My new boa..

[Niki Dunbar]

So a few days ago I made a post of buying my first snake (a red tail boa)

And well here he is :]





I am having a hard time getting a picture of him fully because he is squirmy and interested in everything so he doesn't really sit still unless he is in his hid..
Also I have noticed little flecks of snake skin in his home. Does this mean is wont be shedding in one piece this time?? If so what should I do?

Any ideas for names??

[pigfat]

Love the red tails, he looks like a keeper! Can you post a pic of what you're finding? He may have already shed but had some pieces stuck that are just now coming off.


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[Kinra]

He looks good, congrats!

As Joe said he might have already shed and the stuck pieces are just coming loose now. If the cage has a screen top and you haven't done it already I would cover part if not all of it to keep the humidity in.

[Niki Dunbar]

What would be best to cover the screen with? And I will try to get some good pics of what I am finding later today. They are all small pieces but the person I bought him from said he was probably just going into shed.

I know most people say I need to wait to hold him. However when I was getting him moved back into his home yesterday when I first brought him he had stayed out of bit and seemed fine and mainly just moved around on my arms. Do you guys think it would be to early/stress him out if I tried to handle him again today or tomorrow?


Also do you guys have any tips for switching from live food to F/T??


Sorry for all the questions. I just want to make sure I am able to make him happy as can be.

[patientz3ro]

I'd suggest asking LGray23 for some name ideas. She definitely has the market cornered on clever names. I mean, Humphrey Boagart? That's pure genius!

[Kinra]

What would be best to cover the screen with? And I will try to get some good pics of what I am finding later today. They are all small pieces but the person I bought him from said he was probably just going into shed.

I know most people say I need to wait to hold him. However when I was getting him moved back into his home yesterday when I first brought him he had stayed out of bit and seemed fine and mainly just moved around on my arms. Do you guys think it would be to early/stress him out if I tried to handle him again today or tomorrow?


Also do you guys have any tips for switching from live food to F/T??


Sorry for all the questions. I just want to make sure I am able to make him happy as can be.

There are lots of things you can cover it with. What has worked for me is glad press and seal. A wet towel also worked really well but it was a huge hassle to keep it wet and clean. There are a few other threads that have good tips on how to cover most of the screen.

As for handling, boas seem to be more tolerant than ball pythons. I still try to wait until they eat at least once before doing any extensive handling. The breeder I got my boa from recommended I wait at least 2 days before trying to feed and of course you give them a day or two to digest before you handle. Regurgitated rats/mice smell horrible.

I've found that switching to F/T is much easier with boas, though it did take me a few tries to get one of my hog island boas to switch. What has worked best for me is to thaw the rat/mouse, heat it up a little and then just leave it in. My sunglow has no interest in the f/t rats when I offer them to her, but if I just leave them in she will eat it eventually. Good luck!

[Vypyrz]

Congrats on your first snake, and a good choice. RTB's don't seem to stress as easily as BP's. I imagine this is because they are somewhat semi-arboreal and used to spending more time out in the open. My vote for a name is Olympiad...