Considering a Brazilian Rainbow Boa as my second snake- am I too new at this?

[doganddisc]

I purchased my first snake, a ball python, in July of this year at the reptile expo in New York. Naturally, I have fallen in love with the hobby of keeping snakes and have been searching for snake number two. Part of me is inclined to purchase a second ball python to eventually grow out and try my hand at breeding. But another part of me really wants a Brazilian Rainbow Boa. I've admired them ever since I got to hold one when I was a kid. I know they can be very nippy though and had a few questions.

1) Everywhere I've read has mentioned how bad BRBs are about biting and a few places even say that they are unreliable for their entire lives, though I've read elsewhere that they do eventually calm down. What is the general consensus here? I feel that I am at a point where, once I finally get bit for the first time (my ball python has been wonderful about not biting me), I can learn to manage a nippy snake. But do they eventually calm down and become trustworthy? (Would I be able to say to a friend "Yes, you can hold her" when she's an adult without worrying that person will get bit?)

2) I handle my ball python daily unless he is in shed or has just eaten. Would this be too much for a rainbow boa?

3) Given how new I am to snakes, does this seem like too much of a step from ball python to BRB? Should I be considering something else?

4) Also, in comparison to ball pythons, how bad is a bite from a rainbow boa?

As always, thank you for your excellent guidance

[carlisleishere]

I purchased my first snake, a ball python, in July of this year at the reptile expo in New York. Naturally, I have fallen in love with the hobby of keeping snakes and have been searching for snake number two. Part of me is inclined to purchase a second ball python to eventually grow out and try my hand at breeding. But another part of me really wants a Brazilian Rainbow Boa. I've admired them ever since I got to hold one when I was a kid. I know they can be very nippy though and had a few questions.

1) Everywhere I've read has mentioned how bad BRBs are about biting and a few places even say that they are unreliable for their entire lives, though I've read elsewhere that they do eventually calm down. What is the general consensus here? I feel that I am at a point where, once I finally get bit for the first time (my ball python has been wonderful about not biting me), I can learn to manage a nippy snake. But do they eventually calm down and become trustworthy? (Would I be able to say to a friend "Yes, you can hold her" when she's an adult without worrying that person will get bit?)

2) I handle my ball python daily unless he is in shed or has just eaten. Would this be too much for a rainbow boa?

3) Given how new I am to snakes, does this seem like too much of a step from ball python to BRB? Should I be considering something else?

4) Also, in comparison to ball pythons, how bad is a bite from a rainbow boa?

As always, thank you for your excellent guidance

My first snake was BRB, and as long as you keep them humid and cool, they're pretty easy to take care of. Mine was really calm as a baby but as he got older he got a little snappy. He had his good days and his bad days. Mind you, I didn't hold him everyday. If I did, he probably would be a lot calmer. Most other adult BRBs I've seen seem to be pretty mellow. Just take your time choosing a calm snake from a good breeder.

As far as bites go, they aren't really chewers, just a quick bite and release. Doesn't really hurt, but most of the bites I had left little bruises.

[wwmjkd]

My first snake was BRB, and as long as you keep them humid and cool, they're pretty easy to take care of. Mine was really calm as a baby but as he got older he got a little snappy. He had his good days and his bad days. Mind you, I didn't hold him everyday. If I did, he probably would be a lot calmer. Most other adult BRBs I've seen seem to be pretty mellow. Just take your time choosing a calm snake from a good breeder.

As far as bites go, they aren't really chewers, just a quick bite and release. Doesn't really hurt, but most of the bites I had left little bruises.

to the OP, I don't own a brazilian rainbow, but I'd be far more preoccupied with the two critical husbandry elements mentioned above before considering general disposition. from everything I've read, these snakes are far more susceptible to lack of humidity and higher temperatures than balls. I don't gather that they're all that difficult to keep, but they can deteriorate rapidly without proper humidity.

[doganddisc]

to the OP, I don't own a brazilian rainbow, but I'd be far more preoccupied with the two critical husbandry elements mentioned above before considering general disposition. from everything I've read, these snakes are far more susceptible to lack of humidity and higher temperatures than balls. I don't gather that they're all that difficult to keep, but they can deteriorate rapidly without proper humidity.

Is it that difficult to manage? I had figured that with the proper equipment/caging, and care (misting twice a day, having a larger than normal water bowl, etc) that maintaining humidity wouldn't be too bad. I do know they need just the right amount of humidity- and that too much will cause unwanted bacterial and mold growth that will hurt the snake.

[TheWinWizard]

Cypress mulch works wonders for humidity and is mold resistant to boot.

[SquamishSerpents]

Glad you're considering a BRB!!

I too was afraid of their nippyness, as well as their amped up care requirements. Truth be told, they are barely any different or more difficult to keep than a ball python, and are actually quite similar to a corn snake.

I keep mine in a rack, which I feel is why I haven't had any issues. Keeping a BRB in a tank would probably be much more difficult than a tub. I keep mine on aspen chips, and provide them with a bigger water bowl than the balls or corns. The bowls are about 8 or 9" wide. I really don't do anything different. They shed perfect every time, never had any RIs or anything and I've had them for almost 4 years. They're kept at around 84 now on the hot side, and room temp is usually around 75 (though it's been closer to 80 lately as we've had a SUPER heat wave!)

They are great pets! I recommend getting a baby, so you can watch it grow. And a baby nip is far less scary than an adult nip

[PyramidPythons]

1) Everywhere I've read has mentioned how bad BRBs are about biting and a few places even say that they are unreliable for their entire lives, though I've read elsewhere that they do eventually calm down. What is the general consensus here? I feel that I am at a point where, once I finally get bit for the first time (my ball python has been wonderful about not biting me), I can learn to manage a nippy snake. But do they eventually calm down and become trustworthy? (Would I be able to say to a friend "Yes, you can hold her" when she's an adult without worrying that person will get bit?)

I guess I was extremely lucky with Marius, who has never been a biter. He is calm, friendly, curious and has never showed a drop of aggression. Not all of them are bitey and they are actually getting much better with more and more captive breeding. I highly suggest that you buy a neonate from a reputable breeder (Living Gems is my top suggestion, Rainbows R Us second), as I think you'll find that with very minimal work, you will have a RB just as friendly as your Ball. I don't know if you could honestly say "trust" with any snake...as any one of them, regardless of their docile behavior...could potentially bite. I can definitely say that I allow my 7 year old nephew to handle Marius all the time and he has never bitten him or showed any sign of aggression. In fact, I think he adores William more than I do.

2) I handle my ball python daily unless he is in shed or has just eaten. Would this be too much for a rainbow boa?

I handle Marius every other day, sometimes three days in a row...and then sometimes when I am super busy...not for several days at all. I never bother him when he is in shed (they prefer to remain hidden for pretty much the entire time), and I always give him at least 48 hours to digest his meals. He seems to me, to be a very content snake.

3) Given how new I am to snakes, does this seem like too much of a step from ball python to BRB? Should I be considering something else?

Definitely not! Just because a snake has a little bit more intense requirements than what you're used to, it does not mean you shouldn't learn all you possibly can and give it a try. You are doing one of the most important things: Asking lots of questions and gauging for yourself what you feel you can do. Never give up on something you love or want, just because someone tells you it will probably be too difficult or not worth it. Only YOU can make that determination. Personally, I think once you get one, you'll wonder why you ever worried in the first place. They aren't as difficult as most people make them out to be.

4) Also, in comparison to ball pythons, how bad is a bite from a rainbow boa?

I honestly can not give you any input here, as Marius has never once bitten me. I can, however, tell you that I have been bitten by my male BCI boa when he was about Marius' size and it only left a small row of tiny pinprick tooth marks in my hand. It was more shocking than anything and the pinpricks healed up in a couple of days with a smear of Neosporin.

Best of luck, and major kudos to you for doing your homework before getting the snake. It never ceases to amaze me how many people just buy out of impulse and then come crying for help when their snake is suffering from their lack of knowledge.

[Capray]

If I were to get one, I would have a humidifier installed with a timer...I wouldn't trust myself to be able to maintain such a tropical climate :/

[SquamishSerpents]

If I were to get one, I would have a humidifier installed with a timer...I wouldn't trust myself to be able to maintain such a tropical climate :/

I've said it before, Brazilian Rainbow Boa care is blown way out of proportion. Give them a bigger water dish than your other snakes, done. Humidity will be perfect! They don't need 100% humidity. It's really not complicated at all to keep BRBs. A humidifier and a timer would be way overkill and a huge expense. In fact, a humidifier could make it TOO humid, which can ALSO cause RIs as well as scale rot.

Seriously peeps, bigger water dish, and house them in tubs NOT tanks. You won't have an issue

[devildog_dk]

I've said it before, Brazilian Rainbow Boa care is blown way out of proportion. Give them a bigger water dish than your other snakes, done. Humidity will be perfect! They don't need 100% humidity. It's really not complicated at all to keep BRBs. A humidifier and a timer would be way overkill and a huge expense. In fact, a humidifier could make it TOO humid, which can ALSO cause RIs as well as scale rot.

Seriously peeps, bigger water dish, and house them in tubs NOT tanks. You won't have an issue

I literally just replied to a thread where someone was asking about keeping a fogger attached to an enclosure.

Basically water bowl size is directly related to humidity. The more surface area a bowl has the faster water will evaporate, which equals humidity.