out because all these care sheets say something different!!

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Overall Hogs have really good personalities, but of course it depends on the individual. My pure girl can be a drama queen sometime, but settles down after some handling. I would ask the breeder which has good personalities and go from there but with some work even nippy babies can calm down.

I say they're easy to handle like a ball python, they can just be more active like other boa species.

I would personally start in the 20 gallon but it's up to you: if you find that your baby doesn't want to eat and is stressed you could move to the 10 gallon or put it in a tub set up. I recommend at least a 4' cage for these guys as adults.

I like paper towel substrate but my next choice is aspen. Baby boas will burrow if given the chance so it might appreciate the aspen.

I don't put climbing stuff in with my boas since I start my babies/sub adults in tubs but it wouldn't hurt to add a little branch in there: just make sure it's steady and can't fall on it.

I keep my boas a little cooler than my pythons but still give a ~89 hot spot and ambient temps/cool side about ~77/78 in the summer time. Humidity at 50% or less, if you need to mist it while it's to shed that will help since sometimes snakes have a hard time shedding in tanks over tubs.

Here's a pic of my girl being bratty:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...psc72093ff.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...psdbd7c509.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...psbc2b24cb.jpg

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Originally Posted by Daybreaker

I don't put climbing stuff in with my boas since I start my babies/sub adults in tubs but it wouldn't hurt to add a little branch in there: just make sure it's steady and can't fall on it.

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I was on instagram looking at people who put up pictures of the island Cayos Cochinos and all the pictures they took of native hog island boas were adults climbing in trees and people were picking the wild boas up and they were pretty calm in the pictures. I want to make a more naturalistic tank since i heard some boas do not do well in tubs.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by scorps101

I was on instagram looking at people who put up pictures of the island Cayos Cochinos and all the pictures they took of native hog island boas were adults climbing in trees and people were picking the wild boas up and they were pretty calm in the pictures. I want to make a more naturalistic tank since i heard some boas do not do well in tubs.


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Most (but not all) boas will climb if given the chance: though my biggest male had a ledge in his viv and he never used it. If you want to add something to climb on for it I'd go for it. I'd add hides in there too just to give it extra security: some of my baby boas used their hides and some didn't but I liked to give them the option.

For boas not doing well in tubs I've started all of mine in them and have/had no issues.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Daybreaker

For boas not doing well in tubs I've started all of mine in them and have/had no issues.

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Ok thats good to know i dont know why but on a caresheet i read said boas tend to pace in tubs and nose rub on the plastic. Thanks for the info


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