RTB questions

[SKO]

I was just wondering about the temperament of the red tail boas. I have a ball python but I definitely love the red tails and would like to own one in the future and was just wondering how docile and "friendly" they are

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[The Snakery]

I suppose it really depends on the RTB. I personally do not have one but a close friend does and she is quite aggressive. At the same time, I have met others that were puppy dog tame.

[SKO]

Yeah I've been looking at care sheets and videos on YouTube to see how they are but I want to hear from people that have experience how they are. Beautiful creatures though

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[bcr229]

I own several. They all have their own temperaments, though none are truly "aggressive". They all tolerate being handled, though most prefer to be left alone. My two largest females are actually the easiest to handle despite being the largest in the collection, but IMO that's because both came from backgrounds where their prior owners handled them a lot.

If you purchase from a breeder you can ask for a baby that tends to be chilled out rather than defensive.

For a really laid-back boa look into the Dumeril's.

[SKO]

From what I've been reading here and other forums that seems to be the case. The other question I have is do they all end up eating rabbits? Or can they stay on large rats? I figured size of the snake has a factor in that but since they get pretty big I wasn't sure if they all end up taking rabbits. There is no way I could do that with my wife and now future child lol they would freak I'm sure

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[Tcarver]

I have had Surinam redtailed boas for years that I purchased as babies. They have been very docile and feed on jumbo rats. I have seen a lot of Surinam's that were overfeed. They should have a somewhat box-shaped looking body, not rounded.

[bcr229]

I plan to move my larger boas to rabbits in the next few months, not because jumbo rats aren't big enough for them, but because jumbo rats are often retired breeder females, and a similar-weight juvenile rabbit has a lower fat content than that jumbo rat.

My local rabbit supplier can also provide all sizes from pinkies, which are small enough for an adult king snake, all the way through several pound adult rabbits for my retic.

[Tigerhawk]

I have several boa's. They are all different. I have a male that so laid back and likes to get out just to hang out. I often take him to work with me, he usually just hangs out on my desk. I also have a female that was almost two years old when I got her. She's just a little bit cage agressive. Nothing really serious .I just have to use a snake hook when I want to take her out. After which she's pretty cool. The others are some where in the middle. Boa's are not ball pythons. They have personality. I do believe they learn to reconize their keepers. If I were you I would get one, however get a small baby. That way as it grows you learn its habits and you will be more comfortable with it as it grows. Also if you want one that will not get overly large. Get a morp boa. Most breeders tell me that they don't get as large as the non morphs. I think you will enjoy boa's. I got one to eat the extra rat's my ball pythons would not eat. Now I have four.

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I have several boa's. They are all different. I have a male that so laid back and likes to get out just to hang out. I often take him to work with me, he usually just hangs out on my desk. I also have a female that was almost two years old when I got her. She's just a little bit cage agressive. Nothing really serious .I just have to use a snake hook when I want to take her out. After which she's pretty cool. The others are some where in the middle. Boa's are not ball pythons. They have personality. I do believe they learn to reconize their keepers. If I were you I would get one, however get a small baby. That way as it grows you learn its habits and you will be more comfortable with it as it grows. Also if you want one that will not get overly large. Get a morp boa. Most breeders tell me that they don't get as large as the non morphs. I think you will enjoy boa's. I got one to eat the extra rat's my ball pythons would not eat. Now I have four.

[SKO]

I don't mind if it gets really big. I would definitely want to get one as a hatchling or few months old

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[CloudtheBoa]

Yup, jumbo rats and Guinea pigs are to be avoided. If your boa gets big enough for jumbos, it's time for rabbits.

As stated, each individual will have their own temperaments. Mine is very docile, and much lazier than my ball python. Morph vs. non-morph doesn't affect size. If you want a smaller snake that will not take rabbits, get a "dwarf" locale of BCI (Hog Island, Nicaraguan, Caulker Cay, etc.), and BCA stay small as well.