RTB questions

[Salamander Rising]

Thanks guys! So helpful

Another question... I'm a girl and I'm 5'3", will I have problems handling an adult rtb?
& when you guys say "in your face" do you mean they just want to get close to your face, but not aggressive? "Cuddly"?
& hook training... tell me about it. Do you just get him out with the hook every time you want to hold him? and keep the hook out of sight during feeding time? Or is there more to it?

So, in a nutshell, is this right?
- Once they're adults, a jumbo every other week to once a month?
- Ambient of mid to high 70's, hot spot of 90, and humidity at 50-60, and 70 in shed
- Usually stay under 10 feet, and up to 30 pounds

I have a 20 gallon terrarium with sliding glass doors and a screen top that I have completely decorated with a backdrop, fake plants glued to the wood background, driftwood, etc... I had originally made it for my 1st ball, but he's in a tub so I don't need it anymore, and he's never even been in the tank. Will that 20g be okay for the first year we have the rtb? We plan on building a full sized cage once she needs it.

The biggest thing we were worried about was feeding costs and adult size, but seeing as they eat much less than balls, that makes me feel better.

I have seen pictures on google that they look really big, both long and thick (that's what she said ). Are all adult rtb's like this, or is this just due to feeding bigger meals like rabbits, or jumbo rats every week?

I'm 5'3", 100 pounds dripping wet.

I've had no problems at all.

"In your face" means they want to crawl over you, on you, perch on your head, wrestle you to stay out when you want to put them in, use you for a basking tree, watch TV with you and generally just be all up in your business every chance they get.

Don't do what I've apparently done and stuff your snake with a jumbo rat every week and you won't have any problems with a 7 footer giving you a shoulder spasm because, for whatever snakey reason, that's the side he likes to plop his heaviest part on and just hang out, interminably.

You are so gonna love having a Boa.



FWIW, I had to put my Pookie to sleep 3 weeks ago and hubby is very busy in the shop with a trike kit so I had no one to console me when I broke down.

One night, I took the ever-mischievous Bob out and just sat with him on a kitchen bar stool and he hugged me.

He wasn't his usual all-over-the-place squiggly self...he almost seemed to sense something was wrong and just gently wrapped himself around me and 'held me', laying his neck on my shoulder, nuzzling my tear stained cheeks and occasionally "kissing" my nose.

I have no idea how much he "understood" but I cannot overstate how much it helped me get through that bout of crushing grief.

Bob might be just a 'common BCI', even though the local herp guy suspects he's a hypo or pastel but regardless, that snake is not for sale for any amount of money.


He's my buddy Bob.