what do you think?

Alika · #1 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 05:07 AM

Before we even decided to rescue Nzambi (who, if you didn't already know, passed away), we were looking around at young boas. The whole reason we decided to take her in was because we'd been planning on getting a boa, anyway, and we suddenly found ourselves in possession of a good boa setup and no animal to display in it.

So we did some more shopping today. Until today, most of what we had found was nice normal bci's and pythons, but what I really wanted was a bcc. People have tried to talk us out of bcc's, promising that bci's are a better starter boa. But I do have experience with bcc's, and it was a bcc that made me fall in love with boas in the first place. We set out looking for one and I got a tip from a coworker about a reptile store with good critter keeping practices, so we thought we'd check it out.

All the animals in the store were well taken care of. They were all in appropriate housing, with appropriate lighting, heating, food, and water. I visited with the owner for awhile about boas, and was impressed that he knew what he was talking about... and also that he made sure I knew what I was getting into with a boa.

And he had a bcc. A beatiful little Suriname baby that I had to hold... and, subsequently, fell in love with. My husband fell in love with him, too, and that was that. He seems to be in perfect health... great body condition, no signs of an RI or MR and NO MITES. He's been extremely active, and was good and strong... nice to hold a strong snake again, even if it is just a baby.

He seems to have pretty clear markings and a beautiful red tail... to me, anyway. But then, I don't have the eye of the breeder. I don't really care what he is (as far as color or whatever) because I think he's just beautiful and I suppose that's all that matters.

I hope you won't think badly of us for replacing Nzambi so quickly. It's part of moving on for us. The empty cage was a reminder of what she had been through... and how we had failed her by coming into her life too late to save her. We disinfected it thouroughly before we went shopping, so everything was all ready in case we found a snake we liked (and we did!). We're going to do right by this snake... a sort of promise we made to him and also to Nzambi.

Cheesey, huh?

He's settling in well, and his temps are perfect! 80F-90F (and it wasn't easy getting it perfect...). He's already been in and out if his hide and I think he's probably covered every square inch of his new home. The store had been feeding him live mice, but we bought some f/t pinkie rats to start him on once he settles in. From what I understand, he shouldn't have any trouble converting.

Tomorrow, I am going to buy him a grapevine or something for him to climb on a little.

I so badly want to take pictures to show you, but we are letting him settle in for a few days before we mess with him. But I promise I will have them up in a couple of days, and then you can tell me what you think of him (yes, 'him', the owner of the store was prettys sure he felt hemipenes)

Thanks for letting me blab. Again, please don't think badly of us for acquiring another boa so soon...

Alika · #2 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 05:19 AM

Ugh... can someone move this thread? I meant to put it in 'boas', not 'other boas'. Thanks.

charmoore · #3 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 05:24 AM

Congrats on your new 'baby', I certainly don't think any less of you for replacing Nzambi quickly. Everyone greives differently. I don't think you failed Nzambi at all, you tried your best, and gave her love when she needed it before she passed.

SoberGuy · #4 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 05:41 AM

Think less of ya for getting a snake? With Nzambi you proved that it would be tough for a boa to have a better home! Congrats on the new addition!

Alika · #5 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 04:21 PM

Okay, so I had to get in there to mess with some stuff early this morning. He was up and active, and I couldn't resist; I had to snap a few quick pictures. But now I'm really leaving him alone.

Something about the blue background made him look pink in the first two pictures. The third picture is more accurate for color (more greyish), but I left the first two in there because they still show off his patterning.

Are they always this calm as babies? All my experience with boas and other large constrictors has been with adults. I was under the impression he might be snappy at first, but he's just as calm and active as any big adult I've ever handled. Or does the snappiness come later?

Also, with his color, will it change as he gets older, or will it stay pretty much the same? I love his coloration now and hope it doesn't change too much

Thanks for the support.

schmelkdog · #6 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 04:44 PM

so sorry to hear about the snake passing. I feel bad for you guys, it sure sounds like you did everything you could and thank goodness someone tried. Good to hear that didn't turn you off of em. Your baby looks great, good luck!

xxxjustinxxx · #7 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 09:28 PM

the pattern on that boas is pretty sick, very nice boa!!!!

hisba · #8 (**permalink**) 05-21-2005, 12:54 AM

Hi! I replied on KS but I'll reply here too since you asked a diff. question! (I'm absoluteapril over there)
Yes, sorry, but your boa will change color. Most boas (or all boas, all snakes for that matter I think?) develop the yellow pigment later in life. Morphological color change happens over a period of years as the snake grows and you will see that nice gray base color change into either yellow/tan/dark brown/buckskin color. Surinams do tend to have a higher influance of pink/purple base coloration but they deff 'yellow up' like normal colombians as well. The amount of yellow is varibable, it's too bad you can't see what the parent snakes look like! I think seeing this change is part of the fun, but I also know lots of people like the look of the gray boa. (me too, I hope to get an anery BCI this or next year... here's to wishin'!)

Boas also do have a light/dark phase, you may notice some times he'll apear much darker or much lighter at diff times, it can depend on the time of day, their mood and/or the temperature.

Hope some of that info helps!
April

Alika · #9 (**permalink**) 05-21-2005, 03:25 AM

Thanks everyone. It will, indeed, be fun to see what colors develop.

I have another question:

He was eating live mice, but we plan on feeding him f/t and rats only. We have four pinky rats sitting in our freezer. He last ate on the 13th, and if he hadn't come home with us, he would have eaten today. But we figured we should give him a few more days to adjust, and weren't planning on feeding him until about Sunday night, maybe even Monday night. That way, if he eats, the rest of his new arrival, no handling period will finish out while he sits on those rats for 2-3 days, and we'd be able to handle him by this time next week.

We are planning on gradually thawing his food in cold water, making the water warmer and warmer until it's hot over a period of several hours. I've read that this is a good method, especially for conversion, because it really makes the rats have a strong odor.

Does all this seem about right to you? Should we wait longer before trying to feed him? Should we try him on f/t mice before skipping right to f/t pinky rats, or should it be okay? What are the chances that he will convert right over without a problem? Though I've read a lot about the conversion, it's not something I've ever had to worry about. From what I understand, the younger the snake is, the easier the conversion, and boas seem to do really well with it.

Feeding only f/t is really important to me. I don't want him to end up with the same horrible injuries that Nzambi had sustained from being fed live prey. If he doesn't eat it the first time it's offered, is it okay to continue offering only f/t until he eats? He's about 20-22 in long, if that has any bearing on it at all.

Thanks for your patience! I'm probably worrying for nothing...

Alika · #10 (**permalink**) 05-21-2005, 03:30 AM

By the way, he has a name now.

We're calling him Dante.

SoberGuy · #11 (**permalink**) 05-21-2005, 03:38 AM

Congrats on the name! With Dante, rats should be fine, as long as you follow the girth rule: the prey item shouldn't be any bigger (or not a niticeable amount bigger) than the widest part of Dante's body. Those little pinkies should be perfect. As far as warming them up, the method you've stated has been recommended, probably just as often as hot tap water, but nothing boiling. Either way should work, just pick a method. Giving Dante a week to settle in is just fine. I know my RTB ate a little sooner than a week, but there was no handling, and she was used to the regular feeding schedule.

There shouldn't be too much to worry about as far as the conversion goes. Some snakes don't want to be observed, so it doesn't matter what you offer; if you're watching, they won't eat. Some could care less, and would probably eat a plastic mouse with thousands gathered around. You're about to learn his personality.

If he doesn't eat for some reason, I've tricked mine by putting it in her hide. You can always brain the rat (put a hole in the head so the brain will ooze out) since it's like candy to them; they just can't resist it.

Above all else, keep giving that TLC! Dante is a pretty luck snake!

Alika · #12 (**permalink**) 05-21-2005, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoberGuy

You can always brain the rat (put a hole in the head so the brain will ooze out) since it's like candy to them; they just can't resist it.

Mmmmm, yummy!

What's the easiest way to do that?

I have some not-so-pretty images floating around the back of my head, involving meat tenderizers and ice picks.... but it seems prudent not to pulverize the entire rat...

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