BCC Behavior. Is this normal or...

[Krynos]

...not.

Cass and I only have experience with Ball Pythons and thier behaviour which is why we need some advice here!

We consulted with LLL Reptiles when were there buying her and thier advice was "keep them in the same conditions as you would a Ball Python". Se we set up an enclosure with a temp gradient (82/92) and 60% humidity and two hides.

Carmen has been in here enclosure for 6 days now, and we've been observing her behaviour.

She shows no interest in her hides - at all. She either coils up in the corners, or coils up at the top of one of the plastic plants we have in there. Are these less shy than Balls? Is being out in the open "normal" for them?

When we go in to change the water and poop patrol she gets more active and will usually try to get out - looks like a definate "lemme outta here" reaction.

My first concern was that being as she was avoiding the hides that she would be away from the primary thermoregulating zones, the edge of the enclosure is cooler than the areas directly above the UTH's. This was the case for a day or so, but adjusting the CHE has gotten the whole substrate up to 80F, with 92F on the warm side. (we use one CHE above, one UTH on the cool side and one UTH on the warm side.)

I'm thinking we have the temps wrong for a BCC maybe? Or some other area of our husbandry is off somehow... Or she's just not settled yet.

Comments?

[kavmon]

we keep our boa a little cooler than the balls.
80 low/ 88 high. if you have boa questions i highly recommend giving kevin and charlotte a call.

www.ectothermics.com



vaughn

[frankykeno]

We keep our boa (a BCI) at the temps Vaughn mentioned so a bit cooler than the bp's as well. Also Rauri has never shown a real interest in any hides we've given him but granted he's a 6 foot long big butt male snake. He does like to sort of burrow down a bit in his substrate though. Boa's do seem very personable and at least Rauri always likes to come out and "play". Handling doesn't seem to stress him near as much as the other snakes. Putting him back in the enclosure is a 2 person job though LOL (by the time you get the butt in, the head 6 feet away is hanging out and then you shove the head in and...well it's fun! lol) Oh and he loves to climb...anywhere, anything, anytime, big humans being a preferred snakey jungle gym.


~~Jo~~

[Shelby]

My juvie BCC likes her hides, but these guys do enjoy climbing. She sounds fine to me.

[Krynos]

Okay good... sounds all normal then.

I've adjusted the thermostats down a bit, I'll take temp readings again in the morning to check the new levels.

Tonight while I was taking temp reading and general maintenance we weakened and took Carmen out for a little while... Silly snake doesn't seem to like me much and gets off me ASAP and heads for Cass. Sickening I tell you!

But that's okay, Cleo is my girl, she is happier with me than with Cass.

His-n-Hers snakes I guess!

[JimiSnakes]

Boas are almost a completely different world than BPs, huh? Suris are beautiful, any pics?

[Krynos]

The few pictures of her we have you can see on this thread

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=28536

[cassandra]

MY girl! Neener!

She does seem to prefer me.

[jglass38]

What do you guys use as hides for larger snakes? I want to get one for my large BCI girl.

[Shelby]

Large boas do not need hides.