I Finally Got Him!

[JimiSnakes]

I agree that he needs to just settle down. People get worried very easily when they first wander into the "Boa Realm" because of the complete difference of attitude and actions. How's he settling in now? Any change?

[frankykeno]

I remember freaking out when Rauri would angle up and stare madly at the top of her enclosure (usually with her nose pressed hard against the mesh). Turns out it was something she did every single time she took a big dump LOL. Apparently she couldn't even stand her own stink but being she was our first boa I did the "omg it's bad!" thing too. They are just a lot different than ball pythons.

[eddyhead]

yeah i think i am just more stressed then he is lol...well first night went good he was active all night, he is now laying in the corner..he hasnt used his hides once is that ok? i mean if he wants in he will find them right?


also another question the owner usally feeds his snakes on sundays...i bought him on saturday and today is a normal feeding day for him...i realize that obviosuly first day in the new home is not a good time to feed him, but i want to feed him on tuesdays 1. its a good day for me 2. that way hes ready to be handled by the weekend if need be, so do you think it would be ok to feed him on tuesday if he seems ok? or should i wait till next tuesday?

[JimiSnakes]

Tuesday will be fine. None of my boas have, use, or need hides.

[eddyhead]

Tuesday will be fine. None of my boas have, use, or need hides.

awsome!!! thanks Jimi..you truely are a life saver

[eddyhead]

everything is good..question..

if he hasnt even gone in any of the hides yet neither warm side or cool side...would be ok to take them out? or should i keep at least one in?

[JimiSnakes]

Does he have something to borrow in or under? Take them out...

[eddyhead]

i took one out and left one in just in case, but i re did his cage because i finally found the stuff i wanted and now its planted and has jungle vines, and man does he love them...all night he just crawls from vine to vine. i will try feeding him in a little so we will see how the first feed goes

[eddyhead]

ok so i did the feeding today and i took him out for the first time and he was so much fun to hold and was so nice i put him in a seperate feeding enclosure and after i convinced him not to escape out of the tub i put the mouse in (did use live, not going to stay with live it just happened this time) and immeditely he struck and rapped once around the mouse it tried to move and he put the rest of his body around and sucessfully killed the mouse. then he looked like he was getting ready to swallow and my roomate walked by the tub and he lunged out of the tub after my roomate, he got back in and got into the corner ready to strike and he hissed at anyting that walked by. we through a towl over the tub to make him feel more secure. after bout 20 mins he finnally ate the mouse. i left him in there about another 15 mins before i was going to move him back in his home. when i tried to get him out he lunged at me and missed, then will a towl over my arm i got him out and put him in his cage. as soon as he was in there he was crawling around non stop for the next 2 hours....

my questions.
1. do you think it was just cause feeding time and he felt threatened is why he was hissing and trying to bite even awile after the mouse was gone?
2. if he was so active right after the feed do you think he could of ate another? or is this normal for snakes?

i just want to make everything as good as i can for him

thanks you guys!

[JimiSnakes]

I will say this simply: Feeding in seperate enclosures doesn't do or help any boa (or any snake that I know of) in any way whatsoever. All it does is cause unneeded stress and a possibility of getting bit or causing a regurg. Boas normally go into a "feed-mode" for up to an hour after eating. If you use live, STILL use tongs and dangle the live mouse over the boa. Feed in their home because this is where they feel most secure.

That said, did the mouse leave any bulge at all? A first feed in a new home should be a smaller meal. Also, after that first feed you'll have a better understanding of how big a meal he/she can take. Up-ing the size every meal is much better for a snake then having to go down in size and feeding them too large a meal.