Bye Bye Ball Hello Red Tail!

[Wh00h0069]

Really? He had just finished shedding before he was brought to me. Could he be in pre-shed already? I tried feeding him last night and he didn't take the mouse BUT I had fed him about 5 or 6 days ago. He hasn't pooped either... Weird.

Quite often they will shed after being put into a new environment. I bet that is why he didn't eat for you too.

[PrettyInInk87]

Quite often they will shed after being put into a new environment. I bet that is why he didn't eat for you too.

Yeah, him shedding didn't even come to mind because he had already shed but him being a baby, it makes sense he'd shed quickly. He has had 2 feedings with me, I think I have had him for almost 3 weeks (forgot when I got him)... Also, he's REALLY calm and I have heard about snakes being extremely grumpy while in preshed or shedding. My Ball, Corns, and Gopher snakes were never grumpy during preshed or during shed. I don't know... Lol!I guess I should raise humidity just in case.

[Wh00h0069]

Yeah, him shedding didn't even come to mind because he had already shed but him being a baby, it makes sense he'd shed quickly. He has had 2 feedings with me, I think I have had him for almost 3 weeks (forgot when I got him)... Also, he's REALLY calm and I have heard about snakes being extremely grumpy while in preshed or shedding. My Ball, Corns, and Gopher snakes were never grumpy during preshed or during shed. I don't know... Lol!I guess I should raise humidity just in case.

That really depends on each snake. I have some that get pretty grumpy during a shed, and others that are laid-back. Luckily, I know how to handle them, so they never actually get me when they try to take my head off...

Another nice thing about boas is they are really forgiving with low humidity. I never had to do anything to raise humidity, and they all shed perfectly. My humidity is usually around 25 - 40%.

[PrettyInInk87]

Awesome, I mist his enclosure lightly every night. Also, he prefers to be on the cool side even when it's cold. Why? Last night I took him out and maybe i'm being paranoid but he felt a little thin to me. Might be that I was use to handling my Ball but this little guy looks like he can be just a tad bit plumper. The color thing, weirds me out, lol!

[Jason Bowden]

Don't try to plump up a boa. Fat boas die young. Read as much as you can. Boas are awesome! I have 8!

Congrats on getting such a beauty! He won't be that small for long.

[PrettyInInk87]

Don't try to plump up a boa. Fat boas die young. Read as much as you can. Boas are awesome! I have 8!

Congrats on getting such a beauty! He won't be that small for long.

Thank you! By "plumping" him up I meant just putting a tad bit more fat on him, don't want to make him FAT, lol! In my opionion, fat isn't healthy for any animal unless your a Seal or something like that. Again, maybe i'm just being paranoid.

Here is a link of a video of him eating... Thin, ok?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITsjDq9OAr4

Also, I have read that they grow a couple of inches a month, true?

[Wh00h0069]

Thank you! By "plumping" him up I meant just putting a tad bit more fat on him, don't want to make him FAT, lol! In my opionion, fat isn't healthy for any animal unless your a Seal or something like that. Again, maybe i'm just being paranoid.

Here is a link of a video of him eating... Thin, ok?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITsjDq9OAr4

Also, I have read that they grow a couple of inches a month, true?

He looks good to me. As long as you are feeding him a good-sized meal ever seven days, he will be the right size. Once he is around one-and-a-half to two years-old, switch him to every ten days. Once he is around three, switch him to every fourteen days. Boas can become overweight easily, because they are voracious eaters. Many boas die if overfeed though, so make sure you do not overfeed him. It sounds to me like you are going to take very good care of him.

That is a little odd that he is staying on the cool side. What is your cool side and hot side temps? Does he have a hide on the hot side?

[David802]

Lol! Wow, he's that tiny? I don't know exactly how old Castro is but he's definitely small, i'd say less than 2 inches.

Oh and another question, do they tend to darken as they age? Well I have only had Castro for about 2 weeks and just 2 days ago I pulled him out and noticed that he turned a slightly darker grey. ??????

Yeah I'm still feeding mine fuzzy mice because rat pups and mice are way to big. He sits comfortably in my palm.

Really? He had just finished shedding before he was brought to me. Could he be in pre-shed already? I tried feeding him last night and he didn't take the mouse BUT I had fed him about 5 or 6 days ago. He hasn't pooped either... Weird.

Humiddity doesn't seem to be as important as Wh00h0069 said but I did notice my Guyana preferred a good soak in his water dish right before he shed and my uncle's normal does the same thing. That's how I new he was almost done was when I came home and he was coiled up in his water dish.

[Dshizznit_08]

Gorgeous Red Tail, Congrats!

[PrettyInInk87]

He looks good to me. As long as you are feeding him a good-sized meal ever seven days, he will be the right size. Once he is around one-and-a-half to two years-old, switch him to every ten days. Once he is around three, switch him to every fourteen days. Boas can become overweight easily, because they are voracious eaters. Many boas die if overfeed though, so make sure you do not overfeed him. It sounds to me like you are going to take very good care of him.

That is a little odd that he is staying on the cool side. What is your cool side and hot side temps? Does he have a hide on the hot side?

I know i'm going to get chewed out for this but I have a stick on temp. gauge. It reads 80 most of the time so I assume it is just a tad bit warmer than that. Yes yes, I need to get a digital one and will get on theat when I get some extra cash on me. He does have 2 hides though and does have a choice where he wants to be.

Gorgeous Red Tail, Congrats!

Aw, thank you!