My 1st Red Tail Boa

[Sauzo]

Ok cool! I will try to gently pick off the substrate with the feeding tongs until hes 3/4 done lol. That's so cute that they sulk. I will go every 2 weeks I was also wondering, most times when I had a Beardie she would defecate in the bath when I soaked her and I would brush her with a toothbrush with a baby soap to make sure she was clean. He did poop in his enclosure the night I brought him home (this past Saturday) and I was wondering if there was a way I can wash him? I know not to touch him for two days after eating so I won't try anything just yet.

I generally dont 'wash' my snakes unless they do something stupid like paint the cage with poop....which they have done. You can soak them in the bath tub if you want or i use 41 qt sterilite tubs with luke warm water but thats usually only in the summer when its hot out and i use water that is slightly cool to the touch as we are 98.6F.

Sauzo, all your snakes are so pretty! I'm jealous. What do you guys think about letting the snake around your neck when hes full grown? I read some people think its ok but others don't let their snakes do it.

Thanks. I usually avoid letting them wrap fully around my neck. I try and keep them on my shoulders or slung over 1 shoulder and around my waist or they like to sit on my head.

[richardhind1972]

If he’s on small rats definitely fortnightly, males are normally smaller but in saying that I have a 7ft albino jungle , Ive only had him a year and the bloke was feeding him an xl rat every two weeks, no wonder he is supersized,Ive put him on a diet since then to once a month and he is slowly slimming down,
My male motley
Who is 4 this year is only 5ft and Ive had him since six months so been slow /sensibly grown
1-2 I feed fortnightly
2-3 every 3 weeks
4+ I feed mine monthly
Obviously all on the appropriate sized prey

I think you chose really well for your first boa, boas are really cool, Ive got 12 and there great eaters that’s for sure even tho I have a male longicauda that will only drop feed in the dark, but at least he still eats every time, he just won’t strike feed like the others


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[artgecko]

Welcome to the awesome world of boa ownership! I have several species, but my boas are def. my favorites. I have a BCA, A hypo BCI, and a Central American motley BCI.

Looks like you have a nice VPI T+ albino.

I agree with the others on feeding him every 2 weeks if he is over 1 year and under 3 years. When he hits 3, you can start feeding every 3 weeks. My oldest boas is around 6 years old at this point... I have had him for 4 and he was 2.5 when I got him. He eats every 4-6 weeks depending on meal size and is at a healthy weight.

I do hook / tap train all my snakes. My boas have a very high feeding response, especially at night. Sometimes they will slam the glass enclosure doors when they see movement / heat pass by, so I don't want to take risks lol. I use the hook whenever I work in their cage, change water, want to handle, etc. All I do is gently stroke them with it until they show that they recognize what is going on (usually by moving away from the hook touching them / turning their head away). At that point, I can reach in and grab them. This is useful because they could be asleep and strike out of fear if disturbed while asleep or just be very hungry and over-react. None of my boas has shown aggression to me, even when being treated via injection or oral medications, so the hook is truly a precaution to prevent them from making a mistake.

Be prepared to house your friend as he grows.. He will probably need at least a 4'x2'x 15" tall pvc cage as an adult with some climbing options. All of mine have AP pvc cages with sliding glass locking doors, light, heat tape, and basking / climbing shelves. They use the shelves a lot, even my oldest / largest boy.

Good luck with your new boa! They are such great animals... beautiful and have great attitudes also.

[artgecko]

Welcome to the awesome world of boa ownership! I have several species, but my boas are def. my favorites. I have a BCA, A hypo BCI, and a Central American motley BCI.

Looks like you have a nice VPI T+ albino.

I agree with the others on feeding him every 2 weeks if he is over 1 year and under 3 years. When he hits 3, you can start feeding every 3 weeks. My oldest boas is around 6 years old at this point... I have had him for 4 and he was 2.5 when I got him. He eats every 4-6 weeks depending on meal size and is at a healthy weight.

I do hook / tap train all my snakes. My boas have a very high feeding response, especially at night. Sometimes they will slam the glass enclosure doors when they see movement / heat pass by, so I don't want to take risks lol. I use the hook whenever I work in their cage, change water, want to handle, etc. All I do is gently stroke them with it until they show that they recognize what is going on (usually by moving away from the hook touching them / turning their head away). At that point, I can reach in and grab them. This is useful because they could be asleep and strike out of fear if disturbed while asleep or just be very hungry and over-react. None of my boas has shown aggression to me, even when being treated via injection or oral medications, so the hook is truly a precaution to prevent them from making a mistake.

Be prepared to house your friend as he grows.. He will probably need at least a 4'x2'x 15" tall pvc cage as an adult with some climbing options. All of mine have AP pvc cages with sliding glass locking doors, light, heat tape, and basking / climbing shelves. They use the shelves a lot, even my oldest / largest boy.

Good luck with your new boa! They are such great animals... beautiful and have great attitudes also.

[EDR]

Really great looking boa you got there and for a first very nice. Best wishes but you probably don't need them cause boa's are pretty easy going and i'm sure you'll be ok. Boa's along with ball pythons are hands down my favorite boids. Most have laid back attitudes and are not picky eaters unlike ball pythons.

And since some of us are sharing pics here's one of my first boa and still have nearly 20 years later. This was last December early in the month. Also don't worry I don't think yours will get as big as this guy.

[RickyNY]

Really great looking boa you got there and for a first very nice. Best wishes but you probably don't need them cause boa's are pretty easy going and i'm sure you'll be ok. Boa's along with ball pythons are hands down my favorite boids. Most have laid back attitudes and are not picky eaters unlike ball pythons.

And since some of us are sharing pics here's one of my first boa and still have nearly 20 years later. This was last December early in the month. Also don't worry I don't think yours will get as big as this guy.

Great job EDR! 20 years is amazing, he looks well taken care of.
When I was a kid, I wanted to buy a Red tail boa being sold at a local petshop... if he's still alive, he most be around the same age as yours right now. Didn't get it, my parents said: "Absolutely not". Is funny, I always think of him. I really hope he got a good owner and is still alive and well.

[EDR]

Great job EDR! 20 years is amazing, he looks well taken care of.
When I was a kid, I wanted to buy a Red tail boa being sold at a local petshop... if he's still alive, he most be around the same age as yours right now. Didn't get it, my parents said: "Absolutely not". Is funny, I always think of him. I really hope he got a good owner and is still alive and well.

Thanks Ricky. Yeah boy time flies and now my albino boa is going on 5-6 years old. Next thing I know he'll be a big old snek.

Nice story too. Hopefully he found a good home. I think its really nice that you remember him.

[svtvenom]

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I really want to make sure I do everything to ensure he lives a long and healthy life. He has so much more personality than my ball python ever did and I love how he’s not skiddish like he was. I still can’t think of a name for him. I was thinking about Sandor, Clegane, or Ramsay from Game of Thrones or Negan from Walking Dead. I’m also open to suggestions, anyone have a unique/badass name!?

[Dutti]

Yup, Yup and Yup. Also add, while BCC do for the most part get bigger than BCI, it takes them a much longer time to get there. Gina, my suriname will be 2 years old this coming August and she is about 2 feet long and eating adult mice. At 2 years old, she might be up to weaned rats but I'm nit betting on it lol. Heck, even Rango who will be 2 years old this March is still on adult mice and almost 3 feet and Louie my BCL will be 2 years old this July and he too is on adult mice and closing in on 3 feet. Slow wins the show with boas and generally any snake. Some though get bratty when not fed(I'm looking at you Caesar), so those guys you need to feed a little more.

He is saying that a male BCI will reach 4 to 6 feet and he is asking others to correct him if he was wrong and you are agreeing with him. Well, my male BCI is 20 months old and already over 5 feet. Nobody should think or claim that i am overfeeding him, he did not eat anything for about 2 months now. Boa Constrictors are large heavy body snakes

[Sauzo]

Whatever you say Dutti. We all know that you are the snake expert on this forum lol.