Brazilian Rainbow Boa- Basic Questions

[Crazy4Herps]

I will start out by saying that I have no experiance with boas. I own a ball python and a bearded dragon, but I have read countless care sheets about soooo many different kinds of reptiles; mostly snakes.

I really really want a red-tail boa, but first of all, I'm not allowed, and second, I don't have room for such a big snake. So I've been thinking BRB...

Questions:
1. I hear young BRBs can have a temper. I'm fine with bites, but I'd like to know as to what extent. What is your experiance with temperament?
2. I hear there is usually a waiting list for a BRB. How long might I have to wait after ordering to receive one?
3. $$ for a baby/hatchling? A juvie? An adult? I am somewhat limited in this area. I'd like to know what I'm looking into.

Thanks

Crazy4Herps

[littleindiangirl]

I think BRB's are beautiful, and while I have not had babies, I do have a pair of juvi's. Ours are testy and need to keep a close eye on them. We've been braised by them quite a bit of times, and only had one bite so far (not me ).

I find them to be quite finicky when just getting them out and really would rather be left alone, and will hold stock still with an uncomfortable vibe once out of the cage. They have learned to trust us to an extent, but it's quite visible they would rather be anywhere else.

They have struck when out of the cage, but inside the cage its always at feeders. They will eat just about any time, day or night, and have no problem with frozen.

They love to burrow down in cypress, and with their natural color being deep red, next to cypress mulch... it can be a few seconds before you see their dark eyes peering at your from the depths of mulch, so be cautious! LOL

Overall, they are tame, but not as much as balls. Take a bit more work with their husbandry and temp/humidity control, but love to eat.

[Crazy4Herps]

Ooh, they love to eat? That's good news! You have no idea how much trouble I've been through with my BP and not eating. Ugh! I would be so happy to have a snake actually eat f/t!

How much did you pay for your juvie's?

[littleindiangirl]

Couldnt tell ya. lol

Check out Will bird, he raises BRB's.

[LeoNik]

I got mine at about 7 months and she had a bit of a bad temper that got better in time, shes 1 1/2 years now. I only paid $125. (including setup) for her but i also got her from an idiot that didnt know what he had, their often more costly. If I were you I would do your homework befor getting one, they can be a real handful!

[Blizzarddude]

If I remember correctly, when at the Repticon show here in columbia last weekend I saw baby BRB's go for about $40-60. Not too shabby, but they werent that great in the coloration/pattern department.

[fishmommy]

BRB's do need very high humidity while they are young, so they are a challenge in that respect.

I would recommend you consider a Boa Constrictor Amarali if you like red tails but want a much smaller size. Mine is an adult male who will never be as big as my BP!

I believe that another member here has one also....they are absolutely gorgeous and relatively easy to care for as long as you are very careful with feeding (timing, amounts, etc) because they are prone to regurge.
Here's mine:

[Crazy4Herps]

fishmommy-
Wow! That's really cool! I've never heard of those. I'm all set to get a BRB now, but a Boa Constrictor Amarali is definitely on my wishlist now!

So, I'm all set! I've been reading loads about them, I have a nice bin for a hatchling, and I've decided to get a Dave Colling specimen. Now I just have to wait for fall, when they start hatching...

[Neal]

If you do get a snake that likes to burrow, I would see about getting Coco-bark or Coco husk, as i've had a bad experience with cypress mulch & snakes that like to burrow, When I first got my white lip I had her setup in cypress mulch, and from her burrowing, she got a piece of it lodged in her mouth, which I freaked out and took her to the ER and they removed it. I got some antibiotics for her just incase it would of maybe got infected, but it never did, I still gave her the antibiotics anyways though. Coco husk comes in a little brick and it holds humidity good. I found that if you use that and you keep it damp when you put it in the tank, and especially if you're using an UTH just take like a cup of water or 2, depending on the size tank(I had her in a 65) and dump where the UTH is, and it keeps it Humid, and the water eventually dries up within a day or so, but it stays really humid.

Also, found you some on KS, heres the link:
http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=62&de=674014

[Crazy4Herps]

Thanks! I definitely won't be getting cypress mulch.

As much as I love the Kingsnake Classifieds, I think I'm getting my first boa from a trusted breeder.