Red Tailed Boa Question

girlatomy · #1 (**permalink**) 12-30-2005, 10:59 AM

I bought a baby red tailed boa from a store called "Scales & Tails" in Denver that has a really good reputation. It seems like there are a few areas on him where he hasn't lost the skin from his last shed and I've tried baby oil as recommended by a friend and that didn't get it off and it's been 10 days since he's eaten. Do I need to bring him to a vet, do I need to soak him in warm water? More Oil? Please Help me!!

P.S
The temp in his cage is usually about 80-86 degrees and he's been burrowing himself a lot.

Nexus · #2 (**permalink**) 12-30-2005, 01:01 PM

I occassionally get pieces of retained shed on my Brazilian Rainbow Boa and all I normally do is put him in a tub with some damp moss and put this back in the viv to keep him warm after 24 hours he's usually fine.

I take it that when you say he has not eaten for ten days that he is refusing to feed, it may be that he is still feeling a little shell shocked from the new environment, I take it their are plenty of hides at the warm end and the cooler end of the tank. Also if you have been taking it out to apply baby lotion then this will probably be stressing him a little as well. 10 days is not that long I am sure it will feed soon. My emerald occassionally refuses to eat for months.

Cheers
Nick

Nexus · #3 (**permalink**) 12-30-2005, 01:02 PM

heck beaten by 1 minute

girlatomy · #4 (**permalink**) 12-30-2005, 11:04 PM

Um.. I didn't know that I was supposed to be keeping track of the humidity or using substrate. When I had a red tail before I just had a thermometer on either side of the thank but then again, that one was from Petco and this one is used to better circumstances I think. What is substrate and I take it I should get a humidity thermometer?

girlatomy · #5 (**permalink**) 12-30-2005, 11:09 PM

I brought him home about a week ago and I've handled him everyday thinking that it would help keep him tame. When he tries to get out of the water should I just make him stay in? I'm going to take pictures of his habitat and of him. He's at least a foot, I know that.

unluckyseventeen · #6 (**permalink**) 12-31-2005, 01:30 AM

You can get a humidity monitor from Walmart... or pretty much anywhere. They are called a hygometer.

For substrate you can use newspaper, if you don't have humidity problems. It's easy to clean and cheap to use. Some people use aspen or cypress mulch, which holds humidity better, but in turn can mold, and your snake could accidentally ingest it.

girlatomy · #7 (**permalink**) 12-31-2005, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unluckyseventeen

You can get a humidity monitor from Walmart... or pretty much anywhere. They are called a hygometer.
For substrate you can use newspaper, if you don't have humidity problems. It's easy to clean and cheap to use. Some people use aspen or cypress mulch, which holds humidity better, but in turn can mold, and your snake could accidentally ingest it.

I use the cypress mulch because they said that it is mite resistant.

unluckyseventeen · #8 (**permalink**) 12-31-2005, 01:35 AM

OK then, that's your substrate.

And... nothing is mite "resistant". Mites can come from and pretty much live anywhere.

You should make sure your humidity is alright, because it'll stem lots of dehydration and shedding problems if you keep it too low, and it'll make your boa sick if you keep it too high.

girlatomy · #9 (**permalink**) 12-31-2005, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unluckyseventeen

OK then, that's your substrate.
And... nothing is mite "resistant". Mites can come from and pretty much live anywhere.
You should make sure your humidity is alright, because it'll stem lots of dehydration and shedding problems if you keep it too low, and it'll make your boa sick if you keep it too high.

What IS the right humidity?

Leatherface · #10 (**permalink**) 12-31-2005, 01:51 AM

you can get a Hygrometer from Wally world that is a temp combo for around $13.00...

Newspaper might be agood idea until ya get his poop check for parasites and it is CHEAP!!!

What lethargic said about soaking...

Check the temps(88-90H and 78-80C) and humidity (50-60%), make sure they are ok and then leave the snake alone for a couple days...Give him time to adjust to his new home

BTW...I have that same shirt!!!!

WHy can't we be sober?
Tool Sober

girlatomy · #11 (**permalink**) 12-31-2005, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leatherface

you can get a Hygrometer from Wally world that is a temp combo for around $13.00...
Newspaper might be agood idea until ya get his poop check for parasites and it is CHEAP!!!
What lethargic said about soaking...
Check the temps(88-90H and 78-80C) and humidity (50-60%), make sure they are ok and then leave the snake alone for a couple days...Give him time to adjust to his new home
BTW...I have that same shirt!!!!

WHy can't we be sober?
Tool Sober

If the humidity isn't right how do I change it?

Tom · #12 (**permalink**) 12-31-2005, 03:31 AM

Hi girlatomy
Here is some info to help you with your humidity. First place your water dish over your heat pad this maybe all you have to do to fix the humidity. If not then go buy your self some long fiber sphagnum moss and put it in a plastic tub with warm water then place it over your heat mat in your cage. I bought a 432 cu. in. bag and only used about 1/3 of the bag for my BRB cage. It will last a long time just as long as the snake does not poop on it. I bought the moss at Lowe's for $3.53. Just keep the moss damp and your humidity problem should be gone. I like putting the moss in a tub to help keep the cage clean and the moss stays in one spot then.

Also here is a link to my care sheet page of my website. There is a lot of info there that should answer most of your questions.http://www.mccarthyboas.com/CareSheets.html

Take care
Tom

Leatherface · #13 (**permalink**) 12-31-2005, 03:38 AM

What Tom said

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