Boa eats another. Help!!!

[ENA Reptiles]

Hi guys I'm a ball python guy but today a friend of mine is giving me a red tail boa that is about 6ft I length because his uncle had two but this one that he is giving me ate the other one. I am a sure they have been neglected and the one I'm getting is very aggressive. First off I am going to put it in a large tub in my rack until I can get it it's own setup. What kind of setup should I be using? Also how long until I feed it? I mean it ate another 6ft RTB. Can it even survive? I haven't see it in person I am going to go get it in a few hours. Also has anyone heard of this? Any help would be awesome and as much input as possible would be great.

[distaff]

So, if I understand correctly, a 6' snake ate another 6' snake.
I've read that baby corns sometimes do this, and when they do, their chances are not good.
It does seem like a lot of length.
Hope he pulls through so he enjoy his new and improved home.

[frostysBP]

I wouldn't feed for a month probably..and dont put in a rack by your other snakes...quarantine quarantine quarantine..good chance it could die and or regurgitate

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[ENA Reptiles]

I wouldn't feed for a month probably..and dont put in a rack by your other snakes...quarantine quarantine quarantine..good chance it could die and or regurgitate

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What kind of setup could I use temporarily? I'm going to try and purchase a heat pad tonight. But my chances aren't great because I can't drive and my mom isn't going to be happy as it is that I'm being anther snake home.

[frostysBP]

A tub setup in another room is the best bet..and if your mom doesn't allow it its best not to get it in the first place...you do live under her rules.

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[bcr229]

A tub setup in another room is the best bet..and if your mom doesn't allow it its best not to get it in the first place...you do live under her rules.

This. I'm a sucker for a hard-up rescue and I wouldn't touch this animal even though I do have several empty enclosures with heat and t-stats that would be more than sufficient to house it.

My advice is to pass on it since you lack the means to house it correctly and securely.

[CloudtheBoa]

I'm questioning the validity of at least the length of the snake it ate...when snakes that do not normally eat snakes eat other snakes the same length or close to the same length, they do not survive. Adults also rarely ever cannibalize, but it's possible. If that snake ate another 6' snake, it would be incredibly lumpy. That is not only a lot of length, but a whole lot of girth.

Chances are, if that snake did eat another 6' boa it would not have survived long enough for your friend to offer it to you.

I also agree on passing on the snake if your mom wouldn't allow it.

[BCS]

I agree... pass on it. I have witnessed a snake eat another snake in ball pythons and the outcome is deadly for both snakes. We are talking about a 5ft female eating a 4ft male and they both died. The 6ft boa that ate the other 6ft boa should have died before it could even finish consuming it OR it would have regurgitated the other snake as 6 feet is WAY too large for a 6ft boa to completely swallow. Sorry but this sounds fishy to me.

[wolfy-hound]

I wonder if the boa escaped and they're assuming it was eaten by it's buddy? Or even if the one is hiding in some decoration in the tank?

If the one 6ft boa really swallowed another 6 ft boa, I would expect it to regurge it(ewwwww). Otherwise I kind of doubt that it can digest it, and that much bulk will be pressing on the lung and heart terribly. If they've been handling it, and it's got that size meal inside, it could already have damage.

If you do get it, quarantine, for certain. It could easily have anything from respiratory infections to mites to IBD. You should think about if you want to risk all of your other snakes in order to take in this one aggro boa.

[guanagator]

Agree with post who think other snake escaped, I heard same story with a pair of RTBs then surprise males in the laundry room 2 weeks later. He was substantially smaller than the female so it was even more plausible, with 2 equal sized animals the outcome would be almost certainly fatal.