Another Tarahumara question (Boa newbie here)

[Caitlin]

My beautiful Tarahumara pair arrived on Tuesday (thank you, Michael Beach!) and I am thrilled. I mainly have various pythons and one Brazilian Rainbow Boa, so these guys are a new experience. I hope it's OK if I ask a stupid question.
Usually my new snakes stay in their hides a lot, but neither of these two have been in their hides or under the clutter - they prefer to hang out on top of or in their cork rounds. They are currently in quarantine tubs on paper towel. Each has a UTH with a hot spot 87-89, cool end 77-79, ambient room temp 77, humidity 50-60%; a couple of hides, water bowl, fake vines as clutter, and a cork round to climb on. Is the 'no hides' behavior normal, or am I missing something husbandry-wise? I don't get defensive about feedback.

[jmcrook]

Hah! I was really tempted to get a pair from him but exercised some self restraint. Congrats on the new pick up! They’re super cool little boas for sure.

Boas are a bit more confident than some other snakes. If they’re eating and such for you without issue then I wouldn’t worry. Sometimes mine will hide for a week, sometimes the sleep completely out in the open. Depends on the snake and the day.


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[Caitlin]

Thank you! They do seem like serene little guys; I'll try not to worry and will just enjoy getting to know the differences between them and my other snakes.

I could be wrong, but I think Michael has a couple more available, lol. I know he's breeding his Tarahumara this year.

[bcr229]

My Tarahumara pair had a litter of seven last year. They only go into deep hiding when they are in shed, otherwise they tend to be out and about.

[Caitlin]

Thank you, that is great to hear. Do they seem to be climbers in the way (for example) my Jungle Carpet Python is? I'm already planning for their PVC enclosures and was going back and forth on height. I will bore everyone with pictures once they are settled in.

[WrongPython]

Boas aren't arboreal in the way carpet pythons are, but they do enjoy climbing and will use the space you give them.

A 2' tall enclosure would be ideal for a Tarahumara. They have enough room to seriously climb with that space, and establishing a good thermal gradient and basking spot is doable with an RHP. A 4'x2'x2' enclosure would be great life-long housing for a Tarahumara female and I'm sure a male would use that same amount of space as well.

For what it's worth, I personally plan on housing my semi-dwarf boas in nothing shorter than 2' when they reach adulthood.

[Caitlin]

Perfect, thank you. I'll try to go with 4x2x2 for both, or at least 3x2x2 for the male and 4x2x2 for the female. It's nice to see them out and about and I definitely want to give them enough room to take advantage of the fact that they won't be lurking in their hides all day.