what to expect from a hog island boa

okay, so i'm thinking of delving into the world of larger snakes... and i think we've decided on a hog island boa.

so, i need some real info and i find asking the ones who have them works the best.

how much time do they need you to spend with them a week? (i know my ball doesn't care if he sees me a week, month etc. although i do try to spend some time with him bi-weekly - if HE'S in the mood that is :P )

as they grow and get more strength to them... are they typically harder to handle?

i've heard people say, "if you work with them... " what exactly does that mean? hold them daily, weekly etc?

i want to make sure i'm the right kind of person to own one before i get it. because IMO it's easier to rehome a ball which stays small than a boa who gets much larger... so i want to make sure i can care for him for life.

how long do they live in captivity?

what do you feed them as adults?

i think that's all my questions... although i may have more depending on how well this cup of coffee does with my awakening brain cells LOL

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

okay, so i'm thinking of delving into the world of larger snakes... and i think we've decided on a hog island boa.

Good choice!

so, i need some real info and i find asking the ones who have them works the best.
I'll try my best
how much time do they need you to spend with them a week? (i know my ball doesn't care if he sees me a week, month etc. although i do try to spend some time with him bi-weekly - if HE'S in the mood that is :P )

Hoggies are more tolerant of handling than BPs. I have mine out for anything ranging from 15mins-1hour as often as I can. Sometimes that is once per week, sometimes a few times. Sometimes my fiance takes him in the bedroom and hangs out with him while watching TV and he lays under the blanket.
as they grow and get more strength to them... are they typically harder to handle?
Not particuarly. They become stronger but keep in mind, they are not a big boa like a red tail. Females get bigger than males.
i've heard people say, "if you work with them... " what exactly does that mean? hold them daily, weekly etc?
Spend some time handling them and letting them get to know you and be comfortable with you.
i want to make sure i'm the right kind of person to own one before i get it. because IMO it's easier to rehome a ball which stays small than a boa who gets much larger... so i want to make sure i can care for him for life.

how long do they live in captivity?
If taken care of they can live upwards of 30 years (dont quote me on this but I believe this to be the number)
what do you feed them as adults?
They can eat rats forever. My adult male eats smalls (sometimes 2) every 7 days
i think that's all my questions... although i may have more depending on how well this cup of coffee does with my awakening brain cells LOL

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Hope this helped a bit!

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Sometimes my fiance takes him in the bedroom and hangs out with him while watching TV and he lays under the blanket.

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So what Jamie is saying is

hog island boa > Jamie ;) :D

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Originally Posted by cassandra

So what Jamie is saying is

hog island boa > Jamie ;) :D

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I believe that she spends more time with the snake than she does with me! But i'm not much of a cuddler. :sweeet:

wow 30 years eh? i'll be in my 70's - i'm thinking this may not be a good choice then :( i'll have to talk to the kids and see if any of them will be willing to take it when they move out... (age 12 and 7) LOL

Your ball python has the same life expectancy, 20-30 years. =)

Hogs are great. i got mine about 2 months ago and she is incredible. if you want to know about the hog quirks that mine, april's and jamie's hogs have you should check the thread he posted (i'm too lazy to search for it now, got two papers due tomorrow). i believe it was called angry hoggie. she sure is interesting and its incredible the way that she can use her body in comparison to my ball python.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...t=angry+hoggie

off to read it now... thanks!

and ya i know my ball will live that long... i'm just concerned about possibly having to rehome a larger snake. i talked to my son about it today and he said that he'll help me out with it when i'm old and grey(er) LOL - nice kid LOL hahahahaha

jamie,

that was so helpful. thank you!

so by your post... is a hog island something you would recommend to a newbie to larger snakes or is there something else you would recommend instead?

aleesha

I see you keep mentioning larger snake. In comparison to a BP yes, Hogs are larger but they are still not that large. They don't get nearly as long as RTBs and not even close to as girthy. Think of the thickness of a 20oz soda bottle for a male, females can get a bit thicker. I would definitely recommend one as the next step for someone who wants a Boa and a larger snake than your average BP.

hahaha living in canada i don't know what a 20 oz soda bottle is - i'll go goggle it for size.

and yes, i do want to stay small but go big at the same time... if i do decide to get one... the breeder close to me has a few males for me to choose from. which i prefer due to size. trying to keep it down in that department.

Umm..How about an aerosol can of bathroom cleaner or air freshener? I think a male Hog is a nice way to get into Boas and a slightly larger snake. Easy care requirements, voracious feeders and really interesting personalities. Can't beat that!

okay i know what size that is now... a regular one serving bottle of pop LOL

if you got a male i dont think size would be a big issue.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

I think a male Hog is a nice way to get into Boas and a slightly larger snake. Easy care requirements, voracious feeders and really interesting personalities. Can't beat that!

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the strength has me a bit... overwhelmed but i need to remember that he will grow with me... and i'll know how to handle him cause when i get him, he'll be small and i'll learn as i go. (sometimes i just into the end result and forget the process)

jamie,

what type of boa is this?

http://www.glassreptiles.com/pictures/slideshow/rob.jpg

aleesha

thanks chris!

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

jamie,

what type of boa is this?

http://www.glassreptiles.com/pictures/slideshow/rob.jpg

aleesha

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That is my Hoggie!

By the way, a pop bottle? I think we call that soda, eh :D

hahahaha i knew the pop and soda were the same... it was the 20 oz that messed with my head LOL

that's your hoggies face? oh man i am soooooooo in love!!!!!

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

hahahaha i knew the pop and soda were the same... it was the 20 oz that messed with my head LOL

that's your hoggies face? oh man i am soooooooo in love!!!!!

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I just like to mess with our wholly owned subsidiary...uhh..neighbors to the north!

He has that effect on a lot of people. I wish I did!

well jamie if you get a jawline like that... well, let's just say i'll be very impressed :D:D:D:D

yea just wait til my girl gets to size, i think that her and rob will have to meet!!!

Rob loves the ladies...

Ok as for the size thing.. hog islands are considered one of the dwarf insular (island) boas. Here is a picture of my (large) female hog. You average male hog island will not be this big.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/divahold.jpg

She is strong yes, but not nearly enough to overpower me, and I'm not what you'd call muscular. lol

so males are the same size around only shorter in length?

Yeah.. pretty much. Maybe not quite so thick.

well we went out to pick up the enclosure for da hoggie :)

i got a sterilelite 23x16.75x9 - i figure this should do him for awhile!

Sounds good. I guess you've decided you want one then. ;)

Males are shorter and less girthier. Glad you decided to jump in with both feet! Cant wait to see some pics. By the way, make sure you are getting a PURE Hog Island Boa if you are paying in the $175-$250 range. A lot of people are crossing Hogs with RTBs and I am not a fan of the outcrossing.

$300 and i'm in canada. i can't even find any other breeders up here who breed hoggies.

my friend works in a petstore and she said that her cost on a hoggie is $350-$450 depending on the morph etc. so she feels $300 is a good price up here. esp. since i can go there and choose my own!

i asked the breeder if they are pure and he said yes they are. i didn't see any morphs on hoggies on his site... only pures - so i can't imagine they would be crossed.

i will be able to see the parents and the siblings when i go there which is also good IMO. now just to get an appt with him!

oh and did i mention how excited i am? no? well i AMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!

:fest: :P

Sounds great!! I would be excited also!!

friday at noon... i go meet them and hopefully bring one home!!!

Cant wait to see some pics!

i'm going to take my camera with me... and hopefully he'll let me take some photos of other snakes at the same time... kinda like a field trip day LOL

Oh I hated being away for the move and missing all the excitement! Congrats Aleesha and I can't wait to see the pics and hear all about your new hoggie. They are gorgeous snakes and definitely on my own personal wish list someday. I think you've made a great, well informed choice! :clap:

Congratulations! Be sure and post lots of pics now :D

you know... it's so easy to take the time to make an informed choice on this site. so many people share their experiences and knowledge when you simply take the time to ask.

this is truly a great forum and i'm so thankful to everyone who's had a part in assisting me with this.

only 3 more hours and i leave to pick him out of the bunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!

funny it's almost exactly one year since i went and picked up drake... and here i am wondering what size enclosure he'll need for his life.

would around 5' long by 2' high and 2' wide be okay for him?

That'd be more than enough most likely. Being a hoggie (at least part anyway) he's not going to get as big as your average BCI. a 4'x2' cage will likely be plenty big, especially since he's a male.

oh that's great news april... thanks!

:) i'm giddddddddddddddddddddddy about building him this enclosure. i can't wait to see him nightly!

Oh making it yourself? Take lots of pics. :)

we are building it into the stand of our new 135g tank. this way he doesn't take up any space... since we need the stand anyways!

i'll definitely take pics and share them!

Very cool. A new Hog! Woo hoo! Hog's are great. As everyone else has already explained, a pure Hog won't get all that big. You'll be happy. My Hog is pretty nippy, but she's growing out of it slowly. I can't wait to she's old enough to breed. I've made up my mind to NOT go sunset with her or any Hog, they are too close to all being outcrossed. I'm going for a male from Rio Bravo this year, the female is from Paul Mitchell and has all the bloodlines to prove she is pure.
I'm excited too, show some pics!

Jim this thread is a year old.. she was just updating to ask about the cage size for an adult. ;)

but thanks for you excitement!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Jim this thread is a year old.. she was just updating to ask about the cage size for an adult. ;)

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Haha, I should probably look before I post on some of these, huh? What a dork.... :oops:

na... not a dork... an enthusiastic member of an addiction which is strong within you!!!

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

na... not a dork... an enthusiastic member of an addiction which is strong within you!!!

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The force is strong here...

Now am I a dork? :D

naaaaaa :giggle: