So I think I'm getting a RTB for Christmas

So I think that my dad and I are going shopping for my Christmas present (or at least picking it up) in the next couple of days, maybe even the day after Christmas. There's a really good reliable reptile store in my city (I've bought two ball pythons from them and they were VERY healthy animals), so good in fact that my herp vet even gives them two thumbs up. Anyway, there's a really clean RTB, (Columbian I believe, they don't have it specified) that's het for anery( btw, I'm not planning on breeding them at all, but they are SO CLEAN!!). They have two left and both are female. I am fully aware that the females get larger than the males, and I'm prepared to house such a big snake and care for them. I have experience working with a full grown RTB and a 10' albino Burmese python. Unfortunately, I dont work on the days that they feed their snakes, or they are already fed by the time that I get there. So, compared to ball pythons, how aggressive are their feeding responses? Will I need to move her to a different tub? I also heard that the babies are much more nippy than BP babies, is this true? Thanks for your responses in advance!

Put it this way.....


...my boas NEVER go off feed.



I dont see the need for feeding in a seperate tub, but some people would argue until they are blue in the face on that one.

Each boa is different, some are nippy, some are not.

I can only speak for my experiences with my three females.

I have not found any of them to be nippy. They each have their own personality, but none are or were what I would consider nippy. Depends on the personality of the snake, I think.

My boa's feeding responses are pretty fantastic and so I would never want to move them from one environment to another. I have them housed in RBI reptile cages right now and I see no reason to move them to another space for feeding, and every reason NOT to move them for feeding. They stay in hunt mode for quite the while after feeding...

Lastly, I wouldn't necessarily call their feeding response 'aggressive'... maybe just...mmm... enthusiastic :P

I think it does depend on the snake and this is always with any kind of snake too!! My friend has 2 red tail boas and her's is a male and is very tame, sweet and she has a hard time sometimes getting it to eat and when it does its not nippy afterwards, but her brothers RTB is a good eater and is a female and she can be nippy afterwards and she is growing very fast and almost to fast!! But otherwise they are great snakes but as babies it just depends on the snake and I think how much you handle it. Melissa

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Originally Posted by starmom

Lastly, I wouldn't necessarily call their feeding response 'aggressive'... maybe just...mmm... enthusiastic :P

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starmom this made my day... at least until later when i go out for sushi...

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Originally Posted by skaplan86

starmom this made my day... at least until later when i go out for sushi...

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mmmm..... sushi...

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Originally Posted by skaplan86

starmom this made my day... at least until later when i go out for sushi...

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Haha I second that. Starmom, you def have the best quotable's EVER! :D

You'll love having a Boa! Congrats on the awesome X-mas gift :D

You know you'll haft to post pics... :cool:

My boa is very "enthusiastic" feeder. ;)
He's a Hog Island-different but similar to a red tail. He's not at all nippy but when he gets bigger I certainly wouldn't pick him up after eatting. Like starmom said, he stays in hunt mode for a good long while. I suggest you feed yours in the same place he lives.

I am a new boa mommy ... but I will say she is ALWAYS ready to eat ... and she does stay in hunt mode for quite a bit. even so ... I don't have a seperate feeding place... and she isn't nippy ... she is an adult tho I haven't had a baby ;) all in all an awesome snake :) Good luck!! I can't wait to see pics!!

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Originally Posted by Laooda

You'll love having a Boa! Congrats on the awesome X-mas gift :D

You know you'll haft to post pics... :cool:

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Oh you KNOW there will be pics! ok, another quick question also, I know as adults a lot of people feed their adults every two weeks, of 10-14 days, but I was reading on care sheets that you feed juvies weekly... at what weight/prey size would you consider going on a 10-14 day feeding schedule, or would you just feed smaller meals weekly?

My BCI eats great.

Can't say the same for my KSB. :rolleyes:

Ya, they're feeding response is great. Just be careful once they are in feeding mode. I walked by my girls cage 10 mins after she ate a rat and she struck at me through the cage. Note that she has never struck nor bitten my when handling. They just have a strong feeding response.

So my dad's kind of really amazing. He made out this little gift card thingy for me to go with him to pick out a female red tail boa on Saturday AND he got me a mini fridge for us to convert into an incubator!! I'm so excited!! Now all we got to do it gut the incubator, order the heat tape, a new thermostat, and a couple of fans! I'll be posting pics of the lil one saturday when I get her!!:banana::banana::banana: