Questions

[BIGBUD98]

ive been doing a lot of research on snakes lately and i really like red tail boas. i know basic care and there size but i have a few questions about them i am new to snakes so bear with me

1. are they good for a first snake owner?

2. pricing for hatchlings and good breeders to find them?

3. i have 40 gallon tank and i was wondering how long i could keep it in there?

4. this is of topic but are ball pythons really that bad of trouble eaters as everyone says they are?

im not looking to get one anytime soon but id like to know as much as possible before i get one and id like to explore my options

thanks in advance!

[blackfish707]

1) Usually I don't recommend RTBs for a first time snake owner. While they tend to have great dispositions, if you've never had snakes and are not used to or familiar with their behavior and how to work with them/handle them, an animal that is going to quickly obtain the size of a RTB is going to potentially feel very overwhelming. (Also expense of housing and feeding adds up). Plus, bigger the animal, bigger the poo.

2.) Common Colombian RTBs (BCI) are pretty, well, common. It shouldn't be too hard to come by them, but I'm sure someone will recommend a breeder they've had good experiences with. Price-wise, for a normal, I'd say under $100. If you're looking for the bigger species (BCC) like Guayana or Suriname, they may run you more.

3.)Although you should slow grow your boa, they still have some pretty big growth spurts in they early years and can be very active snakes. I would ball park a year-old max (others feel free to correct me on this).

4.) I have six ball pythons and they're all power-house feeders. The species will naturally go through periods of fasting. A lot of people see this as being finicky and over-worry about the situation. Sometimes my guys skip a week or two, and that's fine. They'll eat when they're hungry. Some also have preferences for a certain type of prey. When kept properly, they're pretty consistent eaters in my experience.

[Daybreaker]

1. are they good for a first snake owner?

2. pricing for hatchlings and good breeders to find them?

3. i have 40 gallon tank and i was wondering how long i could keep it in there?

4. this is of topic but are ball pythons really that bad of trouble eaters as everyone says they are?

im not looking to get one anytime soon but id like to know as much as possible before i get one and id like to explore my options

First, when you say RTB are you talking about a BCC or BCI locality? BCI's technically are not true red tailed boas, but many still refer to them as "red tails". I would recommend a BCI for a first time boa keeper (Colombians, Hog Islands, Central Americans, even some of the smaller "dwarf" Mexican localities) so my answers are general regarding those:

1) Yes, I do think they are good first snakes but ONLY IF you have the ability to house the larger guys (Colombians) in at least 4-6' caging (PVC, not fish tanks), able to feed them the larger and more expensive prey (adults IMO should not eat weekly: I feed my adults every 2 weeks, sometimes every 3), and if you have held/seen a full grown BCI (Colombian) in person so you know what to expect. Some of the smaller localities can be kept in tubs their whole lives but I would still be prepared in case they, too, need larger caging than a tub or tank.

2) Totally depends on what locality and what morph you're looking at. Way too broad of a question to answer. I would check out Kingsnake and Fauna Classifieds for pricing: normal colored Colombians and CAs will be one the lower end up to pretty expensive when you look into getting into certain morphs. BCCs will be priced higher than their normal BCI counterparts (usually), but again: I recommend a BCI over a BCC for a beginner.

3) Again, depends on the locality. Personally I would ditch the tank and start younger boas out in tubs (mine feel more secure in those over a wide open tank) and I would still bet on needing a PVC cage eventually if you plan to go with a Colombian or female Hog, CA, etc. I love Animal Plastics cages but Boaphiles look nice too and you could always make your own. There's many other companies out there that make caging: just about looking around. Peg at least around $150+ for a 4' cage: this doesn't include shipping costs from a company or heating needs (thermostat, RHPs if used, UTHs, etc).

4) I have some balls that eat every time offered and some that go longer periods of being off feed. I can judge pretty well who will eat on feeding night and not: so overall I would say some can be picky but it depends on the individual. Out of all the species I keep the balls are the most finicky though.

and some other little notes on boas: feed babies every 7-10 days and I personally like to feed mice up to the boa's first birthday. I have sub-adults on 10-14 day schedules and adults on every 2 (sometimes 3) weeks. I keep mine a tad cooler than my pythons: they are more comfortable this way. I would start out with a baby from a reputable breeder over staring out with an older animal, especially if you have no boa experience. And again ask yourself if you will have the ability to care for a possible 7'+ animal (Colombians and BCCs): IMO that's not really big but to some it is.

[Cowtipper]

I like BCI's more than Ball pythons, personally; I like that they are active and move around more when you are holding them. If you are worried about size, whether it's for your own comfort, or for space reasons, then a Ball is the way to go. I would recommend a BCI for a first time snake, but not a BCC, they are a larger species and can be more aggressive, and are a little more finicky in their habitat being spot on. A BCI will gain some size faster than a Ball though, your 40 gal will last about a year, but if you're using a screen top, wrap as much of it in tinfoil as you can to keep the heat and humidity in the tank.

[BIGBUD98]

thanks again. yea i was talking about bci, i should have been more specific lol. im starting to think i should get rid of the tank too. what size tub should i do for a young boa

[Daybreaker]

thanks again. yea i was talking about bci, i should have been more specific lol. im starting to think i should get rid of the tank too. what size tub should i do for a young boa

Always had luck starting with 28qts - 34qts (with hides), you can go smaller or larger depending on your preference and the age/size of the snake.

[Evenstar]

Totally agree with everything Daybreaker said. There are just one or two additional things I thought I would mention....

First, when you say RTB are you talking about a BCC or BCI locality? BCI's technically are not true red tailed boas, but many still refer to them as "red tails". I would recommend a BCI for a first time boa keeper (Colombians, Hog Islands, Central Americans, even some of the smaller "dwarf" Mexican localities) so my answers are general regarding those: I would specifically add that BCC or BCO are not so good for beginners to boa constrictors. They are a bit more sensitive to husbandry errors and feeding and can be somewhat more temperamental as well. Stick with a BCI.

1) Yes, I do think they are good first snakes but ONLY IF you have the ability to house the larger guys (Colombians) in at least 4-6' caging (PVC, not fish tanks), able to feed them the larger and more expensive prey (adults IMO should not eat weekly: I feed my adults every 2 weeks, sometimes every 3), and if you have held/seen a full grown BCI (Colombian) in person so you know what to expect. Some of the smaller localities can be kept in tubs their whole lives but I would still be prepared in case they, too, need larger caging than a tub or tank. Minimum size cage for ADULTS of the smaller localities or male Colombians would be a 48x24x18. You should look at something at least 5ft long for a female Colombian and/or any BCC. But I have several juveniles (up to 2yrs old) in 41 qt tubs and they do just fine.

2) Totally depends on what locality and what morph you're looking at. Way too broad of a question to answer. I would check out Kingsnake and Fauna Classifieds for pricing: normal colored Colombians and CAs will be one the lower end up to pretty expensive when you look into getting into certain morphs. BCCs will be priced higher than their normal BCI counterparts (usually), but again: I recommend a BCI over a BCC for a beginner. Also, just to note, boas give birth to live young so they are not referred to as "hatchlings", they are called "neonates".

3) Again, depends on the locality. Personally I would ditch the tank and start younger boas out in tubs (mine feel more secure in those over a wide open tank) and I would still bet on needing a PVC cage eventually if you plan to go with a Colombian or female Hog, CA, etc. I love Animal Plastics cages but Boaphiles look nice too and you could always make your own. There's many other companies out there that make caging: just about looking around. Peg at least around $150+ for a 4' cage: this doesn't include shipping costs from a company or heating needs (thermostat, RHPs if used, UTHs, etc). Totally agree with ditching the tank....

4) I have some balls that eat every time offered and some that go longer periods of being off feed. I can judge pretty well who will eat on feeding night and not: so overall I would say some can be picky but it depends on the individual. Out of all the species I keep the balls are the most finicky though. My female ball is generally a good eater, but she can be sensitive at times. My male is a royal pain in the butt....

and some other little notes on boas: feed babies every 7-10 days and I personally like to feed mice up to the boa's first birthday. I have sub-adults on 10-14 day schedules and adults on every 2 (sometimes 3) weeks. I keep mine a tad cooler than my pythons: they are more comfortable this way. I would start out with a baby from a reputable breeder over staring out with an older animal, especially if you have no boa experience. And again ask yourself if you will have the ability to care for a possible 7'+ animal (Colombians and BCCs): IMO that's not really big but to some it is. Completely agree with all this as well - especially the feeding. Boas have much slower metabolisms than balls do and can be a bit more sensitive to feeding. Go slow and err on the side of smaller prey. It should not leave a lump in the snake's belly. A slow-grown boa is healthier in the long run.

Last thing - be warned. Boas are like potato chips. Betcha can't have just one.....

[Gio]

ive been doing a lot of research on snakes lately and i really like red tail boas. i know basic care and there size but i have a few questions about them i am new to snakes so bear with me

1. are they good for a first snake owner?

2. pricing for hatchlings and good breeders to find them?

3. i have 40 gallon tank and i was wondering how long i could keep it in there?

4. this is of topic but are ball pythons really that bad of trouble eaters as everyone says they are?

im not looking to get one anytime soon but id like to know as much as possible before i get one and id like to explore my options

thanks in advance!

You've been given great advice so far. I can add my opinions and maybe a twist or two to what others have said.

#1: Yes, I'd say a BCI would be a great first pet snake DEPENDING ON THE OWNER. A lot depends on you, and why you like boas and how committed you'll be. A few months back somebody came here all fired up asking questions, posting and then when the words CAGING, THERMOSTAT and VET came up they vanished.

I'm not saying that's you at all, but as others have said be prepared to upgrade your caging in a short time, about the 1 year mark. Consider a male BCI first if you are going the "common Colombian" route. If you are small, and maybe not prepared for a heavier snake that can move and is very strong, a female, unless an island ssp. may be a handful.

If you have a glass tank, you CAN make it work.

That's a 40 breeder in my son's room, it has been insulated on the top, sides, rear and underneath.

It houses a royal now, but you could get away with a boa in it for a bit. I really would not go much over 1.5 years with it there. You'll learn to dislike that type of cage quickly once you get a professional plastic cage. Provided with the right type of cage, and interior, a BC will be very active and thrive. it will use perches, hides and explore the whole cage. BC's are wonderful snakes.

A plastic cage:

IF you are ready to provide all the essential items and can manage a somewhat larger animal, I'd say they are great first snakes.

#2: Common boas are a dime a dozen. When you get closer to a decision about locality, and gender, morph or no morph there are a lot of people here to help.

#3: I covered it in the 1st question. You can work on the tank to make it a lot more accommodating for the snake. If you get a baby, you should look at something smaller though.

#4: Our royal python is a royal pain. She has gone for 6 month stretches with no food. I find them boring in comparison with BC's yet I find them very docile and also a good first snake for the right person. The whole not feeding issue can be distressing to some, and you also need to make sure the food refusal is not related to husbandry/health or other outside issues. They are a very terrestrial snake and quite shy. A younger or very enthusiastic person who may want to constantly handle a snake may do better with a different type.

See what I'm getting at when I say a lot depends on what YOU want, and what you are willing to commit to?

You are in the right place to learn about BC's. Keep up the research and just take some time before you jump into it.