Hog Island Boa - Day 1

[SuddenEclipse]

Well I've had my new favorite snake in the entire world ever for about a day now LOL! He is about 4 months old. Anyway, the tank I have for him is one of those 1 piece acryllic enclosures. (Ricky's Reptile Enclosure to be exact.) I realize it is supposedly built specifically for ball pythons, but I can find no reason why my Hog can't live happily ever after in it. It's a very nice set up.

However, if you've seen my thread I left yesterday, you can see the pic of where he just goes on that very narrow top ledge over the door that is really there so you can lock it with the key. Anyway, there is no heat up there and my room is like 65 degrees. He just LOVES to climb. The part of the tank where the UTH is in the upper 80s if not low 90s, but he won't go get warm because he obsesses with that stupid narrow ledge! And I know he's cold because when I hold him he's freezing and we go stand near the fire in the living room and he is very content getting warm with me there.

Anyway. The problem isn't just that I'm worried about him not being warm enough because of his ledge obsession. But it's so narrow up there (not really meant for climbing, like I said) that he keeps falling down!! And I gave him a large sturdy piece of driftwood he could use to get up and down, I have hides on both warm and cool side of the tank, etc. So why he keeps going up on this thing only to fall off and be cold I have no clue. But I'm scared he's going to hurt himself if he keeps falling down like that.

So to encourage him to climb on something else AND get warm since he's obsessed with being up high, I wrapped one of his new branches up in a heating pad, won't burn him, I've actually used it directly on myself behind my neck and shoulders on numerous occassions. So he has plain drift wood, and a "warm branch" to climb on. Warm side, cooler side, hides, etc.

Okay THUD, he JUST seriously fell off of that stupid ledge again. WTF.

So I think what my husband is going to do is cut a piece of PVC pipe since he's so obsessed with that front ledge and somehow attach it to the ledge. Then we might wrap another UTH around the PVC some how and use a thermostat keep it very low since he'll be making direct contact with it. And half his fancy ledge will have heat, and if he doesn't want it, the other half won't. At least if nothing else it might keep him from falling.

He's back up there right now, all stretched out and satisfied with himself, but I know he's cold.

Anyway, here are is the pic of him testing out his heated branch (which he decided de doesn't like) and the the pic of the whole set up.







And as you can see in the last picture, he is in that stupid spot above the door probably getting ready to fall again. I know juveniles like to climb a lot but good grief.

On a fun note, it was against my best judgement to handle him very much yesterday since he had been shipped from Florida and had ate a mouse and everything. But I couldn't resist. He was very cool and laid back. Active and curious and was doing that periscoping thing even when I was holding him (I call it rearing up, sorry I'm a horse person) and was just so nice. So then I didn't want to stress him tooooo too much so I put him back. And I swear, I hardly was locking his door and he had turned around and was rushing back right towards me and immediately started rearing up right there at me. This guy was totally making eye contact. I was like, "Really dood?!" So I opened his door again and held him for longer and he was just as content and happy as could be. No offense python lovers, but omg. He holds on to my arm to hang but he is so gentle when he does it. And he looks around at stuff with his head at the same time. It was so funny. I've been told snakes "tolerate" being handled. But I have never experienced anything like this Hog Island. It's really almost like he WANTS to be out and handled and enjoys it. Unlike Vicious my Kenyan who just rushes under her bedding all grouchy. This guy is like Hey!! Pay attention to mee!!!!!!!! Very cute even if I am reading way too much into it.

[aldebono]

From what I hear and our own personal experience, it is a fight to get them back into their enclosure.

I am so glad the hogs are getting a little more popular! They really are a fantastic boa.

[bioteacher]

If you're opposed to a new tank and still worried about him falling, you could try turning the tank on it's back so the door is on top. It'd still be easy to get in and out of if it's not too high, there will still be plenty of floor space in the cage, the heat will be along one wall so the boa can still get to it for heat, and you can put some more branches in on each side (one near the heat, one away). Then I would leave him along for awhile so he doesn't stress.

[ktint]

Congrat on your nice little one. I recently got one female hog island (5 months old) and she is also very curious. Every time I change the water, she comes out of her hide and checking me out. No striking or hissing but Just plain old curiousity. She already refuse to go back into the tub after handling. She is opposite of my lovely cool and calm albino ball python.

[SuddenEclipse]

@Bioteacher - this exact thought had crossed my mind even as I was setting stuff up. I would prefer in the door opened to the side anyway instead of up and down... and it would solve the ledge issue without having to get so creative cutting up PVC pipe and stuff. Might give it a try!