Rubber Boa?

I hear these are pretty cool little guys... I was wondering how they compared to BPs and Corns... I saw they tended to need to be cooler than even corns? is that correct or was that a bad site I read? (they also said several could live together just fine and that live was better than f/t though) I'm still thinking about what I'm looking for at the expo this weekend (if anything) and I thought a rubber boa sounded interesting, so I wanted to ask around a bit... thoughts?

really secretive, it would almost be like keeping an empty cage that eats mice weekly. fun little guys when you see them, but you'll never see them

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Originally Posted by qiksilver

really secretive, it would almost be like keeping an empty cage that eats mice weekly. fun little guys when you see them, but you'll never see them

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Much like my BP then, huh? Grrr... I want a rather active snake that's going to appreciate being handled (I know I'm funny!) I was told that people just wear them like jewelry in the summer because it's cool enough for them... that's probably a buncha bunk, huh?

people do some silly things, they're just real shy, active snakes that tolerate handling are a toughy, Boa constrictors usually fare well, or some rat snakes...

Are those beginner snakes? I appreciate your input so much! I just want to get some other ideas so I can do some research before I get there with money in my pocket and turn into a kid in a candy store and don't pay attention to what I'm getting into :D Not that I've ever done anything like that before :oops:

If you want something bigger... like 8 feet long and super active go for a taiwan beauty, they're real pretty and can be personable, MedusasOwl on here has a few i think jjspirko too, but for boas a lot of times it's reccommended for beginners, but I would look for a central american boa, because the common colombians get real big real quick. Nicaraguans and boas like that stay pretty small.
There's always the western hognoses or house snakes for small active fairly personable snakes, but then again they're not the take around sort since they'll dart away.

sorry I forgot about rosy boas, like rubbers but considered more active as well as a great beginner species.
I have a lot of trouble the the beginner species because they all have their quirks, although some are definitely better than others.

So the Taiwan Beauty is a rat snake? I hope those two posters get a chance to weigh in on thier experience with this snake, you're right, they sure are pretty!

I think the activity level of a rubber is based on a "per snake" basis. I keep mine in a rack and I see him out all the time. Usually I only keep very inactive snakes in a rack. I think mine would actually explore a decorative tank. But I know many people never see their rubber boa. Based on my experience I can't recommend as a beginner snake. I have had some feeding and husbandry quirks I had to work out. For one: Mine will only take washed f/t pinkies with the legs removed. Two: They required somewhere between 60 & 70% humidity at shed time to have a good shed. Everything i've read says 40-50% average. When I keep mine at 45% he has a bad shed.

Anyway, I love mine. What a cool little snake. And yes, they will coil around your fingers and stay there.

I think you should try a boa constrictor. My Central American baby hides, but spends a proportionate amount of time outside of his hides as well. He's very inquisitive about me and his environment. He keeps me on my toes because he will get a little squirrely and strike if I'm not paying attention. I haven't had him long but it's a stark contrast from the bp secretive behavior.

I have a Taiwan Beauty. I've only had him a few months, so I'm no expert, but I can tell you that mine is definitely more active than my BP, also a lot faster, and a little skittish right now (Not bitey skittish, but like holding a small firehouse maybe) , but he's still fairly small. With regular handling I expect him to calm down a bit, but right now it's like having a kitty.
We also have a Trinket rat snake. They're similar to the bigger beauty snakes, but don't get nearly as big. The trinket has always been somehwat active, but not skittish at all when handled.

Now I get to google trinket snake! I'm not sure I really need 8 feet of energy just yet, but I am almost leaning towards a rat or other snake on those lines. Thank you!

HI,
did you end up going to that expo?
did you pick anything up ?

I did go, but there wasn't a rubber boa to be found! It was nuts! I didn't see any trinket snakes either... I saw blue beauties and a lot of the other colubrids (sp?) I was considering, but I ended up getting a good sized 06 female BP... Something i know I can handle :D

I'm not a huge fan of rubber boas. As said, its like keeping an empty cage, I'd rather keep a more active species I can appreciate better. Rubber boas are really pretty cool snakes but not real big on handling. I'd recommend a redtail of some sort over most bigger colubrids for the main reason of being laid back. A male common B.c.i.(Boa Constrictor Imperator) can be kept under the 6' mark easily simply by just not over feeding it. If you want a snake that will actually push to come out and explore, I'd say go for a B.c.i. of some sort.