General Hog Island Boa Info

I was wondering what would be good cage dimensions for a DIY melamine cage for a Hog Island Boa? Also some general care info? All I've found so far is that you should go with the care sheets for the larger Boas like like Red Tails, is this true? I was also wondering if an adult female would take anything larger than a rat? I know I've made so many threads in the past! Sorry guy's :love:

I would love to see this myself. I was so close to wanting to get a hog island but I was overruled. One day...

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Originally Posted by BallPythonWannaBe

I was wondering what would be good cage dimensions for a DIY melamine cage for a Hog Island Boa? Also some general care info? All I've found so far is that you should go with the care sheets for the larger Boas like like Red Tails, is this true? I was also wondering if an adult female would take anything larger than a rat? I know I've made so many threads in the past! Sorry guy's :love:

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I keep my hog island female in a 4x2x1 Animal Plastics cage, but if I were to build I would add a few inches to the height to aid with cleaning. So I would call 48"x24"x15" ideal.

Hog Islands have VERY similar care requirements to standard BCI boas, but they prefer a SLIGHLY cooler temperature. I shoot for an ambient temperature of 78 degrees with a 90 degree hotspot for my girl.

Nope, a pure or majority hog island will never require anything larger than a rat. My girl is probably around 6ft and the diameter of a baseball. She is on medium rats roughly every 2-3 weeks.

No need to apologize for asking questions.....we love to answer them :D

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Originally Posted by BallPythonWannaBe

I was wondering what would be good cage dimensions for a DIY melamine cage for a Hog Island Boa?

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I keep my adults in 3x2 caging rack, both of mine are on the smaller size, about 4'. Some Hog Isle can get up to 6', for a larger one like that, I'd go with a 4x2.

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Originally Posted by BallPythonWannaBe

Also some general care info? All I've found so far is that you should go with the care sheets for the larger Boas like like Red Tails, is this true?

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Basically the same as a regular boa. Hog Isles do tend to prefer slightly cooler hot ends by a few degrees (I wouldn't have a hot spot at 90 or anything). I keep warm end around 85.
Hog isle tend to be quite hissy as babies but generally grow out of that.
This is my boy Egg as a baby being hissy:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...nhFLjVidug.jpg

here he is as an adult:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...lNjczFgXKO.jpg

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Originally Posted by BallPythonWannaBe

I was also wondering if an adult female would take anything larger than a rat?

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Again, depends on the size of the snake. Some hog isle get quite large (either due to genetics or being overfed) and grow to a heavy 6' or so. The largest either of mine get are f/t medium rats.

Also depends if you are getting a pure hog line or a 'hogg' cross (a hog isle that was bred to the mainland or other Bi locality), make sure you trust who you are buying from if you want to get a pure hog.

They are really cool boas and can have a drastic day/night color phase. I need to get some new photos of my adults together as they are quite different looking (but still obviously pure hog). Egg, the one above, is a very classic hog with grey coloration and heavy speckles. My female Bacon is much more clean and pink, some hog isle have a natural hypo look to them.
Good luck!

Wow! Thats a beautiful lil Egg! Thanks for the responses guys! Also forgot to ask, what would you use to heat a melamine cage? I was thinking a heat panel? I know some people rig up a heat mat using plexiglass but I really like the idea of the heat panel. :rolleyes: Im glad you like to answer them was I've got lots :rofl:

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

(I wouldn't have a hot spot at 90 or anything).



Again, depends on the size of the snake. Some hog isle get quite large (either due to genetics or being overfed) and grow to a heavy 6' or so. The largest either of mine get are f/t medium rats.

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While you may not have your hot spot at 90, Bob Sears himself (who imported most of your captive Hogs btw) kept his temperatures exactly as I just described. Here's a caresheet from Reptile Rapture specifically for Hogs as well specifying 88-90.


http://reptilerapture.net/hog-island-boa-caresheet.html


I personally want to see a hog cross that is on even small rabbits.

As long as there's a temp gradient across the cage, go for 90 if you want to. I'm just saying I don't do that. Different things can all work.
:gj:

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Originally Posted by KevinK

I personally want to see a hog cross that is on even small rabbits.

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Here's an very heavy hog isle cross that would easily take a small rabbit - http://www.caledonianconstrictors.co.../fudge%20a.JPG

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Here's an very heavy hog isle cross that would easily take a small rabbit - http://www.caledonianconstrictors.co.../fudge%20a.JPG

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With extreme overfeeding mind you.

Yes for sure!
Am I miss-understanding your posts? Are we arguing or something? Not my intention

When I post "I shoot for an ambient temperature of 78 degrees with a 90 degree hotspot for my girl"

and the next post you add is:

"(I wouldn't have a hot spot at 90 or anything)"


.....kind of a low blow there, if you want to add what you keep yours at I would welcome it. I posted my heartfelt, educated advice. No need to take shots.