My first Red Tail

I got my first red tail which was a rescue from someone. She is about 6ft in length and was in a small enclosure about 33in. The day I got her I decided to build her a new home 6ftx2ftx2ft. I'm not sure if she is bcc or bci. Im still learning how to figure it out. Shes a big step up from my male adult ball python. Any tips would be greatly appreciated and maybe help identifying her. She also hasnt eaten in awhile and when I got her she was so cold like ice. [IMG]https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds[/IMG]

[IMG]https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds[/IMG]

She's a nice big girl, I'd say boa imperata (bi) was bci or common boa, the saddles, tail colour, head shape etc aren't really characteristic of a bcc (bc) now, true red tails are the bcc(bc)

Welcome to the boa club, there great

I would of thought she'd be on large rats at her size at 3/4 week intervals

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Awesome thanks for the info.

That's a big beautiful boa. I hope she has a great life with you. They're pretty easy to care for. I give mine a hot spot of 86-90 and try to keep my ambient temps in the mid 70s to low 80s, but they do get a little cooler in the winter. I agree with Rich, a large rat every 3-4 weeks will be good for her.

Ya I'm going to try and feed her today. The previous owner used frozen rats. I have never used frozen my ball python likes live. What's the preferred way to thaw out and feed a frozen rat?

I put mine in a Clear freezer bag and then submerg it in warm/hot water till defrosted, some times have to change the water part way thru with large rats to make sure there fully defrosted

Some people just places them in the warm water with out a bag, some of mine have not liked them when too wet, also can wash the smell off
But most take it no probs, remember boas feeding response are normally pretty keen, mine are normally at the glass even when it's defrosting in the room
Definitely use tongs with the size of her, she should be like lightning too with a. Really good reach


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Originally Posted by Dbreeze986

Ya I'm going to try and feed her today. The previous owner used frozen rats. I have never used frozen my ball python likes live. What's the preferred way to thaw out and feed a frozen rat?

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Just like Rich, I put the feeders inside a ziploc bag and put the bag in a bowl of cold water initially, then I'll use a bowl of warmer water to complete the thawing process. A larger rat usually thaws in 2-3 hours. Lastly, I super heat the rat with a hairdryer to about 100F and serve them to the snake on tongs. For my more aggressive feeders I just throw the rat in the cage and let them find it.

Cool thanks. Gona do that.

Congrats on the nice big boa addition (agreed, that is a Bi).
Another thing for larger and XL rats - in a zip lock, you can leave them in the fridge overnight to thaw and then just heat them up in warm water for about 15-30 min before feeding. That way it doesn't take so long and you don't have to keep refilling/refreshing the warm water bath to thaw it out. If you have tongs for feeding, I highly suggest using them.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Congrats on the nice big boa addition (agreed, that is a Bi).
Another thing for larger and XL rats - in a zip lock, you can leave them in the fridge overnight to thaw and then just heat them up in warm water for about 15-30 min before feeding. That way it doesn't take so long and you don't have to keep refilling/refreshing the warm water bath to thaw it out. If you have tongs for feeding, I highly suggest using them.

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Just like when ima cook steaks haha. Good idea. Quick question on trying to get her out of the enclosure.. should I use some sort of snake hook? The tank opens from above and when i open it shes always watching me like as if to strike lol. Haven't been bit before so i kno its bound to happen lol

Yes, it would be a good idea. I suggest hook training with any boa. Either in food mode or being woken up or surprised by the touch, they may get a tad grumpy and strikey. I gently stroke or tap them on or near the head with a hook to knock them out of any possible defensive or hungry behavior. With consistent usage, they will learn that the touch of the hook means they are getting picked up or otherwise messed with. I may use the hook under the neck or 1st 1/4 of the body to help pick up or maneuver when picking up if they are being squirrely or I don't trust my reading of their behavior, but generally can just pick them up with hands once they are calmed down and used to the hook training.
I hope that helps!

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Yes, it would be a good idea. I suggest hook training with any boa. Either in food mode or being woken up or surprised by the touch, they may get a tad grumpy and strikey. I gently stroke or tap them on or near the head with a hook to knock them out of any possible defensive or hungry behavior. With consistent usage, they will learn that the touch of the hook means they are getting picked up or otherwise messed with. I may use the hook under the neck or 1st 1/4 of the body to help pick up or maneuver when picking up if they are being squirrely or I don't trust my reading of their behavior, but generally can just pick them up with hands once they are calmed down and used to the hook training.
I hope that helps!

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Yes awesome advice. Do you know a hook for sale that would be good for larger snakes?

These are my hooks. The small one on the left I bought about 20 years ago, probably from Big Apple Herp (https://www.bigappleherp.com/ ) I use it for the hook touch and for my amazon tree boas. The middle is telescoping and I will also use it for the hook touch or to keep the head in control if needed, not sure where it was purchased, my b/f gave it to me. The larger red rubber tipped on the right I picked up at a reptile show from TSK (https://www.tsksupply.com/ ) and I'll use this, if needed, for managing the large boas and retics.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/M0FOeSc.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

These are my hooks. The small one on the left I bought about 20 years ago, probably from Big Apple Herp (https://www.bigappleherp.com/ ) I use it for the hook touch and for my amazon tree boas. The middle is telescoping and I will also use it for the hook touch or to keep the head in control if needed, not sure where it was purchased, my b/f gave it to me. The larger red rubber tipped on the right I picked up at a reptile show from TSK (https://www.tsksupply.com/ ) and I'll use this, if needed, for managing the large boas and retics.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/M0FOeSc.jpg

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Perfect thankyou so much. I'm going to repticon in Feb in orlando. But I'll prob buy a hook earlier heh