New setup

[Korclabael]

Poprock's new house



I thought it was fitting, and she absolutely loves it, Shes going to need a bigger terrarium soon, currently in a 10 maybe 15 gallon, but I'm not sure, they all seem the same!

When do you think I should change her tank? Shes only 6 - 71/2 months old now I believe born - 5/25/12, actually now that I read it I think shes gaining on 8 months...MY BABY IS GROWIN UP SO FAST :'[

~Kaala

[Evenstar]

When do you think I should change her tank? Shes only 6 - 71/2 months old now I believe born - 5/25/12, actually now that I read it I think shes gaining on 8 months...MY BABY IS GROWIN UP SO FAST :'[

Actually, hate to say it, but she really could use a bigger cage now. An 8 month old boa really should at least be in a 30-40gal sized enclosure. Sorry....

Oh, also, I don't know if you're depending on it or if it's a "leftover" from the tank's previous use, but that temperature strip you have near the top is pretty much useless. First, the temps should be read down near the substrate. Second, those strips are notoriously unreliable. I'd suggest picking up an Accurite off Amazon or from Walmart. They are digital, very accurate, and will measure the hotspot, ambient temp, and humidity all in one. They aren't too expensive either.

[I-KandyReptiles]

Yeah, way too small for her right now.

[Korclabael]

Haha well if I don't end up buying my mom her chameleon, then I'll buy her a new tank ASAP, but for now, I am a bit limited on money, my dad really wants to make her a tank, but we didn't know which was cheaper, making a tank or buying one.

I really like those exo-terra tanks they sell at pets smart that unlatch and just open up, they are really the only nice ones we have around that wont cost me a fortune to get shipped to me without the worry of them breaking along the way.

[TheWinWizard]

There are a lot of places that make custom enclosures for reptiles. Those terrariums you get at petsmart and petco aren't good for boas. Google is your friend.

[Evenstar]

Haha well if I don't end up buying my mom her chameleon, then I'll buy her a new tank ASAP, but for now, I am a bit limited on money, my dad really wants to make her a tank, but we didn't know which was cheaper, making a tank or buying one.

I really like those exo-terra tanks they sell at pets smart that unlatch and just open up, they are really the only nice ones we have around that wont cost me a fortune to get shipped to me without the worry of them breaking along the way.

There are a lot of places that make custom enclosures for reptiles. Those terrariums you get at petsmart and petco aren't good for boas. Google is your friend.

Don't bother with the ExoTerra tanks. They are WAY expensive for a boa who's going to outgrow it in no time at all. Your boa is going to need an enclosure of 4x2x2 FEET eventually. Might even have to be 6 ft long if Poprocks is a female. Check out www.animalplastics.com. Their terrestrial cages are great for boas and they have their T8 on sale for only $150. That would do her for a looong time and could even be ok for her final adult enclosure as long as she could get out for excercise a lot. Boas are not like balls. If you provide her lots of hiding places, she could move into that size now.

The other option is to make an enclosure. If your dad can build something for less than $150, go for it! If you use wood, it must be properly sealed to help prevent mold. I like sheets of 1/2" extruded PVC. This is what the AP cages are made from. It cuts and screws together just like wood and you won't have any mold issues. Holds heat and humidity really well. Most good home improvement stores will have it and will cut it to size for you.

Tanks really aren't appropriate for boas beyond their first year. Glass can break and does not hold heat well and the screen top allows too much humidity to escape. Boas need bigger and better accomodations!

[Korclabael]

Don't bother with the ExoTerra tanks. They are WAY expensive for a boa who's going to outgrow it in no time at all. Your boa is going to need an enclosure of 4x2x2 FEET eventually. Might even have to be 6 ft long if Poprocks is a female. Check out www.animalplastics.com. Their terrestrial cages are great for boas and they have their T8 on sale for only $150. That would do her for a looong time and could even be ok for her final adult enclosure as long as she could get out for excercise a lot. Boas are not like balls. If you provide her lots of hiding places, she could move into that size now.

Thank you for the link :] I take her out everyday, spend at least an hour or longer with her let her explore, might even make her a mini tree set to put her on cause she is a climber. She only has two hides at the moment but because her tank is to small, unfortunately, I am giving it to my sister for when she gets her gecko/Water dragon/ Tree monitor, or whatever she chooses to get at the up-coming expo next month.

The other option is to make an enclosure. If your dad can build something for less than $150, go for it! If you use wood, it must be properly sealed to help prevent mold. I like sheets of 1/2" extruded PVC. This is what the AP cages are made from. It cuts and screws together just like wood and you won't have any mold issues. Holds heat and humidity really well. Most good home improvement stores will have it and will cut it to size for you.

I'm not quite sure what to use, other than just PVC can you give me a list of things that might make a nice tank? My dad makes a lot of nice work pieces, his side job when hes not being a teacher is carpentry and crafting, he said plexi-glass would be something he would use, but I wasn't so sure. Also the Terrarium we have now used to be a rat cage we used it for a substitute to at least give her a nice warm place to sleep. We switched the screen top out with something that wont let out the humidity very well.

Tanks really aren't appropriate for boas beyond their first year. Glass can break and does not hold heat well and the screen top allows too much humidity to escape. Boas need bigger and better accomodations!

I mean't terrarium, I say tank most of the time because I am not used to saying anything else since shes my first snake, and our first reptile in general I forget the usual names for things. Trust me however, as soon as I can and once things aren't in my way anymore little poprocks will be moving into a suite, I tend to spoil my babies. She loves her stone mansion however, she likes to pop her head out of it every now and then but I think she finds it really comfy.

[eatgoodfood]

Im sorry this is off topic but after reading your last post I cannot let it go without saying anything. You state very clearly that it is your first reptile so I am going to guess that it will be your sisters first reptile. If that is true I cant help but stress that she does NOT get a water dragon or a tree monitor. Especially the tree monitor, they are not a beginners reptile and neither of those animals belong in a 10 gallon aquarium. I also stress that you make sure your sister does her homework before she gets anything, it sounds like this will be a spontaneous purchase of whatever she seems to like at the expo. Bad idea unless you are well versed in the care of the animal you pickup. While you have the animal in your care is not the time to learn how to care for it. Not trying to berate you or your sister, I am just looking out for the animals well being.

Now a little more on topic, just because you take your boa out of her cage for an hour or more daily does not mean you can get away with not having a proper enclosure. This 'exercise time' is not a substitue.

[Evenstar]

Im sorry this is off topic but after reading your last post I cannot let it go without saying anything. You state very clearly that it is your first reptile so I am going to guess that it will be your sisters first reptile. If that is true I cant help but stress that she does NOT get a water dragon or a tree monitor. Especially the tree monitor, they are not a beginners reptile and neither of those animals belong in a 10 gallon aquarium. I also stress that you make sure your sister does her homework before she gets anything, it sounds like this will be a spontaneous purchase of whatever she seems to like at the expo. Bad idea unless you are well versed in the care of the animal you pickup. While you have the animal in your care is not the time to learn how to care for it. Not trying to berate you or your sister, I am just looking out for the animals well being.

Now a little more on topic, just because you take your boa out of her cage for an hour or more daily does not mean you can get away with not having a proper enclosure. This 'exercise time' is not a substitue.

I have to agree with both these points. I won't comment further on your sister's first reptile as I think eatgoodfood stated it very well indeed. One other thing I noticed upon reading your original post is that you're considering "buying your mom a chameleon" before taking care of the needs of the animal you already have. First things first = proper housing for you boa, THEN think about getting another animal.

But, no, frequent exercise is not a substitute for a proper enclosure no matter how beneficial that exercise may be. I'm sorry if I gave that impression with my last post.

"Terrarium" pretty much equals "tank" IMO. You don't want to use glass or plexi unless its just for the door. Neither of these hold heat well at all. You should do some research on properly housing and caring for you boa so you will understand her needs and what kind of enclosure she should have. The terrestrial cages I pointed out earlier at Animal Plastics are extremely popular with boa keepers and breeders for a reason - this is the sort of enclosure that is appropriate for a boa. When you take responsibility for an animal, you have to consider the animal's needs and not just what you would like.

Here is a picture of XFenrir's boa's enclosure. She is another user here and I hope she doesn't mind my sharing her picture for her, lol!! But this is an excellent example of a homemade cage for an adult boa. An appropriate cage does not have to be this tall, strictly speaking, but if you have the space, it is an excellent idea so your boa can climb.


And here are some links that will help you research your boa's proper care. I hope it helps you!!

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...tor-imperator)

http://www.redtailboas.com/f110/down...ion-3-a-31312/

Also, here is a fairly in-depth article by Gus Rentfro, Rio Bravo Reptiles, on Boa Constrictor care:

http://www.redtailboa.net/forums/sna...tail-boas.html

[Korclabael]

Okay well since we got the tank covered, not that I am saying you are but I feel like you guys are scolding me, I am going by what the breeders said was okay, and for the time at her age when I got her, yes it was okay, but I want whats best for my snake as much as you all do, but things aren't cheap in my situation, so if I need to I'll ask my dad to make one himself, I'm sure he would enjoy it and I would like to see poprocks in a new area too. I told him the setup of the 'housing' and he said it would work, where to put her though because my room is fairly small, would be another issue, would putting her next to my heater be okay? Probably not.


As for the new lizard, I'm not the one buying my sister's pet, she is buying it herself, what she buys is her own problem, My mother said absolutely NO monitors, so the tree monitor is a no go, I told her to stay with a crested gecko, and since those are really nice beginner reptiles, she most likely will. My mom only wants a chameleon because they are 'neurologically troubled' and remind her of herself, but I told her they are to high maintenance and if the animal dies in her care I will be severely ticked off to know that i dropped around 100+ dollars on it. The original plan was to buy them both beginner lizards, or crested geckos. Most likely I wont end up buying any reptile at the next expo, I am seriously crossing my fingers to just go and have fun.

Also, I understand taking my snake out for exercise is not just okay for having a small tank, but its better than leaving her in there with nothing to do and no way to stretch herself, I care for my snake more than any of you can comprehend and if I could I would spoil her rotten.

I don't mean to come off as rude, or upset, but it is frustrating when you get the same answer everywhere you go, I understand what I am doing wrong, what I am doing with her living quarters is indeed a serious problem and it will be fixed, but I am only trying as hard as one can try right now. Her care is fine, she is healthy, shes just in a small living area, I know how to take care of my snake. I did /MY/ homework for her when I was going to get her a few days after the expo, though I did more for a ballpython before the expo than I did for a boa, I still re-did some research.

I will however give my sister your concerns, she wants a reptile and I'm not going to say what she can and can not buy with her own money, as far as I know I have convinced her to stay with something simple.

My very exhausted regards

~Kaala