What's a good boa for me?

[SylverTears]

I'd go with a columbian redtail boa. Males stay around six feet (females do get large, though) But they have great temperaments. If I could figure out how to post pictures (photobucket isn't working for me) I would post pictures of my sweet juvenile boa, Four.

[skinnyrascal]

I'd go with a columbian redtail boa. Males stay around six feet (females do get large, though) But they have great temperaments. If I could figure out how to post pictures (photobucket isn't working for me) I would post pictures of my sweet juvenile boa, Four.

That's what I'm leaning toward at the moment, a male Colombian.

[skinnyrascal]

Oh!~ Another thought I had...I definitely plan to get a ferret as well (I love my scalies but do have a need for fuzzyness now and then). Would it be a bad idea to get a large boa, then? If he smells ferret on me would he think "food" and bite? :/

And I know ferrets are predators but I'm not sure how picky boas are about that, I hear they'll eat almost anything.

[3skulls]

Haha I would make sure there was no trace of that ferret before I went near the boa.

[Chkadii]

Oh!~ Another thought I had...I definitely plan to get a ferret as well (I love my scalies but do have a need for fuzzyness now and then). Would it be a bad idea to get a large boa, then? If he smells ferret on me would he think "food" and bite? :/

And I know ferrets are predators but I'm not sure how picky boas are about that, I hear they'll eat almost anything.

While I can't speak for boas or their prey drive, I have two ferrets, a ball python, and several different species of lizards. It is NEVER a good idea to introduce them to one another (and I'm not under the impression you'd toss a ferret into a BCI tank or anything, just giving you some points to consider). Ferrets are super curious and get into everything. If a reptile is on the floor, you can be sure a ferret is going to check it out. Younger ferrets especially tend to be excitable, tenacious, and nippy. Once they discover something, they'll try to do it again and again. Regardless of a BCI's size or temperament, a ferret could do some serious damage to it.

That's not to say ferrets don't make great pets; I've never had trouble managing ferrets and reptiles in the same apartment. We just take extra precaution when either species are out. Tank cleaning is done when ferrets are away in their cage, reptiles are handled in a secure room while ferrets are free range in the rest of the apartment. With such limited opportunity for interaction between them, neither species seems overtly curious about the other.

My python doesn't seem to behave any differently when the ferrets are out, not that he could ever hope to eat one. They're weasels, not rodents, so I think it'd be about on par with a BCI checking out a small, goofy cat.

Good luck building your menagerie! And if you do go for ferrets, get two. They need a ton of attention, and ferrets can play with each other while you're unavailable. They won't be any less socialized in groups.

[WarriorPrincess90]

I don't think I'd risk going near my boa if I smelled like ferret. They have a VERY strong feeding response, and even though ferrets don't smell like rat...I'm not sure I'd like to find out what my boa thinks of the smell.

They can be very sensitive to different smells. For instance, the one time my boa bit me was the day I came home from IHOP (which has a very strong smell), and snatched her out of her tank to show to a friend. The minute I reached for her she decided she wasn't into it. She didn't recognize my smell and panicked. Or, at least that's what I think must have happened. She was always a bit nervous around new smells and strange people though. So maybe it's just her.

[skinnyrascal]

While I can't speak for boas or their prey drive, I have two ferrets, a ball python, and several different species of lizards. It is NEVER a good idea to introduce them to one another (and I'm not under the impression you'd toss a ferret into a BCI tank or anything, just giving you some points to consider). Ferrets are super curious and get into everything. If a reptile is on the floor, you can be sure a ferret is going to check it out. Younger ferrets especially tend to be excitable, tenacious, and nippy. Once they discover something, they'll try to do it again and again. Regardless of a BCI's size or temperament, a ferret could do some serious damage to it.

That's not to say ferrets don't make great pets; I've never had trouble managing ferrets and reptiles in the same apartment. We just take extra precaution when either species are out. Tank cleaning is done when ferrets are away in their cage, reptiles are handled in a secure room while ferrets are free range in the rest of the apartment. With such limited opportunity for interaction between them, neither species seems overtly curious about the other.

My python doesn't seem to behave any differently when the ferrets are out, not that he could ever hope to eat one. They're weasels, not rodents, so I think it'd be about on par with a BCI checking out a small, goofy cat.

Good luck building your menagerie! And if you do go for ferrets, get two. They need a ton of attention, and ferrets can play with each other while you're unavailable. They won't be any less socialized in groups.

Yeah don't worry, I've had ferrets before, four total. I would -never- let one animal roam free while the other's out, and I'd keep the cages in separate rooms to avoid stress to any of them.

As far as keeping them in pairs, I personally believe that depends on the individual ferret and on the owner. I've found that I prefer single ferrets because two get into more trouble, make more poop, and when kept singly they seem to be more interested in people. When I had two at a time I got to play with them less because they would always distract each other from me. The single ferrets seemed perfectly content, they sleep most of the time and when playing I could give all my attention to just the one.
Just my personal preference.

[skinnyrascal]

I don't think I'd risk going near my boa if I smelled like ferret. They have a VERY strong feeding response, and even though ferrets don't smell like rat...I'm not sure I'd like to find out what my boa thinks of the smell.

They can be very sensitive to different smells. For instance, the one time my boa bit me was the day I came home from IHOP (which has a very strong smell), and snatched her out of her tank to show to a friend. The minute I reached for her she decided she wasn't into it. She didn't recognize my smell and panicked. Or, at least that's what I think must have happened. She was always a bit nervous around new smells and strange people though. So maybe it's just her.

Or maybe she was thinking "That'll teach you to go to IHOP and not bring ME any pancakes!"

- - - Updated - - -

Haha I would make sure there was no trace of that ferret before I went near the boa.

My thoughts as well O_O;;

[Chkadii]

Yeah don't worry, I've had ferrets before, four total. I would -never- let one animal roam free while the other's out, and I'd keep the cages in separate rooms to avoid stress to any of them.

As far as keeping them in pairs, I personally believe that depends on the individual ferret and on the owner. I've found that I prefer single ferrets because two get into more trouble, make more poop, and when kept singly they seem to be more interested in people. When I had two at a time I got to play with them less because they would always distract each other from me. The single ferrets seemed perfectly content, they sleep most of the time and when playing I could give all my attention to just the one.
Just my personal preference.

Well in that case, carry on!

There will always be individuals with different care preferences, true. Just like there are dogs and cats that would prefer to be the only fuzzy in the house. Recommending a pair covers the general majority, under the assumption that a lot of people don't have the 4+ hours to devote personal attention to a single ferret every night. (Not that it has to be constant, but still way more than say, a cat.) While we do give our carpet sharks a good amount of free time, I'd personally feel guilty working full time with only one ferret being cooped up by it's lonesome all day, especially since the one is so young. The extra ferret helps keep the baby in line and I feel better about them having a companion around during the day. It'd be different if my boyfriend and I were working different shifts and someone was home during the day.

Just my preference as well, I trust your judgement as an experienced keeper.

[skinnyrascal]

Well in that case, carry on!

There will always be individuals with different care preferences, true. Just like there are dogs and cats that would prefer to be the only fuzzy in the house. Recommending a pair covers the general majority, under the assumption that a lot of people don't have the 4+ hours to devote personal attention to a single ferret every night. (Not that it has to be constant, but still way more than say, a cat.) While we do give our carpet sharks a good amount of free time, I'd personally feel guilty working full time with only one ferret being cooped up by it's lonesome all day, especially since the one is so young. The extra ferret helps keep the baby in line and I feel better about them having a companion around during the day. It'd be different if my boyfriend and I were working different shifts and someone was home during the day.

Just my preference as well, I trust your judgement as an experienced keeper.

I see what you mean, there's no harm in recommending it. I am probably different from the majority because I -want- a pet that needs my attention, and seeing as I'm not a people person I choose to spend most of my free time with the critters.