What's a good boa for me?

I've been looking into another snake at some point in the next few months. I read a lot of great things about BCIs and boas in general, so I'm now considering some kind of boa possibly (was going to go with a corn snake but honestly don't like the way they 'try to escape' while being handled).
Just a few questions...

- Would a BCI or Dumeril's be a safe pet for someone who is 100 lbs and can't lift more than 40 lbs? Can you trust them enough not to suddenly constrict you or bite your face? I was captivated by the few young BCIs I've held (especially their black tongues!) but I have to admit their stronger and sturdier build made me a little uneasy. I'm used to 'squishy' BPs haha.

- Out of the smaller boas, do you prefer Rosy or Sand Boas? Which are easiest to keep?

- I looove BRBs but temperament is important to me, I wouldn't buy a pet mainly for looks.

- Any other snake you recommend? Preferably one that stays 6 ft or under. I'd like one that is easygoing but not so slow that it's boring to handle or barely does anything on it's own. I don't consider my BP boring at all but she's still young, not sure how much she'll slow down with age.

Thanks!

If you are set on a boa, I would say a Dumerils, they ones I have have experience with are not much larget than an adult female ball python, the males anyway, and were very very docile. Get a male if size is an issue. I may be getting my hands on a female soon, I love them, awesome pattern, and the wife fell in love with them too.

definitely get a dumerils. through the years ive had a couple. right now, i have a male and i just recently sold off all my boas to get into balls, i had to keep my dumerils because theyre so great and such a joy to keep. they are every bit as docile as a ball if not more. i highly recommend one. if you do get one, be advised its different than a regular boa or bp. wait until they defecate to feed them. thats the rule i use. if you try feeding them on a regular schedule they wont eat it. at the same time, they are very hardy and perfectly healthy. i have found that they eat slightly less than your average boa. hope this helps.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by scooter11

definitely get a dumerils. through the years ive had a couple. right now, i have a male and i just recently sold off all my boas to get into balls, i had to keep my dumerils because theyre so great and such a joy to keep. they are every bit as docile as a ball if not more. i highly recommend one. if you do get one, be advised its different than a regular boa or bp. wait until they defecate to feed them. thats the rule i use. if you try feeding them on a regular schedule they wont eat it. at the same time, they are very hardy and perfectly healthy. i have found that they eat slightly less than your average boa. hope this helps.

---

This is good to know, thanks! I will do more research on them. From the photos I've seen they are *beautiful*, I definitely love the way they look.
I think I read somewhere that they are stronger than a BCI though, is this true? Again I have a very small frame and despite my attraction to larger snakes I don't want to get crushed. ^^;; I will also be living alone when I get one.

My BCI has bit my face.
My sand boas are driving me nuts because they are very picky eaters.
My BRB is very very laid back, never has struck at me.

If you are looking for a display animal I would go BCI.

BRB is going to easier to handle.

Sand boas the easiest to care for.

These are my opinions and each snake is different.

I would look into getting a hog island boa. They generally stay much smaller than BCI's or BCC's.

I have 2 rosy boas, and that's the limit of my boa experience. If you are considering a rosy, I'd say go for it! In general, they are very docile and even when active (of my 2, one is very active, the other not so much, I've read they slow down with maturity though, mind are just babies) they are still very easy to handle and not fast at all. These two are very tame. I picked them up almost immediately have they were born, and after getting them set up in the right conditions and waiting for their first shed, I was able to get them to eat very quickly without a lot of effort. They took f/t pinkies from their very first feed. The only feed refusal I have had since then is from one that just shed again last night (I had a feeling he was getting ready to shed, because his colors were getting dull, but his eyes hadn't gotten foggy yet), who is probably now ready to eat again! Neither one has ever so much as looked like they were thinking about biting, and even if they did, they are so small they couldn't do any damage at all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mike41793

I would look into getting a hog island boa. They generally stay much smaller than BCI's or BCC's.

---

I second a hog! Females top out at 5 or 5 and a half feet, males at about 4 and a half. All the personality of a bci wrapped into a smaller package.

I would go for a BRB. They are beautiful and are sweet hearts when it comes to handling. My BRB only struck at me once and that was my fault for man handling her to much (it was more of a "back off" bite than aggressive). They also don't get very big so if you are not looking for a large boa then they are perfect.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mike41793

I would look into getting a hog island boa. They generally stay much smaller than BCI's or BCC's.

---

Hogs are BCI too :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by brobertson

I second a hog! Females top out at 5 or 5 and a half feet, males at about 4 and a half. All the personality of a bci wrapped into a smaller package.

---

Females can get larger, some pure females still can get up around 7 ft. Even though they're considered a "dwarf" boa I don't really consider them one since some can still get on the larger side.

I really recommend a Hog Island as well or Colombians or Central American boas (which usually do stay smaller). Look into getting a male if you want to stay around 6' and I'm 110lbs and only 5'3" and handling isn't an issue with my 6' wacky jungle Colombian male.

Can't go wrong with a Hog:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...ber2820122.jpg

Or any normal or morph Colombians:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...ps58a1fe39.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...ps4455af51.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...uly4201224.jpg

I love boas,

You could always go with one of these (few different morphs)

http://factorydirectcraft.com/pimage...ther_boa_1.jpg
http://www.legallyblondethemusical-s...eather_boa.jpg
http://www.makebelievecostume.com/im...ieve/60925.jpg

And if you fancy a BEL, they actually have those too

http://www.jazzfestwizard.com/boas/i...featherboa.jpg













Seriously though,
Nics are sweet (fiery and full of piss) and stay small for boas.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Daybreaker

Hogs are BCI too :)



Females can get larger, some pure females still can get up around 7 ft. Even though they're considered a "dwarf" boa I don't really consider them one since some can still get on the larger side.

I really recommend a Hog Island as well or Colombians or Central American boas (which usually do stay smaller). Look into getting a male if you want to stay around 6' and I'm 110lbs and only 5'3" and handling isn't an issue with my 6' wacky jungle Colombian male.

Can't go wrong with a Hog:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...ber2820122.jpg

Or any normal or morph Colombians:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...ps58a1fe39.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...ps4455af51.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...uly4201224.jpg

---

If those are full grown Columbians I can totally handle that. Doesn't look too heavy on the shoulders but a nice size. The hog island boa is lovely too. I still worry about being bitten, even though my BP is a sweetie I've had some bad experience with small mammals biting me badly without any reason. Or maybe that's just a mammal thing??

I would go with a Nicaraguan boa :gj: Now, apparently some people find them hissy.... But here is mine right this very second:
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...a/Image390.jpg
Not a mean bone in her body! They stay relatively small and are absolutely beautiful!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RoseRed

I would go for a BRB. They are beautiful and are sweet hearts when it comes to handling. My BRB only struck at me once and that was my fault for man handling her to much (it was more of a "back off" bite than aggressive). They also don't get very big so if you are not looking for a large boa then they are perfect.

---

I would seriously love a BRB. Size wise they seem great. Though a friend of mine has one that's supposedly quite aggressive, her husband mostly handles him. I also don't have much money, it's unlikely I could buy a big tank and fill it with fancy plants and trees (real or fake) so whatever I get would have to be able to thrive in a tub setup. F/T feeding is also important.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skinnyrascal

If those are full grown Columbians I can totally handle that. Doesn't look too heavy on the shoulders but a nice size. The hog island boa is lovely too. I still worry about being bitten, even though my BP is a sweetie I've had some bad experience with small mammals biting me badly without any reason. Or maybe that's just a mammal thing??

---

Oh, they have a lot more to grow: those are only sub-adults that haven't even bulked out yet lol I do recommend a male though for whatever boa you decide, and would look into CAs and Nics since they stay small and manageable. PS: Colombian is with a "o" :)

As for biting, it totally depends on the snake. All of my boas have very strong food responses (I've gotten a few wild strikes when they get really excited and some strikes when I walk by if I'm heating up feeders) but in terms of a strongly defensive (not aggressive) boa my Hog and new baby Argentine female are my top ones. But even when they puff up and open mouth hiss/strike it's not intimidating: they just require a bit more work. My advice with a pissy/strike-y boa is short but slightly frequent handling sessions and DO NOT put them away right away if they start being puffy and striking. They'll learn that that's the way to get out of being held. Another advice: get a baby so you can learn and grow with it as it matures and you'll come to know its personality and when it's not feeling too friendly (snakes have their "off" days I believe).

Also: all my boas (6) all eat F/T without issues.

I placed my BRB in a rack/tub while I had to move some cages around. He seems very happy in there. I had him in a boaphile and he always set in the same place or buried himself in the substrate. Maybe mine is shy? I'm not sure.
The larger boas are going to need a pretty big tub once they get bigger.

All my snakes have always been on F/T

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Daybreaker

Hogs are BCI too :)

---

It seems like every time i comment on a boa thread you teach me something new. Thank you! :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skinnyrascal

I would seriously love a BRB. Size wise they seem great. Though a friend of mine has one that's supposedly quite aggressive, her husband mostly handles him. I also don't have much money, it's unlikely I could buy a big tank and fill it with fancy plants and trees (real or fake) so whatever I get would have to be able to thrive in a tub setup. F/T feeding is also important.

---

Right now my BRB is (temporarily) in a tub and she just had a perfect shed. Money wise, you can get one for $160 and under (I have seen in classifieds some that are $80-$100). Mine takes F/T (both mice and rats she has no preference) like a champ. :gj: Concerning aggressiveness, they are usually pretty docile, but there are always ones who are oddities (in any species of snake). For example, corn snakes are docile but I know of people who have aggressive ones.

Dumerils are awesome - they are slightly heavier bodied than BCIs but not as big overall. I doubt you'd be "crushed" by a Dum. ;) They can sometimes be finicky eaters, but as it was already stated, they will do much better if you don't feed "on schedule" and allow them to defecate prior to their next meal. They are very calm, interactive, and docile snakes.

BCIs are outstanding! My 2 females in particular are kittens and love to be out and watch tv with me. They are totally sweet. And, unless I did something stupid, like rub rat all over my face, I doubt either one would ever bite my face. :D A male BCI will generally stay under 7ft, although of course there are exceptions.

Hog Islands will be a bit smaller, although there are exceptions here too. They can sometimes be a bit more sensitive though. Central Americans are known for being a bit pissy and nippy.

BRBs are somewhat nippy as babies, but generally calm down nicely with regular handling. They do require higher humidity and have somewhat more strict husbandry requirements.

Rosy boas and Sand boas are remarkable little snakes. They do stay quite small - about the same as your ball python in fact but more slender-bodied. I have heard they both have very nice personalities though. If you want a very small boa, go with a Rosy. They are extremely under-rated! :gj:

I suggest that you attend a few expos and handle a few different varieties of boas to get a feel for what you like. They more you handle, and the more breeders you talk to, the more you'll feel comfortable with one species over another. This is the fun part!! :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Evenstar

Dumerils are awesome - they are slightly heavier bodied than BCIs but not as big overall. I doubt you'd be "crushed" by a Dum. ;) They can sometimes be finicky eaters, but as it was already stated, they will do much better if you don't feed "on schedule" and allow them to defecate prior to their next meal. They are very calm, interactive, and docile snakes.

BCIs are outstanding! My 2 females in particular are kittens and love to be out and watch tv with me. They are totally sweet. And, unless I did something stupid, like rub rat all over my face, I doubt either one would ever bite my face. :D A male BCI will generally stay under 7ft, although of course there are exceptions.

Hog Islands will be a bit smaller, although there are exceptions here too. They can sometimes be a bit more sensitive though. Central Americans are known for being a bit pissy and nippy.

BRBs are somewhat nippy as babies, but generally calm down nicely with regular handling. They do require higher humidity and have somewhat more strict husbandry requirements.

Rosy boas and Sand boas are remarkable little snakes. They do stay quite small - about the same as your ball python in fact but more slender-bodied. I have heard they both have very nice personalities though. If you want a very small boa, go with a Rosy. They are extremely under-rated! :gj:

I suggest that you attend a few expos and handle a few different varieties of boas to get a feel for what you like. They more you handle, and the more breeders you talk to, the more you'll feel comfortable with one species over another. This is the fun part!! :P

---

Thank you! I'm still undecided because they're all beautiful, temperament/willingness to be held is of top importance, but I don't want anything that'll get huge. A hog island morph would be really neat. I'm still pretty drawn to the BCIs though, there's just something about them!
But yes, I'd love to go to an expo sometime. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TJ_Burton

I love boas,

You could always go with one of these (few different morphs)

http://factorydirectcraft.com/pimage...ther_boa_1.jpg
http://www.legallyblondethemusical-s...eather_boa.jpg
http://www.makebelievecostume.com/im...ieve/60925.jpg

And if you fancy a BEL, they actually have those too

http://www.jazzfestwizard.com/boas/i...featherboa.jpg













Seriously though,
Nics are sweet (fiery and full of piss) and stay small for boas.

---

Hahaha this made me laugh (:
I have a BCI, shes a new addition, and i absolutley am in love with her, she has the most amazing temperment of any snake i have ever held. I cuddle with her when im watching tv, she just lies along my body haha. Shes a great eater on FT, i switched her from live (other owner had been feedin live for her whole life) in a snap! Shes really a great snake! But i agree with all the others, each snake is different (: Good luck! Im sure youll find a perfect boa that you will compleatly adore (:

Brazilian Rainbow Boa, they are nippy as babies, but after a bit of handling they become really sweet!!! My baby is still tiny and she doesn't nip anymore and she really seems to like "hanging out" with us lol

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/10/anyza9ah.jpg

The cross is for my old dog, Maxi, she was chow mixed with something I never found out, she lived to be about 20-21 years, so she had a good life!!!!
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/10/qa4utu4u.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/10/2ejuzejy.jpg


0.3 Normals (Coilette, Athena and Unknown)
1.1 Het Genetic Stripe (Bonnie and Clyde)
1.0 Pastel (De Sol)
1.0 Spider (Zeus)
1.0 Mojave (Prometheus)

0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Stella)

Here are some pics of my little nice female. She is a baby obviously but they stay tiny for boas.
My little girl is evil as all hell though.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...69101082_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...01479278_n.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skinnyrascal

Thank you! I'm still undecided because they're all beautiful, temperament/willingness to be held is of top importance, but I don't want anything that'll get huge. A hog island morph would be really neat. I'm still pretty drawn to the BCIs though, there's just something about them!
But yes, I'd love to go to an expo sometime. :D

---

Hog Island boas are a specific locality of BCI. And while there are hypo hogs, that's it for morphs with them. If you want a morph - an albino, snow, aztec, or whathaveyou - you'll need to go with a Colombian BCI.

The thing about boas is that sometimes the larger varieties are the ones with the best temperaments. But keep in mind that the size difference isn't that much in the grand scheme of things. A male Colombian will be about the same size as a female Central American even though the CA is considered "dwarf" and the Colombian is not - and the Colombian will likely have the better personality.

This is why it's a good idea to go to an expo to handle several different varieties to figure out what you like. And if you get a baby, by the time it grows up, you'll be quite comfortable handling it.

I am also a small person and not very strong. My all-time favorite boa is my female Colombian BCI. She will likely grow to around 8-ish feet or so which is quite large (at least by my standards, lol). Yes, she is still quite young since I got her as a tiny baby, but because I did so, I am totally comfortable with her and I know her personality quite well. I will have no trouble with her even when she's huge. She's my baby. :gj:

And just to tempt you..... These are all Colombian BCIs. :D

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/...s/Pandora1.jpg

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/.../peaches03.jpg

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/.../peaches01.jpg

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/...s/jasper09.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Evenstar

And just to tempt you..... These are all Colombian BCIs. :D

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/...s/Pandora1.jpg

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/.../peaches03.jpg

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/.../peaches01.jpg

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/...s/jasper09.jpg

---

Now you are tempting me to get one!! While BRB's have my heart, I have had my eye on other boas as well.

BCI's kick butt!!
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/10/merysyzy.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/10/ygyze8ur.jpg

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Evenstar

Hog Island boas are a specific locality of BCI. And while there are hypo hogs, that's it for morphs with them.

---

Don't quote me on this but I'm 99% sure hypo hogs are a cross and not a "locality morph." I'll ask my gf when she gets home since she's done way more reading on BCI's than I have.

Yes, hypo Hogs are Colombian x Hog and are not pure Hogs

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by devildog_dk

Don't quote me on this but I'm 99% sure hypo hogs are a cross and not a "locality morph." I'll ask my gf when she gets home since she's done way more reading on BCI's than I have.

---

That is correct. Hog Islands are a specific locality of BCI. But hypo hogs have to have some Colombian influence in order to carry the hypo gene. Some hypo hogs are more "hog" than others - once the hypo gene has been introduced, the animal can be bred back to a pure hog and still produce hypos. The hypo gene is dominant, co-dominant actually. So some hypo hogs actually have very little Colombian in them. But all hypo hogs have to have had some Colombian influence in order to get the hypo gene. This is the only gene that has been indroduced in Hogs thus far though. And they are still considered a specific locality - although, if hypo, they are not 100% pure. :gj:

I'd go with a columbian redtail boa. Males stay around six feet (females do get large, though) But they have great temperaments. If I could figure out how to post pictures (photobucket isn't working for me) I would post pictures of my sweet juvenile boa, Four.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ToriTheBallPython

I'd go with a columbian redtail boa. Males stay around six feet (females do get large, though) But they have great temperaments. If I could figure out how to post pictures (photobucket isn't working for me) I would post pictures of my sweet juvenile boa, Four.

---

That's what I'm leaning toward at the moment, a male Colombian. :D

Oh!~ Another thought I had...I definitely plan to get a ferret as well (I love my scalies but do have a need for fuzzyness now and then). Would it be a bad idea to get a large boa, then? If he smells ferret on me would he think "food" and bite? :/

And I know ferrets are predators but I'm not sure how picky boas are about that, I hear they'll eat almost anything.

Haha I would make sure there was no trace of that ferret before I went near the boa.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skinnyrascal

Oh!~ Another thought I had...I definitely plan to get a ferret as well (I love my scalies but do have a need for fuzzyness now and then). Would it be a bad idea to get a large boa, then? If he smells ferret on me would he think "food" and bite? :/

And I know ferrets are predators but I'm not sure how picky boas are about that, I hear they'll eat almost anything.

---

While I can't speak for boas or their prey drive, I have two ferrets, a ball python, and several different species of lizards. It is NEVER a good idea to introduce them to one another (and I'm not under the impression you'd toss a ferret into a BCI tank or anything, just giving you some points to consider). Ferrets are super curious and get into everything. If a reptile is on the floor, you can be sure a ferret is going to check it out. Younger ferrets especially tend to be excitable, tenacious, and nippy. Once they discover something, they'll try to do it again and again. Regardless of a BCI's size or temperament, a ferret could do some serious damage to it.

That's not to say ferrets don't make great pets; I've never had trouble managing ferrets and reptiles in the same apartment. We just take extra precaution when either species are out. Tank cleaning is done when ferrets are away in their cage, reptiles are handled in a secure room while ferrets are free range in the rest of the apartment. With such limited opportunity for interaction between them, neither species seems overtly curious about the other.

My python doesn't seem to behave any differently when the ferrets are out, not that he could ever hope to eat one. They're weasels, not rodents, so I think it'd be about on par with a BCI checking out a small, goofy cat.

Good luck building your menagerie! And if you do go for ferrets, get two. They need a ton of attention, and ferrets can play with each other while you're unavailable. They won't be any less socialized in groups. :)

I don't think I'd risk going near my boa if I smelled like ferret. They have a VERY strong feeding response, and even though ferrets don't smell like rat...I'm not sure I'd like to find out what my boa thinks of the smell. :P

They can be very sensitive to different smells. For instance, the one time my boa bit me was the day I came home from IHOP (which has a very strong smell), and snatched her out of her tank to show to a friend. The minute I reached for her she decided she wasn't into it. She didn't recognize my smell and panicked. Or, at least that's what I think must have happened. She was always a bit nervous around new smells and strange people though. So maybe it's just her.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chkadii

While I can't speak for boas or their prey drive, I have two ferrets, a ball python, and several different species of lizards. It is NEVER a good idea to introduce them to one another (and I'm not under the impression you'd toss a ferret into a BCI tank or anything, just giving you some points to consider). Ferrets are super curious and get into everything. If a reptile is on the floor, you can be sure a ferret is going to check it out. Younger ferrets especially tend to be excitable, tenacious, and nippy. Once they discover something, they'll try to do it again and again. Regardless of a BCI's size or temperament, a ferret could do some serious damage to it.

That's not to say ferrets don't make great pets; I've never had trouble managing ferrets and reptiles in the same apartment. We just take extra precaution when either species are out. Tank cleaning is done when ferrets are away in their cage, reptiles are handled in a secure room while ferrets are free range in the rest of the apartment. With such limited opportunity for interaction between them, neither species seems overtly curious about the other.

My python doesn't seem to behave any differently when the ferrets are out, not that he could ever hope to eat one. They're weasels, not rodents, so I think it'd be about on par with a BCI checking out a small, goofy cat.

Good luck building your menagerie! And if you do go for ferrets, get two. They need a ton of attention, and ferrets can play with each other while you're unavailable. They won't be any less socialized in groups. :)

---

Yeah don't worry, I've had ferrets before, four total. I would -never- let one animal roam free while the other's out, and I'd keep the cages in separate rooms to avoid stress to any of them.

As far as keeping them in pairs, I personally believe that depends on the individual ferret and on the owner. I've found that I prefer single ferrets because two get into more trouble, make more poop, and when kept singly they seem to be more interested in people. When I had two at a time I got to play with them less because they would always distract each other from me. The single ferrets seemed perfectly content, they sleep most of the time and when playing I could give all my attention to just the one.
Just my personal preference.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WarriorPrincess90

I don't think I'd risk going near my boa if I smelled like ferret. They have a VERY strong feeding response, and even though ferrets don't smell like rat...I'm not sure I'd like to find out what my boa thinks of the smell. :P

They can be very sensitive to different smells. For instance, the one time my boa bit me was the day I came home from IHOP (which has a very strong smell), and snatched her out of her tank to show to a friend. The minute I reached for her she decided she wasn't into it. She didn't recognize my smell and panicked. Or, at least that's what I think must have happened. She was always a bit nervous around new smells and strange people though. So maybe it's just her.

---

Or maybe she was thinking "That'll teach you to go to IHOP and not bring ME any pancakes!" :P

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 3skulls

Haha I would make sure there was no trace of that ferret before I went near the boa.

---

My thoughts as well O_O;;

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skinnyrascal

Yeah don't worry, I've had ferrets before, four total. I would -never- let one animal roam free while the other's out, and I'd keep the cages in separate rooms to avoid stress to any of them.

As far as keeping them in pairs, I personally believe that depends on the individual ferret and on the owner. I've found that I prefer single ferrets because two get into more trouble, make more poop, and when kept singly they seem to be more interested in people. When I had two at a time I got to play with them less because they would always distract each other from me. The single ferrets seemed perfectly content, they sleep most of the time and when playing I could give all my attention to just the one.
Just my personal preference.

---

Well in that case, carry on! :)

There will always be individuals with different care preferences, true. Just like there are dogs and cats that would prefer to be the only fuzzy in the house. Recommending a pair covers the general majority, under the assumption that a lot of people don't have the 4+ hours to devote personal attention to a single ferret every night. (Not that it has to be constant, but still way more than say, a cat.) While we do give our carpet sharks a good amount of free time, I'd personally feel guilty working full time with only one ferret being cooped up by it's lonesome all day, especially since the one is so young. The extra ferret helps keep the baby in line and I feel better about them having a companion around during the day. It'd be different if my boyfriend and I were working different shifts and someone was home during the day.

Just my preference as well, I trust your judgement as an experienced keeper. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chkadii

Well in that case, carry on! :)

There will always be individuals with different care preferences, true. Just like there are dogs and cats that would prefer to be the only fuzzy in the house. Recommending a pair covers the general majority, under the assumption that a lot of people don't have the 4+ hours to devote personal attention to a single ferret every night. (Not that it has to be constant, but still way more than say, a cat.) While we do give our carpet sharks a good amount of free time, I'd personally feel guilty working full time with only one ferret being cooped up by it's lonesome all day, especially since the one is so young. The extra ferret helps keep the baby in line and I feel better about them having a companion around during the day. It'd be different if my boyfriend and I were working different shifts and someone was home during the day.

Just my preference as well, I trust your judgement as an experienced keeper. :)

---

I see what you mean, there's no harm in recommending it. I am probably different from the majority because I -want- a pet that needs my attention, and seeing as I'm not a people person I choose to spend most of my free time with the critters. :P