My 17 year old columbian red tail.
Well i finally got some new pics of him. For those who don't know i bought him when he was pretty young back in may of 2000. I was in the 8th grade then. He was young but not a neonate so i assume he's a 1999 born. Now he's about 8-9 feet long and weights more or less around 30lbs. When he's not in shed he's a big puppy dog very well behaved. I've feed him live guinea pigs and rabbits before but i'm happy feeding him 2 f/t jumbo rats every month or month and a half. And if anyone might think i'm overfeeding i actually feel i was kinda under feeding him for the majority of his life.
I got my brother to take these with his phone cause its got a better camera. Not perfect but i'm happy enough with these. I'm in the pictures for size comparison reasons. I'm about 6'1 and when standing sponge bob is about 2'6 lol.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../v__db01_1.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...v__81f1_1.jpeg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../v__7731_1.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../v__6cee_1.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...v__a70b_1.jpeg
That's about it for now. If anyone wants to show off their pretty old or big bp's or boas or whatever you got feel free. I think among all the sad or bad examples out there i think he's pretty lucky to be taken care of consistently for nearly 17 years.
I got to do more update pics of my collection and more threads to come especially my new ball python a pastel lesser 100% het puzzle boy.
Re: My 17 year old columbian red tail.
Looks great. Nice snake and good luck with the het puzzle
Re: My 17 year old columbian red tail.
He's amazing! Thanks for sharing
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Re: My 17 year old columbian red tail.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
StillBP
Looks great. Nice snake and good luck with the het puzzle
Thanks and yeah i hope the lesser pastel het makes me some really nice stuff in the future. I want to get some pics of him but he just ate and is settling in his quarantine tub.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sauzo
That is freakin awesome you have had him that long. Hats off to you sir :) Have you been feeding him guinea pigs for a long time? From what I've known, guinea pigs are very fatty and bad for boas but fine for pythons. And you must have been something right to keep him chugging along for 17 years. Hope all my gals and guy live that long and longer :D
Thanks i only fed him guinea pigs like three times whenever the pet store had no rats or rabbits. As for what i've been doing right well temps and stuff aside im thinking its consistency of just feeding him cleaning him and 17 years later he's still with me. And im sure you know what your doing so im sure yours will live long as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Reinz
That was a real treat seeing a 17 yo good sized Boa. I liked reading the story as well.
Thanks!:)
Thanks no problem reinz glad you enjoyed it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tigerhawk
He looks great. You have done very well with him. I wouldn't change a thing you are doing. Seventeen years is a long time:gj:.
Much thanks indeed i probably wont change much. Right now the main thing im thinking about is getting him a bigger enclosure eventually. Right now he's cozy in his 4x2x1 boaphile im thinking of upgrading to a 6x2x1.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Neal
Awesome to have an older pet still thriving and doing well.
Thanks Neal im hoping he lives for another 17 years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
EmilyandArlo
He's amazing! Thanks for sharing
No problem Emily and thanks.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
AbsoluteApril
awesome! I love hearing about older boas.
My oldest is 27 and have two that are 18.
I hate to say it but the boa is a little heavy. Boas should have more of a square loaf shape and he's pretty round and heavy. He's not obese or anything, there's no fat folds on the tail but he looks like one of my big females when they are gravid.
Anyways.
I am glad he's doing so well for you and I hope you both get many more years together!
Thanks April ill consider stretching his feed schedule a bit BUT i should have mentioned in these pics he ate only 6 days ago so he's probably still digesting and full. I only had him out cause he's peed in his enclosure. But yeah hope you enjoyed the pics and the read and best wishes to your old ones.
Re: My 17 year old columbian red tail.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AbsoluteApril
awesome! I love hearing about older boas.
My oldest is 27 and have two that are 18.
I hate to say it but the boa is a little heavy. Boas should have more of a square loaf shape and he's pretty round and heavy. He's not obese or anything, there's no fat folds on the tail but he looks like one of my big females when they are gravid.
Anyways.
I am glad he's doing so well for you and I hope you both get many more years together!
Congrats on that nice boa.
April has a good comment here, and I think you've explained the roundness.
As Gus Rentfro used to say, "It is almost impossible to under feed a boa constrictor, but entirely too easy to over feed one".
I think you have a good interval for feeding with the 1 to 1.5 month stretches. I large rat or rabbit is plenty for that guy. Your success IMO is because you are stretching out those feedings. That boy can easily sustain himself on minimal food for another 17 years IMO.
I follow Vin Russo and Gus when it comes to setting up seasonal changes, and rarely feed from November to late March.
You have a nice snake there that will be around for a lot longer.
As others have said and I agree, it is neat to see you've been the care taker of him for so long.
Well done and don't keep this guy in hiding, show him off a bit more in pictures when you can.
