:help: new at this...

[iheartsnakes]

I'm 14 and dead set on getting a RTB!!! I've researched them ALOT! and am thinking about building it a cage, I have no clue what to make it out of, or how big ((I kinda got a picture in my mind...)) I'm not buliding it alone, and I have 'had' pet snakes before...they were corn snakes & even though it's hard for me to admit.. I was new at caring for snakes and didn't reseach them at all, and I hate to admit this but I know it was my fault they died ((I was only 10 at the time))....... but u learn from your mistakes, and like I said I've researched ALOT, and have found out what it was I did wrong and how I can improve it... but again, my mom goes for the cheap stuff, so she'd rather but a baby at the store for $100 then buy a captive well-bred Boa for $300 and it's a long story with her...like if my snake was sick ((I know this with my previous owning of the Corn Snakes)) she would say 'oh there fine' and say she wasn't going to the vet just because it was acting 'a little odd' even though it would be completely different from it's normal self...but she's going to marry this guy who use to own snakes back when he was in college and he use to be a vet! he's the one who even suggested I get a RTB instead of another snake I wanted...((Only Reason I didn't want one before that was cuz I though they grew to be like 20' long!!! lol)) ok I think I'm done type in...lol...sorry for the long message! I just need as much help as I can get...also has anyone ever bought a boa from the boastore.com??? I found one I really like and it cost $290!! ((is that a good deal?? the shipping is included in the $290)) also is it ok to ship the snakes?? It sounds kinda cruel to me??

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

[cornyballpython]

Hey, welcome to RTB wow ur mom is just like my dad ha any way, have you researched were your geting the food from? also... is your mom willing to buy the food for you? cause at 14 its going to be hard for you to get the money... also because its summer you could spend the time with the snake so thats all good but what about school? (im not bashing you cause your young ha your not to much younger than me :P) these are just the things i thought about befor i got my corns... and have you thought about a ball python? they dont get as big, boas are great snakes i have never had the privlage to own one myself but i know ppl that have had them and still do and they love them to death

what i would do if i were you is do some side jobs like mowing lawns and stuff like that to earn enough money to
a) get the healthy snake
b) build it a nace cage
c) have enough money to maby buy frozen rats of the net

if you have the money to buy atleast $200 of the healthy snake so your mom only has to buy $100 bucks of it it may help you in the long run so not as many vet trips

-sara

[iheartsnakes]

thanks for the help! I talked to my mom and she seemed to be interested... I'm saving up some money and got about $60 dollars already. I don't really want a Ball Python, I researched them and just arn't as interesting to me...there R alot of other reasons too...any ways The food is no problem, but not sure yet where to buy it, any suggestions?

[VoodooChile]

rodentpro, big cheese...there are others Im sure someone will add some info..
PetCo carries frozen prey animals as well.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Originally Posted by amercnwmn

rodentpro, big cheese...there are others Im sure someone will add some info..
PetCo carries frozen prey animals as well.

PETCO!!! BARF!!! I would do some research and see what you feel you can handle. A redtail boa is a great snake that is usually tame and great feeders. They can reach a relatively large size of up to 10' for bci and 14' for bcc(rarer and more expensive of the 2 for the most part). Whatever you choose, feed f/t(frozen thawed) and research. You may read 100 care sheets before you see what you want that says "this isn't the snake for me" or "This is exactually what I want". Most people here seem to have rtb(red tail boas) including myself and no body ever has anything bad to say about them besided they are addictive.

Wish you luck and feel free to ask us anything you want to know

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor Red Tail Boa Constrictor (Boa constictor constrictor). Refers to "true" red tail boas such as the Guyana and Suriname locales.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[dhonaker]

i have heard the boa store is good and i thought about bying from there once but decided to get somthing else

[iheartsnakes]

Thanks Alot For Your Help!!!!

[iheartsnakes]

hey what u guys think about shipping snakes??? It seems kinda cruel to me...but alot of people do it and I guessed they wouldn't do it if it was cruel, but I just want to make sure!

[SnakeCollector]

i have never done it but i dont think it would be cruel,heat packs are put into the boxes and ive heard that some places are not good for shipping reptiles at all but ive heard some places were good also like ups

[iheartsnakes]

Mmmm...i guess...

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Its perfectly safe. I have had about 3 snakes shipped and a few geckos and they arrive fine. I would recomend buying a snake and having it shipped here rather then buying from a pet store. They ship next morning delievery so they are in the box less than 18 hours usually. They ship in an insulated box so they keep out the cold or heat. Most places guarentee live arival so it must not be as risky as you think.