Tips on Rehoming a Common Boa

[antuonchris]

I know that snakes are intelligent creatures, sensitive to new smells, environments, and people. I also know they do form bonds with their owners. I am interested in buying a common boa from someone who has owned her all her life (4/5 years I believe). Anyone with personal experience with a similar scenario? Do boas get particularly agitated? Do you think she'd adapt well enough for be comfortable with me as her new owner? I'm sure a great deal of risky handling in the beginning would be necessary.

Thanks guys!

[I-KandyReptiles]

I just adopted a 10 year old female BCI. She's very calm and sweet, and she hasn't caused an issue with me yet.

I wouldn't be too worried. It would depend on the snakes temperament.

[antuonchris]

Well that's a good thing to here. Also, I'm pretty disappointed in the lack of variety in tanks for snakes this size. They all seem pretty bland and almost malicious in their security. I would love to have a custom built tank that was big enough to house a boa but also able to be personalized and decorated with substrate & what have you. Does anyone know of any online stores that cater to this? Or is the only real option building one myself?

[I-KandyReptiles]

I'm not sure what you're looking for. Animal Plastics and Boaphiles make 6-8' cages. I'd suggest an 18" height.

I'm currently working on an ENORMOUS enclosure. It's 6'x3'x4. It's a pain to heat but I've managed to get a good ambient temperature inside.

[antuonchris]

WOW! That's very impressive. And such a great design aesthetic. That's what most large snake tanks are missing online. They look like temporary housing. I'd love to know more about your project. Perhaps tips for constructing one of my own?

[Daybreaker]

WOW! That's very impressive. And such a great design aesthetic. That's what most large snake tanks are missing online. They look like temporary housing. I'd love to know more about your project. Perhaps tips for constructing one of my own?

I'd do a google search on building your own vivarium (there's some tutorials there): my boyfriend has built 4' and 6' vivs for my boas and they came out really well (one has sliding glass doors and the other drop down acrylic).

As long as you let the boa settle in I don't think you'll have any problems. If you do you can always work with the snake to calm it down (depending on your comfort level and how defensive the snake is), but boas are usually very easy going guys. Just check it out before committing to make sure she's healthy

[I-KandyReptiles]

WOW! That's very impressive. And such a great design aesthetic. That's what most large snake tanks are missing online. They look like temporary housing. I'd love to know more about your project. Perhaps tips for constructing one of my own?

I actually didn't make it. I found it for sale, and only paid $200. I have had to put a LOT of work into it.

If you give me a second, I'll dig up some cage plans I saw someone posted up for their boas.

[I-KandyReptiles]

Here we go:
http://www.mccarthyboas.com/EZ_Prints.html

[I-KandyReptiles]

My cage was built by a man in Red Deer, Canada.

To be honest, it just looks like plywood, made into a box. He flexsealled the bottom which I'm not too impressed with, so my dad has helped me lay out Lino flooring for the walls and floor. We cut a square out of the floor so the heat tape will lay in said cut out, and heat through the Lino but still be easy to remove if needed.

He was using heat bulbs on a timer. Wasn't too impressed with that so I went and got the biggest RHP I could find and removed the bulbs. He had the bulbs wrapped with hardware mesh, which was a big NO NO. I worried about nose rubbing.

I'm also sealing all the driftwood with a safe polyurethane, so it won't rot and get dirty. Honestly, the driftwood that was inside must of cost a LOT.

[antuonchris]

Hah, what kind of offer would be necessary to get you to sell that cage? It's beautiful, and I'm lazy. Lol.