Help!!!

Sooo... I have a huge problem... not really problem just a predicament I didn’t see coming...so I just took in another boa from a guy on Craigslist. Poor snakes I can’t see them suffer. Well he told me that snake was maybe 6ft at best and he had a very large tub he has been keeping the snake in and I figured all else. I could put her in my empty 75 for a little while till I could get a bigger enclosure in a week or so...we’ll come to find out I get the snake and she is more like 8ft long and huge. She is not gonna fit in my 75... and I feel bad about keeping her in the tub he had her in it’s just one of those bigger ones that are about the size of a 75 gallon tank she can’t even move!!! I’ve been searching Craigslist and Facebook to see if I could find a used one. But no luck... do they even make tubs big enough to accommodate this snake... as always thanks!

While the tub or tank isn’t ideal by any means, I think she’ll be fine until you can get another setup. Worst case scenario, you can let her out for regular exercise until that happens. If you are somewhat handy, you could also try building a cage. Melamine comes in 8’ x 4’ sheets at Home Depot and they will usually make the big cuts for you. Melamine is heavy, but strong when screwed together and waterproof on the surface...you just need to seal the seams very well. I used homemade melamine cages for a number of years. They weren’t always beautiful, but they were fuctional.

She may be cramped for a little while longer but she'll be ok. The largest tubs I've seen are the christmas tree totes. I'm not sure how you'd secure it for such a large snake though. Best wishes with the new addition.

https://images.prod.meredith.com/pro...torage-box-red

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

She may be cramped for a little while longer but she'll be ok. The largest tubs I've seen are the christmas tree totes. I'm not sure how you'd secure it for such a large snake though. Best wishes with the new addition.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...torage-box-red

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If you are in the mid-Atlantic region I have one of these with air holes you borrow until you get a better enclosure.

I’m in Northren Ohio by Columbus

Thanks for all the quick reply’s I am pretty handy with my hands so I will probably build one. What would be the best size to do for the remainder. I don’t want to have to build a bigger one in a couple years. I was told she was only 3 years old so I have a feeling she is gonna be a monster.

If she's 8ft at 3 she's already a monster! Depending on the space you have available I'd go with a 6x2 or 8x2 for such a large critter.

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Originally Posted by Direpython

Thanks for all the quick reply’s I am pretty handy with my hands so I will probably build one. What would be the best size to do for the remainder. I don’t want to have to build a bigger one in a couple years. I was told she was only 3 years old so I have a feeling she is gonna be a monster.

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I would cut back on her feeding if she is that large at that age.

My adult boas are all fine in 48" x 30" x 18" enclosures but they weren't as large as yours at only three years old either. Yours should be fine in a six foot wide enclosure. I'd go ahead and make it 30" deep and 18" high.

I would make it out of 3/4" thick PVC. Yes it's expensive but given that your boa could live for 20 more years it will more than pay for itself in ease of cleaning, maintenance, energy required to heat it, etc.

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Originally Posted by Direpython

Thanks for all the quick reply’s I am pretty handy with my hands so I will probably build one. What would be the best size to do for the remainder. I don’t want to have to build a bigger one in a couple years. I was told she was only 3 years old so I have a feeling she is gonna be a monster.

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Since the size was misrepresented it's possible (likely?) the age was too, either deliberately (knowing that some ppl might not want an older snake) or unintentionally.

I'm betting she's a lot older than 3. ;) Sweet of you to take her in though, truly...as the old saying goes, "no good deed goes unpunished", LOL.

All the best on the cage build...I'd never keep her in a tote either. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Direpython

I’m in Northren Ohio by Columbus

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Congrats on the new snake! Also, I live in Solon Ohio. :)

I don’t think so I just don’t think they know measurements very well when the snake isn’t stretched out and you don’t know what feet look like I could understand

I mean she may not be 8 foot exactly but she is closer to 8 then she is 6 they told me 6-6.5 ft max so I don’t think it was a intentional thing.

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Originally Posted by Direpython

I mean she may not be 8 foot exactly but she is closer to 8 then she is 6 they told me 6-6.5 ft max so I don’t think it was a intentional thing.

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It IS hard to be accurate about the length of a snake, especially when they get larger & harder to handle...so who knows?
I find it hard to ignore a snake in need of a home too...so I guess I'd better not tell you where I live? :rofl: She's too much snake for me anyway...I've had a large BCI before- but she was only a "scary yearling" when I got her. (changed hands multiple times for defensive biting- that didn't last with me, though ;) -not even ONE bite ever from her) All the best with this big girl...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3f85dbea1a.jpg

This is the only picture I have of the snake right now but when I get her situated I’ll get more. I’m thinking she is just a really big bcc


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She's pretty & looks healthy from what I can see there. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

She's pretty & looks healthy from what I can see there. :gj:

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Wait thier is no red in her tail at all. Could she really be a larger species of a snake? That’s why she is so big he sent me a really :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:ty picture of her feeding sorry about the quality of the photo but the best I got right now https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ac919b1e56.jpg


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Not all "red tails" HAVE red tails, if that's what you mean? It's just the common name for the trait that people associate & prefer, but it's quite variable
in "real life".

And they're all beautiful in their own way, IMO. The BCI that I had for years was very dark...but oh the iridescence! Gorgeous, in my opinion....and so
is THIS one.

Ok :-) I trust your opinion I’ve just always
Associated red tails with red tails. Just threw me off that’s all it is a very pretty snake indeed


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I'm sure you know, but never hurts to repeat: be sure you quarantine her & check for mites...but if I had to guess, her former owner just couldn't afford a
bigger cage, or was getting uncomfortable with her size and-or food costs.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I'm sure you know, but never hurts to repeat: be sure you quarantine her & check for mites...but if I had to guess, her former owner just couldn't afford a
bigger cage, or was getting uncomfortable with her size and-or food costs.

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He says she eats 2 jumbo rats every other week that seems like wayyy to much and to often. I could understand if it was that much like once a month maybe. Definitely will be making right and feeding her once a month maybe a little less just hopefully she doesn’t get angry and try to eat me instead lol...


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Yeah, that's a lot of food...I'd cut back gradually if I were you...she might be a little cranky, lol, but healthier with a bit less food. (jumbo rats are high fat too)
Might want to look into rabbits?

So I actually could get the snake home today. I’ve had her at a friends house. She looks super healthier other then a little something going on at the top of her head looks like stuck shed. I feel really bad for her they had her in a like 30qt tub. The kind that you find at like factory’s that the kids fold in and fit together. I was wrong she isn’t quite 8 feet but she is over 7 for sure.she seems very calm. Didn’t do anything that bothered me or made me nervous when I was handling her. Thought I might have heard a little wheezing but then when I listened for it I couldn’t hear anything so not sure any advice on what I should do to combat that just in case?



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For the wheezing, make sure her temps and humidity are correct and wait a bit. Could be stuck shed in her nostrils, could just be big snake huffy-puffy breathing. If you've only ever had small snakes hearing a big snake breathe heavily while exerting itself can be disconcerting.

Well, listen to her breathing when she's laying in a cage or container, not when she's being held, because many times when we hold a large snake it's in such a
way that forces air from their very long lung(s) & it can sound like a slight wheeze when it's actually normal & NOT a respiratory infection ("RI"). Obviously we
aren't hearing her...you'll just have to keep paying attention & hopefully it's nothing. Might keep her a couple degrees warmer if you do think it's an RI & should
it continue, see a vet for an antibiotic for her. She looked pretty healthy in the pics...and since she was in too small of a tub, the spot on her head is most likely
a head rub, or maybe some stuck shed where she rubbed her head in the recent past. Good luck with her, we look forward to updates.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...752592ca7e.jpg

Here is a picture of her head now that I get her into light I’m really worried what is this is that from her constantly rubbing on something?



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The rest of her body is perfect it’s just like that on the top of her head


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That's what it looks like to me...from rubbing & pushing on a tub that's too small, and possibly poor humidity too.
Nothing to worry about...get her into an enclosure of suitable size...with some TLC & a few sheds, she'll look better.

That almost looks like an infection or abscess that blew out the top of her nose that has scarred over. I would keep an eye on it as she may have issues shedding right there. Some Neosporin without painkiller or Vetericyn gel on the area right before she pops a shed may keep the scales soft enough so they come off easily when she sheds.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

That almost looks like an infection or abscess that blew out the top of her nose that has scarred over. I would keep an eye on it as she may have issues shedding right there. Some Neosporin without painkiller or Vetericyn gel on the area right before she pops a shed may keep the scales soft enough so they come off easily when she sheds.

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I think you're right about that...that circular area...but at least it doesn't look recent.

That’s the only area that she has stuck shed so that would make since thanks for all the help


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Anyone close to the area that could help me sex the snake? My plan for her once I get her in good health and doing good I’m going to try and breed her to my male hypo see if I can’t get me some cute little hypos. I understand why people end up with 20-30 snakes it’s an addiction I’ve got big big plans and not enough money to do it all. I’m looking for a new place to move to with an extra room for a snake room already... lmao and it has begun lol


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Where are you? And just keeping lots of snakes gets expensive, & breeding them...even more so...don't rush into stuff.

I’m real close to lima Ohio about an hour from ft Wayne indiana


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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...68492b3fe9.jpg a better picture of her in her new apartment till I can get her into something a little bigger


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I'm nowhere near Ohio but someone else here might be...?

She has been opening her mouth a lot today see a little white in thier. This poor girl is in worst health then I thought I’m gonna make her an appointment and get her looked over and maybe some antibiotics. How serious is mouthrot and such is it something they can recover from?


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Originally Posted by Direpython

She has been opening her mouth a lot today see a little white in thier. This poor girl is in worst health then I thought I’m gonna make her an appointment and get her looked over and maybe some antibiotics. How serious is mouthrot and such is it something they can recover from?


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Poor snake..."mouth breathing" is a typical sign of an RI, unfortunately. Glad you're taking her to the vet, & check the gender while there, don't think anyone saw your
"help wanted" ask? Infections of any kind can vary from those that respond quickly & easily to the first antibiotic tried, to those which stubbornly don't. Let's hope it's
the first kind. ;) Yes, they can recover very well from, just make sure the vet you take her too has lots of herp experience.

I’m taking her to the bird and exotic pet wellness center in Toledo Ohio how do I find out if that is a good place to take my boa?


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Originally Posted by Direpython

I’m taking her to the bird and exotic pet wellness center in Toledo Ohio how do I find out if that is a good place to take my boa?


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Start a thread asking for input...and here's some links to find others that may be near you:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...d-Exotics-Vets



This is a great resource: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...03548121da.jpg

Did this to both enclosures today keeping humidity & temps a little more steady. I’m going to paint them with some kind of waterproofing what should I use?


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Originally Posted by Direpython

I’m going to paint them with some kind of waterproofing what should I use?

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I wouldn't, some products can take weeks to cure or finish offgassing.

If the tanks are losing too much heat through the glass walls you can just wrap the outside with Styrofoam insulation sheet. If the tank is leaking a bead of silicone caulk should work to seal it.

Ok thanks it’s staying pretty steady at this point my entire room stays in the 70s as is so I don’t really have that much issue with temps it was more keeping humidity in it with nothing but screen on the top


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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c0d306d441.jpg

It was hilarious trying to watch her struggle into this hide this is how she finally settled was hoping that would be big enough... lol guess I’ll have to find something bigger


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For my large boas I’ve used dish pans or litter boxes with a hole cut in the side. Litter boxes work pretty well for the big guys.

She is going to the doctor tomorrow. Hopefully she gets a good bill of health. Her eyes are super blue and her tummy you can see the skin turning grey she is getting super close to shedding I brought the humidity up to 70 hoping for a better shed I’m fearing of having issues cause of that bad scar on the top of her head


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Originally Posted by Direpython

It was hilarious trying to watch her struggle into this hide this is how she finally settled was hoping that would be big enough... lol guess I’ll have to find something bigger


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That's not a hide, it's an over-sized hat!