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Please help
Please please tell me this is a Ball Python. Here's the story. 3 weeks ago I bought him from a breeder at the NH Reptile Expo. I distinctly asked if it was a ball python. My snake knowledge has been with corns and garters. I specifically wanted a BP. He said yes. He's been a great snake, eats weekly a frozen-thawed fuzzy. I posted his pic on another forum and was told that he wasn't a ball. Needless to say I'm freaking out. Please help
http://www.reptilerooms.com/modules/...medium/bp1.jpg
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Re: Please help
Sorry, that is a boa. Do you have the information, number or email or some way to contact the person you bought the snake from? I would try to get in contact with him and ask him for your money back, and if you want to return the snake then you can do so.
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Re: Please help
It's a beautiful boa! Some other knowing minds may even be able to tell you what local and all that jazz ;)
Why are you freaking out? Boa's deserve love too, and are quite beautiful. Not to mention, they make very good companion snakes where the ball pythons leave off. :gj:
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Re: Please help
Definitely a boa constrictor :)
He's a cutie though. If it's a male, they generally don't get very long, 4-5.5 ft if fed slowly. You likely won't have some 8ft monster unless it's a female.
Boas are fun and outgoing snakes. They don't stress as easily as Ball Pythons can. They can also be pretty easily converted to f/t, which may be cheaper for you to buy.
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Re: Please help
Hey, this is Lessers from the other forum. Glad to see you took my advice and came here!Id try to find out what kind of boa it is, and what sex it is to see what your dealing with;)
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Not a ball but a gorgeous boa!:gj:
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And, like I said in the other forum, you REALLY need to get him out of your corns tank and out if that kritter keeper! You can make another post or we can help you in this section, but you could end up with a dead snake if this does not get fixed. If anyone wants to chime in at this point go ahead, im not that great with boas...
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Re: Please help
Well unless they lied about that too, he's a male. So what can I expect from a boa as compared to a ball. Size, disposition, temp requirements. I'm waiting on a custom cage, but I have done all I can to provide him with a good home until I get it. I have a thermostat controlling a ceramic heat transmitter keeping his tank at about 88 degrees fahrenheit. I keep a small dish with clean water and a coconut hide. I have him on newspaper. What am I'm neglecting. I don't want a dead snake. Just don't have another option until I get the new cage.
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Re: Please help
I would try to contact the person you bought it from. I've never been to that expo, but at all the reptile shows I've been to, the people want to make sales, but they don't want to make a bad sale. They aren't so desperate to sell their animals that they'll lie about what species it is. So my guess is that somehow there was a miscommunication.
If you can't contact the person you bought it from, and you decide you do not want to keep this snake, you may be able to find someone else who is willing to do a trade with you. I know next to nothing about boas, but I think that they are worth more than ball pythons (not counting morphs, just the normals of each), so there must be somebody that would be willing to make that trade with you.
Whatever you do, welcome to the site! You'll find lots of great information here and plenty of wonderful people who will help you with any questions you may have about whatever snake you end up with!
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Re: Please help
Alright, I'll say it.
Why the He!# did you buy a snake when you obviously had no idea what you were buying and nowhere to properly house it? I seriously don't get it. Why did you even want to buy a ball if you had NO IDEA what a ball looked like??
This kind of thing just baffles me.
~Kat
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Re: Please help
I had done a lot of reading concerning size, disposition, etc. The actual looks were not important. I didn't want a big snake and the ball seemed to match my desires perfectly. I had also planned to purchase a custom built cage at the same time. After conversing with the cage builder, I decided to have one built to my specs. He has had a little problems with his vehicle, which has delayed the cage. I agree that i shouldn't have bought the snake without a cage ready for it, but we don't see snakes like that normally around here.
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Re: Please help
Quote:
Originally Posted by kjhowland
I had done a lot of reading concerning size, disposition, etc. The actual looks were not important. I didn't want a big snake and the ball seemed to match my desires perfectly. I had also planned to purchase a custom built cage at the same time. After conversing with the cage builder, I decided to have one built to my specs. He has had a little problems with his vehicle, which has delayed the cage. I agree that i shouldn't have bought the snake without a cage ready for it, but we don't see snakes like that normally around here.
none of the sites that u went to had pics of what they looked like ? werent there other venders there that u could have compared with ??
well anywho.. good luck :)
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Re: Please help
Oh my goodness. Well, where to start. I would say to get in touch with the breeder since an error has been made. I would also post the boas picture in the boa section of this forum. Jimi will undoubtedly chime in, as well as Jo, and they are really helpful with boas!!
To my eye, your boa looks like a beautiful BCI red-tail Columbian. Nice speckling!! What a cutie!! BCI's typically have great personalities: gentle, mellow, curious. If it is a male, a 4x2x2 ought to hold him for his lifetime. If its a female, a 6x2x2 will do well. Now of course people keep them in tubs and in smaller enclosures; this is simply my opinion for how to keep a boa. The boa environment is similar to the royal though not so hot as some people keep royals. I keep my boas at 90F and have them at 50-55% humidity; very similar. I provide climbing branches and will have a basking shelf in their large cages. They are very cool snakes though very different from royals. You really want to contact the breeder!!!
Good luck and keep us in the loop!
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Re: Please help
To me it looks like either a common boa(it's spelled Colombian ;) ) or a Nicaraguan. I keep my boa between 78-80 cool side and 88-90 warm side, they like it a bit cooler than Ball Pythons do.
A baby boa DOES need a small-ish enclosure(20 longs work well). Juvies just get stressed easily and they need to feel secure in their environment. You don't want to risk regurgitation. Females generally don't need anything bigger than a 4x2 unless they are 10ft+, which is a rarity. Mine is around 8ft now and she's in a VE-175 tub from ReptileTubs.com(otherwise known as the $25 X-Mas Tree box).
For a start, all you need to do is CLEAN the enclosure. It looks filthy as does the water bowl(is that a lid??). Get an actual water bowl, 2 hides, a DIGITAL thermometer so you can measure the temperatures and humidity accurately, and an undertank heater with a dimmer(dimmer is $11 at Home Depot, no wiring needed).
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Re: Please help
Well, like I said, size of the enclosure is a matter of opinion. I don't feel right about keeping a 6-8ft female boa in a 4 foot enclosure....
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I realize that, and if you have room for a 6x2x2 enclosure, go right ahead. I for one, don't have that much floor space. I will trust the people who are the most experienced in the field, such as Rio Bravo and many others, and they say a 4x2 is perfect for an adult female and a 3x2 is fine for an adult male. Males, if fed conservatively, stay around 5ft. They should be squared off, not round-bodied. I'm sure my girl would get to be a fattus if I let her, and that's why she only gets fed a 2.5lb rabbit every 3-4 weeks.
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Re: Please help
Quote:
Originally Posted by kjhowland
...I agree that i shouldn't have bought the snake without a cage ready for it, but we don't see snakes like that normally around here.
You might not know this, but New Hampshire is home to NERD, it's certainly not hard to find a ball python around here! :) I don't know how far you travelled to go to the show though... I was there, it was SUPER crowded and nearly impossible to get close to any tables, maybe the breeder misunderstood or you mis-heard. Anyhow, good luck!
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Re: Please help
Quote:
Originally Posted by janeothejungle
Why the He!# did you buy a snake when you obviously had no idea what you were buying and nowhere to properly house it? I seriously don't get it. Why did you even want to buy a ball if you had NO IDEA what a ball looked like??
I kind of agree. I thought about posting something similar. Although I think your tone is a bit over the top.
But I thought about it. Maybe someone new to snakes who has been researching and probably seen pictures of many, many different BP morphs, might not recognize the difference between a boa and a BP. It might have just looked like yet another morph to them. And even if this guy thought it didn't look quite like a BP to him, who was he to argue with the breeder when he was told (or at least thought he was told) that the snake was a BP? Sure, to us this is very obviously not a BP, but maybe to a newbie?
And it seems like the snake is reasonably housed. He has a ceramic heater controlled by a t-stat, a hide, water. Yes, it is time to clean the enclosure.
I agree totally that the OP could have done things better. But I decided to go with the benefit of the doubt and the idea of attracting more flies with honey.
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Re: Please help
Quote:
Originally Posted by SatanicIntention
I realize that, and if you have room for a 6x2x2 enclosure, go right ahead. I for one, don't have that much floor space. I will trust the people who are the most experienced in the field, such as Rio Bravo and many others, and they say a 4x2 is perfect for an adult female and a 3x2 is fine for an adult male. Males, if fed conservatively, stay around 5ft. They should be squared off, not round-bodied. I'm sure my girl would get to be a fattus if I let her, and that's why she only gets fed a 2.5lb rabbit every 3-4 weeks.
Becky, I realize we have different thoughts about cage sizes and I too have gotten this advice from respected professionals :) I also included the caveat that caging size was variable and that some people keep in tubs as well as cages.
Also, I have no intention of ever over-feeding any of my snakes; obesity in any animal causes major health issues :oops:
Glad to hear your boa is doing well! :gj:
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Re: Please help
I keep BP's and Corns mostly but I'm looking for a Boa. Let me know if you need to find a new home for that beautiful snake. Are You from NH?
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Re: Please help
Well the breeder said it was a Columbian 66% het Snow Boa. He wasn't very cooperative, didn't offer any resolutions. Guess thats the problem with buying from an expo. Hopefully I can get the new cage Sunday and house him in it for a few years, then get something bigger. I'm willing to believe it was a miscommunication, but you'd think a reputable breeder would offer some resolution. He saw my email and sent no reply. Be careful of Cv Exotics in NH.
BTW I shot my pic through the glass cage as well as the plastic Kritter Keeper. My corn had just shed. I've had my corn for over 10 years, so I'm not a complete idiot when it comes to snake husbandry.
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66% double het snow boa? Ya, you can send that to me? I'll prove him! :P
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So...does this mean that you'll keep him?? I believe things happen and sometimes we don't get to know the reasons behind why they happen. I guess you were suppose to get a boa, though you didn't realize it at the time!
I would love to see your handsome guy out of the cage when you have the chance!! Congrats!! :D
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Re: Please help
I know the guy who owns CV Exotics. He's a stand up guy. Had you researched normal Ball Python pictures(not morph pictures), there wouldn't have been a problem. All you had to say was "I'm looking for a normal Ball Python, either male or female", and he would have found you one.
Your boa is 66% possible het Snow. This means it is a normal looking common boa that is 66% Possible het(2 in 3 chance) albino(meaning it has a 66% chance of carrying the albino gene), and is 66% Possible Het for Anerythristic(meaning it has a 66% chance for carrying the anerythrism gene). You would breed the snake to a female who is 100% het for Snow, and see if he proves out for either albino, anerthrism or both genes(which creates a Snow boa).
In the meantime until you can get the new cage, just go to WalMart and get a 27qt sweater box made by Sterilite and house him in that. The corn snake's enclosure isn't a suitable housing situation, and it's also not warm enough for the boa. He could very easily get sick at the temperatures the corn snake is comfortable at.
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Re: Please help
I'd think asking the guy if this snake was a Ball Python would relay the fact i was looking for a Ball Python. Most of the other vendors had their snakes labeled, because not everyone is a snake expert. Irregardless here's more pics.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/.../4/3/5/bp4.jpg
http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/.../4/3/5/bp3.jpg
http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/.../4/3/5/bp2.jpg
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Re: Please help
His distended throat area is making me think he has a respiratory infection. Is he wheezing, popping? Bubbles coming out of his mouth or nose? Does he yawn alot?
What are his temperatures and humidity?
I would seriously get him to the veterinarian as you may have a very sick snake on your hands. And yes, if you've been keeping him around your corn snake, it's very possible that your Corn could get sick too.
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Re: Please help
Hrmmm...is his throat supposed to look like that?
Edit: Beckys quick hands said it all
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Nope no popping or wheezing, no yawning, no bubbles. Temp is at 88 degrees, 60% humidity. Glad I posted the pictures because his throat looks fine to me.
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Re: Please help
Quote:
Originally Posted by kjhowland
Nope no popping or wheezing, no yawning, no bubbles. Temp is at 88 degrees, 60% humidity. Glad I posted the pictures because his throat looks fine to me.
Would you be able to open his mouth and look for any mucous or extra saliva?
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Re: Please help
he looks anery to me.
But for reals the throat shouldnt look like that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SatanicIntention
if you've been keeping him around your corn snake, it's very possible that your Corn could get sick too.
x2
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Re: Please help
Check out this care sheet.
http://www.redtailboas.com/general_c...eral_care.html
You really need to get his temps up. He is showing the first sign of respiratory infection, and his immune system can't handle it at low temps.
You need to get him out of the critter keeper, out of the corn's cage, and into his own. You risk passing on any infection to the corn snake.
Corn snakes are able to live in temperate climates, boas are tropical.
I would hope you take him to a vet as soon as possible.
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I though 88 degrees fahreheit was ideal for this breed. I have contacted a local vet and sent him the pictures.
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88-90 on the warm side, 78-80 on the cool side, with humidity at 50-60%. If you're not measuring the temperatures with a digital thermometer, and are using the round stick-ons as a reference, they can be as much as 20 degrees off.
I would have called the veterinarian and gotten an appointment. He/she needs to be able to look in the snake's mouth and determine if the snake is sick or if there is another underlying cause of why the throat is so distended.
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The one doctor who handles reptiles doesn't come in every day. The doctor will review the pictures and let me know if I should bring him in. I use a digital thermometer as well as a thermostat.
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I keep my boa no lower than 90F, but I wonder if you know what your ambient temps are? Maybe the ambient is too low....
Edit:> Upon closer inspection, I agree with Mr. Cakes that it does look like an Anery.
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Re: Please help
88-90 is fine, sometimes 91-92, just not any hotter.
Here's the site of the breeder he bought the snake from. Scott Seavey is a good guy. http://www.cvexotics.com/boa_available5.html
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yes i remember the label saying Anerythristic 66% snow.
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Re: Please help
Quote:
Originally Posted by kjhowland
yes i remember the label saying Anerythristic 66% snow.
Yeah, that makes sense. So, you've got yourself a great boa! They are awesome and because it's a male it really won't get much bigger than a female ball python; just a different body shape and a different personality! :rolleyes:
So, I guess you can start to really investigate these boas since he chose you!
Also, have you heard back from the vet? The neck really looks unnatural and needs tending to. I believe you will need to take your snake into the vet's office for an exam; you don't want a respiratory infection (if that is what it is) to get out of hand as it can be fatal if not treated in a timely manner.
Also, now that you know it's a boa, you can post any questions you have in the boa section of this forum!! I'm excited for you, even though this is a surprise for you. Also, CV Exotics is a reputable place to do business with and so I don't know what went wrong with the communication part of the transaction. It does trouble me to hear that Scott is not being helpful as far as information after the sale is concerned. I can understand that since it has been three weeks since the date of sale, the snake is yours. (I find myself scratching my head that you did not know what a snake of interest looks like.) However, I don't understand why Scott isn't taking an active role in customer service after the sale.... :(
On the other hand, you've got us! :oops: Get your snake to the vet and get him healthy and you have every reason to be proud of the snake that chose you and I just know the 2 of you will become great friends!! Boas are so cool!!
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Re: Please help
Hi I don't know why you thought you were getting a ball python we have 16 feet of tables at that show that was a month ago ball pythons are on one side and the boas are on the other with odds and ends in the middle to separate them. Everything we sell is some thing we have produced we don't buy and resell so we can control the quality and take Great pride in our animals! I remember selling it to you Its an Anerthristic 66% het snow boa male it also cost a lot more than a normal ball python. We have answered all your emails and your one phone call today. By the looks of the picture you posted its also sick you cant keep it set up like you have it give us a call at our shop and we will help you with any ? or bring it by we are in NH only 30 min from were the show was and we can look at it and help you out. We also have ever thing you will need to set it up right. Thanks Scott
--CV Exotics inc.
www.cvexotics.com
Store # 603-329-0110
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Re: Please help
Quote:
Originally Posted by cvexotics
Hi I don't know why you thought you were getting a ball python we have 16 feet of tables at that show that was a month ago ball pythons are on one side and the boas are on the other with odds and ends in the middle to separate them. Everything we sell is some thing we have produced we don't buy and resell so we can control the quality and take Great pride in our animals! I remember selling it to you Its an Anerthristic 66% het snow boa male it also cost a lot more than a normal ball python. We have answered all your emails and your one phone call today. By the looks of the picture you posted its also sick you cant keep it set up like you have it give us a call at our shop and we will help you with any ? or bring it by we are in NH only 30 min from were the show was and we can look at it and help you out. We also have ever thing you will need to set it up right. Thanks Scott
--CV Exotics inc.
www.cvexotics.com
Store # 603-329-0110
:gj:
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Re: Please help
Somehow I must have missed where it was said that this snake is living in a kritter keeper inside the corns enclosure? So I'm guessing the t-stat & CHE are actually the ones used for the corn, not separate for this snake? I take back what I said about reasonably housed. This would still be pretty reasonable for an emergency situation, but purchasing an animal is not an emergency. And that was 3 weeks ago.
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Any update on what the vet said????? :confused:
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CVExotics, because I asked the guy that was helping me if it was. Perhaps with all the people there and the noise he didn't understand the question. Anyho we're beyond that. I'm trying to get in to see the vet this morning. If I can't, is your store open tomorrow? What is the address?
The thermostat, the new lighting system, and the UTH was bought specifically for this snake. My corn was very happy with a ceramic heat in one corner.
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Vet saw him today. He's a healthy baby boa.
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Re: Please help
Quote:
Originally Posted by kjhowland
Vet saw him today. He's a healthy baby boa.
What's wrong with his neck then?
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Re: Please help
He's not healthy.. Even the breeder who produced the snake said so.. I would get a second opinion.
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Re: Please help
I would take him back to the breeder and ask the breeder to have a look at him. If he had a 16 foot table at a show covered in snakes, he probably knows a thing or two about them and can help you figure out what's wrong with the boa and help you set him up properly, but there is something wrong. Don't stop until you find out what it is.
He's a very pretty snake - it'd be a shame for him to become permanently damaged or destroyed by you taking solace in some useless vet's obviously skewed opinion. Pursue the issue. If you decide not to, bring him to me, lol, i'm in boston. I'll trade you a real, healthy male ball for him.
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Re: Please help
Boas and Balls are both great snakes. I hope this gets resolved to the good of all. The neck did not look right to me either and I'm not an expert. All the advice here has been good and CV Exotics seems willing to work with you.
If you want a cheep solution to the cage problem. Get that sweater box someone else mentioned. Drill some air-holes. Put your heatpad under it with your thermostat. Put his water bowl in and a hide or two. Put some bungees across the top to hold it on. You can do a search on here under tubs to get some pics of this. That will hold him until your new "custom" cage comes. They only cost $8.00
or so.
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Re: Please help
Yea, there is definitely something up with him. You need to find a reptile vet...I suspect what you took him to was one that treats cats and dogs and knows next to nothing about snakes. If he said the boa was healthy, then what explanation did he give for his neck being swollen like that?
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Re: Please help
what kinda vet should we look for?
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