This is my 1st boa...

I usually just deal with pythons. This is my 1st boa. So, I read that red tail boas are more active than ball pythons. Have had it only a few days. So, it may be still a little stressed from the ride home. But, it hasn't been more active than my python. Would the temp have anything to do with that? Its in a 55gal tank. Have a undertank heater. Also, a heat lamp. But, cant get the temp above 75. So, I went and bought another heat lamp. Would the temp have anything to do with how active it is?? Just never had that problem with pythons. So, was just wondering....

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Originally Posted by JohnNGriffin

I usually just deal with pythons. This is my 1st boa. So, I read that red tail boas are more active than ball pythons. Have had it only a few days. So, it may be still a little stressed from the ride home. But, it hasn't been more active than my python. Would the temp have anything to do with that? Its in a 55gal tank. Have a undertank heater. Also, a heat lamp. But, cant get the temp above 75. So, I went and bought another heat lamp. Would the temp have anything to do with how active it is?? Just never had that problem with pythons. So, was just wondering....

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Yes!

That is a low ambient temp IMO.

This time of year I would be looking at 80-82 ambient and the a night drop to 77. Hopefully you have a thermostat that controls both hot and cold sides.

89-91 on the warm side as well.

There are some boas that do better with cooler temps and some that don't.

Also we need a lot more info on the snake.

Age, species, male, female, what was the breeder keeping it in for a cage??

Lots of factors.

They are more active than royal pythons in most cases.

I do not have a boa myself, but from what I've heard their care (husbandry) is quite similar to a ball python's.
I am thinking you are having issues with the ambient temps because it is such a large tank, and glass. Getting a second heat lamp with the UTH (and thermostat of course) is a great idea I think, except you will definitely lose the humidity. However, I'm sure you know there are many ways to help with humidity, including humid hides and whatnot. :)

What type of thermometers are you using to measure?

How large is the snake? 55 gallons is going to be large to regulate in glass.
I have 2 smaller boas (28in) in separate 40 gallon Glass Tanks.
I plastidipped 3 sides black to help keep heat in.
I purchased corrugated plastic (near the garage sale signs at lowes) and wrapped in tinfoil and aluminum tape and covered the screen
I placed a water bowl directly under the 75W Day Heat Lamp and with these things I am able to regulate by .5 degree and they are thriving.

Just an inexpensive fix to your issue.

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Originally Posted by Gio

Yes!

That is a low ambient temp IMO.

This time of year I would be looking at 80-82 ambient and the a night drop to 77. Hopefully you have a thermostat that controls both hot and cold sides.

89-91 on the warm side as well.

There are some boas that do better with cooler temps and some that don't.

Also we need a lot more info on the snake.

Age, species, male, female, what was the breeder keeping it in for a cage??

Lots of factors.

They are more active than royal pythons in most cases.

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Spot on advice here. I agree. I will add that 55 gal is a lot for a baby. Clutter it up well and give him plenty of privacy. Boas ARE generally more active and more outgoing than BPs, but any baby can feel insecure. Give him plenty of time to adjust and leave him alone for awhile. You'll soon see a change in his mannerism once he feels safe and secure. :gj:

Edit: Just saw you other post and this is a 6 year old boa?? If so, pictures of his set up would help a LOT. I still say give him time to settle in. But at 6 years old, he could be just laid back enough that he's not as active. Usually the babies are all over the place, but the adults, not so much.

I'm glad others are jumping in here. You CAN make a glass tank work, but it takes some work to do it.

Right now I don't have the time to go into all of it but if you do a search there is info here.

If your boa is a baby, that tank is too large period. You will have to find a smaller enclosure. Ideally all sides but the front should be covered or "blacked out" so the animal doesn't feel like,,, well,,, like it's in a fish bowl.

I have been successful with a royal and a 40 gallon tank, and have used lamps for heat, but I'd never consider it without a quality stat.

If you use lights for ambient temps, still use and regulate the UTH with a thermostat as well.

You should be able to get this dialed in pretty quick if you are doing things OK with the royals.

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

Spot on advice here. I agree. I will add that 55 gal is a lot for a baby. Clutter it up well and give him plenty of privacy. Boas ARE generally more active and more outgoing than BPs, but any baby can feel insecure. Give him plenty of time to adjust and leave him alone for awhile. You'll soon see a change in his mannerism once he feels safe and secure. :gj:

Edit: Just saw you other post and this is a 6 year old boa?? If so, pictures of his set up would help a LOT. I still say give him time to settle in. But at 6 years old, he could be just laid back enough that he's not as active. Usually the babies are all over the place, but the adults, not so much.

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Just saw Kali's post,

and the mystery is solved as far as age.

Large boas do mellow out as she satetd, and unless you have larger sized perches they will not climb as frequently. Similar to you sitting on a 2 x 4. You can do it, but it's not a comfy as something wider.

I have no idea what the setup looks like, but a little settle time will help.

Consider some plastic caging.

I promise they move around and do more stuff than the typical royal.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/DSC00734.jpg

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Originally Posted by Gio

Just saw Kali's post,

and the mystery is solved as far as age.

Large boas do mellow out as she satetd, and unless you have larger sized perches they will not climb as frequently. Similar to you sitting on a 2 x 4. You can do it, but it's not a comfy as something wider.

I have no idea what the setup looks like, but a little settle time will help.

Consider some plastic caging.

I promise they move around and do more stuff than the typical royal.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/DSC00734.jpg

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Its about as clustered as that, Do have stuff to cluster it up more. He is 6yrs old. And about 4ft long. He also said he was a little feisty. Picked him up yesterday, just to see if that was so. He wasnt that feisty. Didnt even try to snap at me, or even get defensive. Just constantly tried to get away. So, just put him back, and will leave him alone a while longer. He got a little more active last night. The second heat lamp helped. Its around 85 now. May try to see if he eats this weekend, since im going to feed my piggy bp anyway. Even if he dont eat it, I know the bp will. I dont have any pics right now since my cell phone broke. Im kinda thinkin he wasnt fed enough. Cuz when I picked him up, he felt kinda boney. My bp is just as stocky, but doesnt feel nowhere like he does.

Boas are supposed to be thin/square, never round or plump like a ball python.

If you can keep the ambient in the low/mid 80's then putting a heavy plastic or stone hide over the UTH may bump the air temp under that hide enough for him to digest.

At some point he likely will outgrow that 55-gal tank, and you'll want to have hiim set up in something designed to maintain his heat and humidity before winter hits. Personally I would go ahead and order his "adult size" enclosure now, something like a 4'x30" PVC Boamaster, NWConstrictors, AP, or similar PVC enclosure w/ RHP for him now, as their lead times are around three months.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Boas are supposed to be thin/square, never round or plump like a ball python.

If you can keep the ambient in the low/mid 80's then putting a heavy plastic or stone hide over the UTH may bump the air temp under that hide enough for him to digest.

At some point he likely will outgrow that 55-gal tank, and you'll want to have hiim set up in something designed to maintain his heat and humidity before winter hits. Personally I would go ahead and order his "adult size" enclosure now, something like a 4'x30" PVC Boamaster, NWConstrictors, AP, or similar PVC enclosure w/ RHP for him now, as their lead times are around three months.

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Thanks for that. He looks normal then.
Im also using two thermometers and two hygrometers made by fluker. One end is around 82-85. Other end is around 75-78. In my bp tank. I have two temp/humidity combos that are the kind people hang on their porches that seem to be doing better. But using the two heat lamps seems to be working. He was actually moving around. And for the first time, he is actually using his hide.

Boas have a much slower metabolism than BPs and do not need as much food as BPs do, pound for pound. They should be lean and square-ish in appearance. The rule of thumb with boas is to not feed anything that leaves more than a very slight lump. And adult 6 year old boa should not be eating any more often than once every 2 weeks. I'd like to see some pictures please. 4 ft sounds pretty small for a 6 year old. My 3 year olds are 4 ft.....

And if your hot spot is only 82-85, then you need to raise that up a bit. Boas do tend to like things a bit cooler than BPs, but not that cool. You need to strive for a hotspot of 88-90. Ambient temps are good at 78. When temps and humidity is right, you'll see him a lot more active. :gj:

I clustered the tank up more, And got the hotspot up to 90. And cool spot around 75-78. Humidity is around 65%. If I try to feed him Friday, It will have been around two weeks. Don't have any pics yet. He was a lot more active now. Was all over the place last night.