New Boa Owner Questions

[SomethingTangible]

Hello all,

I'm a long time snake admirer, first time owner and just picked up a 3 month old female Hog Island Boa on Friday and am wondering if you guys can let me know if I'm caring for this little girl adequately. I'm being a nervous snake mommy and want to make sure I'm doing it right!

I asked the breeder what he thought of waiting to handle her after a week, since I hear that helps them have time to adjust but he said she's used to handling and should be fine with a day to adjust to her new enclosure before I feed her. When I placed her in the enclosure at first, she was climbing all over the place and seemed to be trying to look for an escape through the top of the cage. I decided to take her out for a bit to let her climb around and be handled since she was so active.
After the initial handling I've decided to give her a couple days of rest and the next day I noticed she stayed in primarily one spot in the cage, resting on a fake vine that's on the cooler side of the enclosure, alternating between being a little closer to the warm side and then closer to the cool side at times, but all on the vine.
I have a hide on either side for her but she seems to really be enjoying resting in the vines. I turned off her basking lamp in the afternoon yesterday because I was concerned it might be too hot for her, but she still has the UTH if she needs it. It's just funny because she doesn't seem to ever move over to the hot side. I'm wondering if I should add another vine or fake plant to the hot side to give her that option since she just has the hide and a tree branch, or if I should keep the basking lamp off thinking that it may be too much heat for her. Temperatures in the hot side are averaging in the low 90's and the cool side is averaging in the low 80's.

I guess my main question is if I should be worried that she's not moving between the ends of her enclosure much, or has she just found a sweet spot she's generally staying in?

Also, the breeder said that she ate last weekend so I know she's due for a feeding soon. I hear that I should wait for her to adjust to the new conditions for a couple more days before I feed her though, so should I stick with doing that?

Thank you for helping me out with my questions, I'm sure my snake will thank you too!

[bcr229]

Welcome to the boa addiction!

First, I would encourage you to register at http://www.redtailboas.com/content/ and start reading, there is a ton of excellent information there, including the care guide.

Second, your boa sounds like it is acting normally. While babies can be shy and hide all of the time, adults can be found out and about, and if you give them stuff to climb on they will use it.

Third, boas are insanely strong, to the point where once they've got some size on them, the screen-top tanks really don't work well for them as they can pop the retaining clips or rip the screen and go for an unauthorized slither-about at will. Get a correct reptile enclosure ASAP. It's also easier to put them back into a reptile enclosure with doors that open on the front instead of the top - they're perfectly happy to climb/slither into it, but they don't like being pushed down into one.

If she ate last weekend she can eat next weekend, even babies are fine on a 10-14 day schedule. I feed young adults every 2-3 weeks, and adults every 4-6 weeks.

[BWB]

I have a male Hog Island that is about two now - 4 feet long and as strong as a horse! He loves to be out and very rarely uses his hide. He is great at handling but I have a heck of a time getting him back in his enclosure after taking him out. He is a great snake and eats so well (unlike the ball that just started to eat after a 5 month fast, bratty girl!). I also have a young (10 months old) Jungle Carpet Python that just shed, a real beauty. Also more of a display snake, hardly ever uses her hide but loves to wrap/hangout on her thermometer/hygrometer - she actually grabbed her meal from there a couple of weeks ago. She's a super snake although it took some handling to get her to quiet down (used to fake strike at me, never actually hit me) and is so fun to watch as she is a lot more active than either of my other snakes. I have found that with any of my snakes that patience is key. I take my time with getting them accustomed to me and what handling involves (I let them climb on the computer, dining room chairs, wrought iron railing, etc).Probably the most important thing that I have learned is to search through this website for any questions, concerns, etc that you have because the answer is in here somewhere, you can bet on it!

[dkatz4]

Welcome to the group! Your boa's behavior sounds perfectly normal; sometimes they roam, sometimes they find a spot they like and camp out, either way, if you have the appropriate temperatures available (it sounds like you do) they will find and utilize what they need. As far as housing is concerned, i second bcr229's opinion. Fish tanks with screen tops are popular but ill-advised, easy escape and terrible heat/humidity retention. When your girl gets a little older and bigger there are a great variety of reptile enclosures available but in the interim, to avoid spending a few hundred bucks every time she outgrows one, i recommend sterilite-type storage tubs, and get this, on their sides! Thats what i have for my 2 year old central american boa, its cheap, effective and offers much of the same benefits as the "real" enclosures. Sounds like your on the right path, enjoy your new friend!

*Note about pictures: since taking these, i have replaced the HORRIBLE analog thermometer and hydrometer you see in the cage with an AcuRite digital one - these are very popular b/c they are inexpensive but very effective*