Adopting an Adult RTB

[BeksNY]

After completely falling in love with my better half's ball pythons and BRB, and now my own BPs, we've decided to take the leap to a bigger boa. Since so many RTBs are given up or abandoned once they reach full size, we've contacted our local herp society to adopt an adult. (I have a long history of adopting adult, hard-to-place dogs, and this just seems like the right thing to do.) The RTB we're looking at was found in a parking lot, underfed and dehydrated. He's in foster care now and was recently given a clean bill of health and his foster home reports that he's quite calm and friendly. (YAY!!!) We're super-psyched about our plan for the newest addition to our family, but what are some things that we should consider when we bring our new guy home?

[bcr229]

With an adult boa that's a known quantity it's pretty straightforward: provide a good reptile enclosure or even a large tub, dial in the heat and humidity, give him a few weeks to settle in, and enjoy your new pet. I would ask whoever has him now for any other info, such as is he hook trained, what size feeder is he on and how often is he getting fed, etc.

Obviously you'll need to quarantine him, and I would suggest six months rather than the standard three months with his background.

[BeksNY]

Looks like I never replied to this. Oops! Thanks for the input; it's all in line with what we were thinking, which is reassuring. We'll post pictures once the new guy comes home and as he settles in.

[Gio]

Buy these:


The ultimate. And pay close attention to the feeding advice.
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Boa-.../dp/0978897927

Another good resource. I like the advice about caging. Naturalistic caging with climbing options will enhance your experience. If not overfed, fat and lazy, they will become active and climb at night.
https://www.amazon.com/Constrictor-M...V7SFAS2414KRM3

Last but certainly not least.

Have fun.

[BeksNY]

Excellent! I'll put in the order for the books today.

Yeah, the new guy will be my boy (sorry, treaux ), and may end up in the master bedroom for now and in my reading room when we move to a bigger place, so the plan is to give him a display cage with lots of enrichment / climbing options. We did a natural vivarium for our BRB, which has worked out beautifully, and it'd be lovely to do something like that on a big scale for the new guy with the right environmental elements.