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dragracingstud69 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-25-2002, 06:43 PM

I'm ganna be getting a redtail in a few weeks!!! This is my first one , and i've been waiting for a very long time to get a redtail! The lady said it was a south american redtail, heh , that really helps me out. I'll post some pix of it later and see if anyone can tell me what kind it is. Anyway, I've been reading up on them a lot and i know everything i need to know, but i was woundering if someone can tell me how much there red tail grew about every year for about 5 years, just so i can kinda plan ahead for my tanks... thanx
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Lisa · #2 (**permalink**) 08-25-2002, 07:06 PM

In my book it says they grow up to about 3 to 4 ft in the first year I think, but it can depend on a lot of things, like the type of boa, the sex, how much you feed it etc, I've only had my boa about 4 months or so but he's grown about 1inch per month so far, but he's not the hungriest snake. I'm no expert though, there are many here who can answer your question better than me.
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SteveP · #3 (**permalink**) 08-25-2002, 07:48 PM

Jason - Welocme to RTB!

"Typically" (and that's a loaded word) boas do the greatest growth spurt in the first couple of years, and then slow down a bit after that. As Lisa mentioned, growth rates are going to depend on a multitude of factors...i.e., variety of boa, food regiment, environmental conditions, etc. Getting up to 5 or 6 feet in the first couple of years isn't unusual and some specimens may do a little more.

My rule of thumb for getting cages...get as large as you can afford right from the start. Your boa will eventually need a cage 4 foot (absolute minimum for a medium sized animal) to 6 foot (better) or even more for one that happens to have some "big" genetics. I prefer to give my animals some room and have always had a small enough collection of snakes that cage sizes didn't have to be compromised. Plus, even though a larger cage may cost you more initially, it's still cheaper than buying a little bit bigger one each year for several years.

Cages like those available from Boaphile Plastics allow you to expand the length of the cage as the animal grows. Check Jeff's website out and it will answer a lot of your questions about his cage construction.

...and good job on doing your homework first before getting your animal...very smart! Wish more people would do so for any animal they wish to keep...we'd have a lot less homeless critters and need for "rescue" centers!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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cb76 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-25-2002, 09:51 PM

steve said it!

all boas are different and the people that keep them are different! all those facotrs apply to the size of a boas growth.

that lady was extremely vague- if you want to look up some boa info before you get it, go to www.boa-constrictors.com
it has penty of pics of boa subspecies and locales.

also remember the term "redtail" is a hobby term meant to describe the coloration of a boas tail REGUARDLESS OF LOCALE!!!!

now its being used to describe any boa- i see boas that dont have red on them being called red. face it- red is red, nothing else.

also, if its a bcc- feeding requirements are different. the true bcc's while larger than bci- get there over a long period of time. colombians have a the huge growth spurts during the first 3 yrs- then it kinda tapers a bit. bcc's grow longer later.

also bcc's have softer stomachs than bci's do. if fed an item too big, it will vomit. too much is bad.

well, do some diggin on hermanns site and let us know what you have!!!!

also- CONGRATULATION ON YOUR NEW BOA!!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

ibet you'll be writing about your second and thirds too!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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dragracingstud69 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-26-2002, 12:06 AM

thanx a bunch guys! I think I've been looking at the boaphile plastics for a month or so and i think that im ganna buy a 4'x2'x11.5" cage for it for now and when it gets too big for it i'll buy a bigger one for it and put one of my ball pythons in the old one.

btw cb76- i havent gotten it yet, so dont jinx me hehe, I should be getting paid here pretty sooon and hopeing it will cover it.
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storm · #6 (**permalink**) 08-27-2002, 03:24 AM

Jason - welcome to the family! i just got my first (and so far only) boa from Morti not too long ago, myself. Good choice on the boaphile cage - those things are lovely!

One thing i wanted to add on here to your last post: i don't know if the research you've done mentioned this, but make sure to wash your hands between handling the ball pythons and the boa. From what i understand, there are environmental concerns, and it is precaution you should take to keep the one from getting the other sick. No worries on having them both in the same house, though.

Again, welcome to the wonderful world of boa-owning, and good luck!

~Storm
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shaolinzero · #7 (**permalink**) 08-27-2002, 11:59 AM

hey storm. its ben. we met at mortis house once or twice. i have one of his babies too. i was just wondering how big your boy is and how hes doing? thanks. later.
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Dr.Oviparous · #8 (**permalink**) 08-27-2002, 12:14 PM

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE> but make sure to wash your hands between handling the ball pythons and the boa </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE> Good advice! Actually it's a good idea to wash up in-between handling every different herp, even the same species. -Juggalo
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Seany · #9 (**permalink**) 08-27-2002, 01:47 PM

Good luck with your BCI. let us know what he is when you know. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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storm · #10 (**permalink**) 08-28-2002, 05:34 AM

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>hey storm. its ben. we met at mortis house once or twice. i have one of his babies too. i was just wondering how big your boy is and how hes doing?</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
My boy Anton (formerly Male#2) is pretty much as long as my arm from shoulder to fingertips (around 2'8&quot

and healthy as can be! I hope yours is doing well, too. Thanks for asking!
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dragracingstud69 · #11 (**permalink**) 08-28-2002, 06:09 AM

thnx storm, but i already knew that hehe. But i dont wash my hands, i use germX, its a lot easier than going all the way up stairs, and i found it works wounders. But it stings like #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^& if u have little cuts on your hands [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_evil.gif[/img] . The only things about this boa that I'm ganna get is that she dont know what kind it is. It looks like a colobian, but im not for sure. And she said it was really sick and wouldnt eat, but shes ben spending a lot of money for shots and medical treatments and she said that it ate once again last saterday. She wants to make sure it feeds again befor she sells it, but i dont know if i want to spend a $115 on a sick boa when i could get one for a$100 shipped to my door over night that would probly be in good health and be sexed and known of actuall specise (Spelling). So can you guys help me out on what i shoud do?
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dragracingstud69 · #12 (**permalink**) 08-28-2002, 06:12 AM

btw, right out of high school im going to Army boot camp. The army will pay for a 100% of books, books and enrollment and half of the dorms hehe .
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#13 (**permalink**) 08-28-2002, 02:55 PM

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>but i dont know if i want to spend a $115 on a sick boa when i could get one for a$100 shipped to my door over night that would probly be in good health and be sexed and known of actuall specise (Spelling). So can you guys help me out on what i shoud do?</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

You answered your own question sport. Go with your instincts and get one with no health/eating problems. (it's species btw [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] )

_________________
Rome did not build a great empire by having meetings, they did it by killing all who opposed them!

Jay

storm · #14 (**permalink**) 08-29-2002, 03:01 AM

Yeah, i'm going to have to go with Riley on this one. You're way better off purchasing from a reputable breeder and getting a healthy, happy animal than getting what you know to be a sick boa and take the chance of him not making it. A good rule of thumb is, if it won't eat, don't buy it. Check out the trading post, i'm sure you can find a good boa, or at least a suggestion for where to get one.
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dragracingstud69 · #15 (**permalink**) 08-29-2002, 03:52 AM

Yeah thats what I was thinkin. But I did watch it eat a fuzzy when i first saw it, and she does want to make sure it eats once more befor she sells it, it is supposed to be up to 100% acording to the vet. And im ganna watch it feed again. Im not sure what im ganna do just yet though, cause this red tail has some very pretty patterns.
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