When To Move RTBs To Bigger Enclosure

[Gio]

There is some good advice above here.

I have my male, Colombian, locality in a 48" x 30" x 20". I believe boa constrictors will remain semi arboreal throughout their lives, and I prefer to see them use that characteristic in my situation. I'm not a breeder, nor do I have plans to breed any of the animals I own.

I like display caging for my own viewing purposes.

I really, and this is just my opinion, don't like cages that don't offer a semi arboreal species the chance to get off the ground. However, if you do not provide the space in the cage, get the animal out and let it climb a few times a week. You'd be amazed at the muscle development and tight, lateral compression their bodies attain because of the exercise they get by climbing. I'm speaking of BC's when I mention "lateral compression," but ALL semi arboreal species will "muscle up" through climbing.

My male was a few months shy of the 1 year mark when I bought him and he went directly into a Pro-Line 48" x 24" x 14" cage. He is now in the larger cage and he'll live his life out there unless he attains an extraordinary length and weight in the coming years which is very doubtful.

WHEN???

Well, that all depends on the animal. You obviously want to mimic what the breeder was doing before you took possession of the snake for a while. Transportation, new environment, possibly different climate and pressure can take a toll and cause some stress.

An established, feeding, eliminating, and shedding animal should have a decent chance at successfully moving into a larger enclosure.

Be prepared to change things back or modify the new cage if things don't look right to you.

A young BC using the perches and climbing options.




The new boa constrictor cage is on the bottom. He, the snake, is 5' 3" at about 2.5 years old. He uses the perches constantly.

There is a young coastal carpet python in the top cage that will go into a cage like Serpent Merchant mentioned, and the royal python will take the top cage here when the time comes.



I checked with the BC breeder about the cage size, and his thoughts on moving the boa into the first cage before purchase. I also prepared the cage with a lot of clutter for the first few months and didn't handle the animal often until I made sure he was functioning properly.

[Sauzo]

I got my BCI girl in a 48x23x14 Pro-Line and I see her probably outgrowing it. I've had her 2 years and she was about 18" when I got her and now shes 6ft and getting rdy to shed again. And yes I wish I could have snatched up a 5ft Pro-Line before Ed quit. Now I will probably be stuck sucking up the freight for an AP T25 when she outgrows her Pro-Line. The biggest plus atm is she loves to come out and is as tame as a puppy so unless she wants to curl up under her RHP, she gets plenty of time to stetch out.

But like others have said, males typically will be fine in a 48" cage. The females though will probably need larger.....as I'm finding out now

[Gio]

I got my BCI girl in a 48x23x14 Pro-Line and I see her probably outgrowing it. I've had her 2 years and she was about 18" when I got her and now shes 6ft and getting rdy to shed again. And yes I wish I could have snatched up a 5ft Pro-Line before Ed quit. Now I will probably be stuck sucking up the freight for an AP T25 when she outgrows her Pro-Line. The biggest plus atm is she loves to come out and is as tame as a puppy so unless she wants to curl up under her RHP, she gets plenty of time to stetch out.

But like others have said, males typically will be fine in a 48" cage. The females though will probably need larger.....as I'm finding out now

I think you and I did a lot of the same things and I remember chatting with you during the early stages.

OH,,,, BTW,,, hold out a bit on Ed,,, I think he needs some down time, but he may come back after some time off.

I'd love him back and I'd like to see your setup again too.

[Sauzo]

Hey Gio. Yeah I think we both got our snakes about the same time. And yeah I don't plan on getting a big cage for my BCI girl yet as she gets out a lot so I'm not too worried yet. I need to get my pied girl into a PVC cage though as I've got her in a 30 gallon breeder(36x18x12) now but I had to Macguyver it to get perfect humidity and temps and I want a nice clean looking PVC cage That's why I want to do an AP cage for her so I can have the perspective of both cage companies.

[Gio]

Hey Gio. Yeah I think we both got our snakes about the same time. And yeah I don't plan on getting a big cage for my BCI girl yet as she gets out a lot so I'm not too worried yet. I need to get my pied girl into a PVC cage though as I've got her in a 30 gallon breeder(36x18x12) now but I had to Macguyver it to get perfect humidity and temps and I want a nice clean looking PVC cage That's why I want to do an AP cage for her so I can have the perspective of both cage companies.

Ha! Same boat as you are in again LOL!

I want my son's royal in the Pro-Line that the carpet is currently in. The carpet I have is some type of coastal cross with the mother at about 10 feet and the father about 8 so I'm expecting an 8 to 10 foot animal and it will need some ceiling as well as floor space.

This brings us back on topic.

Another way of "Knowing" when your snake can move to a larger enclosure is if it is clearly outgrowing it's current one.