Baby boa setup

I’ve had several people send me messages asking how I care for my younger BCC boas. So I thought I'd make a thread stating how I go about taking care for these amazing creatures. Since there isn't a boa husbandry sub forum, I'll put it in here. Here’s what I do. And this is a great way to raise any boa locality, not just a BCC.
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I buy an appropriate sized rubbermaid that isn’t too big, but small enough to make them feel secure as well as give them room to grow. My personal opinion based on my experience with Peruvians, Surinames and Belem boas is that they feel much more secure on a loose substrate like aspen, as apposed to newspaper or indoor/outdoor carpet. But the choice is yours. Drill holes with a small drill bit. I use 1/8", and space them about 1 1/2 -2 inches apart. Place a relatively small waterdish in there. You will probably have to move it around the tub accordingly to achieve the desired humidity level you are looking for. Since these types of set ups hold moisture well, you’ll probably keep it as far away from the heat source as possible. Also, you may have add more holes to lower the humidity. From there, just place a an appropriate sized uth under one side of the enclosure. I like to provide one corner of the tub with a uth. Some people prefer the whole side to be heated while some like the uth to be about the size of the snake itself coiled up or slightly larger. Again, your call. With the exception of clamps for the top (don’t rely on the 2 clamps that keep the lid down and a book or two. Buy actual clamps) that’s about it. Those little buggers are pretty strong and can get out. I like to place a couple hides in there as well as some greenery.
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Having said that, here are so important considerations.
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1) Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to set up the tub before placing the boa in there. A day or two isn’t enough. Temps and humidity will change frequently in new setup. Especially is you use aspen. Freshly applied aspen with make the cage more humid for several days and then will start to fall some. Give yourself plenty of time to monitor fluctuations and make the necessary adjustments before placing the snake.

2) Use good devices for measuring temperatures and humidity. An infra-red temp gun is your best friend when working with BCC or any locale of boa constrictor.

3) Dial devices are crap, stick with digital. Accurite makes a nice hydrometer/thermometer combo. The device itself measures temperature (ambient) in 2 locations. The actual device measures a temp, as well as the probe that is located on a 4 foot cord. I place the accurite on the cool side of the tub and run the cord with probe to the warm side.

4) Make sure you understand the difference between ambient (air) and surface temps. They are two different things and are commonly misunderstood in this hobby. One of the reasons why you cannot trust every care sheet you read as most don't explain the difference when referencing temperature.

5) Fart around with the thermostat probe. There’s no set place to put it in any type of setup. Stick on the wall on various spots, under the substrate, on top, dangling from the air, etc. You’ll get all sorts of readings when moving it around. Doing this comes in handy when you seem to have trouble achieve the desired basking area you are aiming for. Try it.

6) A boa kept in a tub will need to be in a room that has an adequate ambient (air) temperature corresponding to the time of year. This is crucial in a tub setup! I adjust my boa’s cage temperature in correspondence to the season. I give them a "Summer" and "Winter". It’s not necessary if you have no desire to breed the animals, but I think it provides more than just breeding benefits which is one of the reasons why I do it. Ideally, a room from about 78-84 is a good range for the Summer months. This is important. A boa cannot be kept in a 70 degree room with only uth. If you have cool rooms and are unwilling to heat them because you don’t like it warmer or are too cheap, then this method of keeping boas will not work.
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A sample setup of one of my Boa constrictor constrictor
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http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...2/Gisele-1.jpg
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Hope this helped!


Brandon

Very nice and useful write-up!

Thank you!

Nice looking BCC! Suri?

Here are a couple poor photos of a great looking Suri I had several years ago. I look forward to getting another one someday.
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...as/suri-02.jpg

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...as/suri-01.jpg

Yep, that's one of the suri girls. Thanks.

Here's a couple more pics of that suri since I don't show her off as much.
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http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...mits/Suri6.jpg
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http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...Gisele-1-1.jpg
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http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2.../Gisele4-1.jpg
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http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2.../Gisele3-1.jpg
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Sorry for the crappy photos.

what kind of uth do you use?

I'm kinda worried about melting tubs or something.

As long as they are on a thermostat or dimmer, any kind is fine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ssjsmits

As long as they are on a thermostat or dimmer, any kind is fine.

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ok, but what kind do you prefer?

Almost exactly what I use and the same general setup method too.

Wish I could find a sterilite or rubbermaid tub large enough for adult boas though. Not to mention secure and sturdy enough. Ah well guess you can only be so "cheap" before you have to put some effort into it huh.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by truthsdeceit

ok, but what kind do you prefer?

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I like flex and zoomed uth.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bsd13

Almost exactly what I use and the same general setup method too.

Wish I could find a sterilite or rubbermaid tub large enough for adult boas though. Not to mention secure and sturdy enough. Ah well guess you can only be so "cheap" before you have to put some effort into it huh.

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I only have a small handful of boas kept in rubbermaids. Most of of the smaller boas are kept in rack systems that will house them to they are about 5 ft or so.

sorry this is diggin up something from way back... but its relevant for my situation and I felt it better to dig up an old one before starting a new one...

About what size rubbermaid do you use? My bp is in a 41qt which seems like it would be way big for a baby suri but would only hold it up to about 4ft or so... I'd like to be able to keep the boa in a tub until I had to put her in a full cage... I know it depends on the size of the snake, but I don't know anything about picking a cage that a snake will need to grow into...

Thanks in advance

Here's a few photos. I keep neonates in 34qt tubs until they are established feeders and have shed a few times. Then I move them into my racks that support 41qts. They are big in comparison to the boa but work well and prove a lot of security, plus give the boa plenty of time and room to grow in. The boa in this photo was in the 41qt tub until she was about 5 ft.
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http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...icture1045.jpg
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Hope that helped.

very helpful brandon thank you very much!

since i'm going to be buying and would only buy an established feeder would you say its safe for me to just go straight into a 41qt? I want to get a baby but since i'm hoping to find a nice suri or maybe a peruvian BCC its important that i get an established feeder and get it off to a good start. Its more important that I find a well started snake than one that is fresh out of the womb.

All boas, regardless of ssps., do very well in tubs that are "bigger". Boas feel more secure in a big tub as apposed to a big cage. I think a 41 will be more than okay. Best of luck.