Solomon Island Boas/feeding/breeding

[BallPythonWannaBe]

I've been interested in Solomon Island Boas for awhile now and am considering them for my next project after Pink tongue skinks. It seems like a good many are wild caught or wild bred/captive born imports. I'd really like to be able to contribute more captive bred animals to the hobby. This is a few years away still so just gathering information at this point. It seems like adults tend to feed okay-ish once established on rodents but there tends to be issues with hatchlings. I've read multiple different feeding techniques including mouse tails, and starting on lizards before starting scented pinkies and than normal f/t pinkies. What would be the best course of action for this? Would the tails be better? I wouldn't think they'd be great as far as nutrition. Would keeping a feeder colony of lizards be best? And what would work best for this route? I've heard both mourning geckos and anoles. I'd much prefer mourning geckos and they seem more suited size wise. The hatchlings are tiny, comparable to my garter hatchling almost.

[Starscream]

I'm going to link you to a breeder's care docs here: https://linktr.ee/stygianexotics

I do trust this person, this is who I obtained my Solomon Island ground boa from. My particular snake had never fed on lizards, but had ten consecutive frozen/thawed feedings before she was sent to me, which was incredibly helpful for acclimating her to my household.

[BallPythonWannaBe]

That looks like a wonderful guide! Most of what I've found so far is short and not very comprehensive. I saw your thread about your girl also, hopefully she pulls through okay for you.

[Malum Argenteum]

My goodness, that's a wonderful writeup. The hobby needs more info like that to replace "care sheets" that have minimum enclosure dimensions and temp requirements and little else.

I don't keep this species, and don't plan to, but these observations struck me as worth repeating and applying to more species than just this one:

"I do not generally suggest putting neonates on anoles or mourning geckos
unless it is your last option and you have tried pinkies, live guppies, live
platies, and scented pinkies first. Once they begin feeding on anoles, there is
the concern of introducing sometimes fatal parasites to your baby. I hear all
too often from people who lose babies from parasitic infections, started by
offering lizard prey. Then there is the cost. Putting it frankly, feeding lizards
can be expensive and inconvenient, and you can be left with a baby addicted
to lizards that would rather starve than eat a proper (and parasite-free) meal
on a better schedule."

"Buy your babies from people working with them as a
hobby, and offering true captive born and bred individuals that are
established on unscented rodents."

[BallPythonWannaBe]

Yep, I saw that! Its good to know that someone has good success with mice from the start. It seems like it would be a good idea to have some lizards around for scenting purposes or emergency food in case some are picky. Much better than the articles I've read through so far.

[Malum Argenteum]

It sounds like any breeding project would take at the very least least six years to come to fruition, so you've got plenty of time to plan for feeding neonates.

[BallPythonWannaBe]

It sounds like any breeding project would take at the very least least six years to come to fruition, so you've got plenty of time to plan for feeding neonates.

Yeah, breeding age is 6-8 years at least so plenty of time 🤣