A Few Questions For a New Snake Owner.

[wlwcom]

Hello, This is my 1st snake. I have studied up a lot on it, I'm getting a red tailed boa<columbian>. In about a month.

I just wanted your opinion if this sounded right to start off with<FYI I'm buying a hatchling>

I'm getting a 65-80 gallon aqaurium to start with, do you think thats big enough?
When can I "tell" when it's hungery?
How often should it shed to be considerd healthy?
I was told that after I let my boa settle in for a few days I should handle it regularly, and be persistant with it so it gets to know me, is this true?

I just don't want to mess anything up hehe [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

I read this page:

http://www.reptilemall.com/caresheets/boa.html

So when I first get the snake should I take it to the vet to have it looked at? or just take the poop?

Anywho anyother advice would help too. Thank you so much!

[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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[eddie]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Not just for planning on a boa, but for learning well in advance!!!!

Now onto the cage set up.
The tank is a little large at the moment, but will last quite some tim.
Most go by the math of 1 square foot of floor space for every foot of snake.

However, you CAN make the cage seem smaller, thus helping out the stress of being seen all the time by having several hides and plenty of cover, such as driftwood and fake plants, to add to its secureness while traveling from hide to hide.

Small snakes are always leary of predators, so the ability to move unseen is an advantage to minimize stress.


Now for the vet trip...

Search for a good one now, with references before planning the first trip.
Just cause the vet has a sign up that says, "Reptiles" does NOT mean a thing..

As for planning a trip first thing, you can do that if you want and take the snake so as to get a chart history made and a wellness exam.
As for treatments of any kind right off, that depends on whether or not it came from a petco-major chain or an established breeder, ( breeders have better stock and are also cheaper than petcos.)
If you do go with petco, then it may have any # of things that could be bad, such as gutloaded with internal and external parasites among other virul and bacterial infections not readily apparent.

If you are planning on a petco snake, please reconsider, there has been a numerous reporting of sudden death in many of the petco animals this year.

Look in the trading post, as there are quite a few here that have boas from their own clutches that are for sale at the moment.

If you do that, and have any questions about the seller or dealer etc. feel absolutely free to post them.

Last but not in the least!
Welcome to Redtail !
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[Johnny801]

Right on!!! Another Utah herper. We are few but we are proud. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Welcome to RedTail. Where are you planning to get your snake from??

As far as your questions, the Red-Tailed Freak pretty much summed it up. Good luck.
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[wlwcom]

I'm in st.george, I plan on buying from sue's pet castle. only place I can buy from, they seem pretty legit
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[Johnny801]

So you're down there soaking up the rays, eh? I actually passed that pet store (if I'm not mistaken) while passing through S.G. on my way to Vegas. But I never went in. Hope they take care ofyou. Are planning on going to the Wasatch Reptile Expo up here next weekend?
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[BWSmith]

I think you got some good info and if you cruise around the site for a while, pretty much every question you will ever have has probably been answered (saves a lot of time waiting for replies).

I just want to say that is is great that you came here and ar getting the info BEFORE you get the snake. Well done and welcome. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[SteveP]

Welcome to the absolutely "fun" world of keeping red tail boas! Good job on doing your homework first...and finding this website, your new home! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

If you get down to the Vegas area, which of course isn't far from St. George, check out Exotic Pets, (702) 631-7387. They usually have some very nice herps and are another resource for some good information. They also have frozen rodents available. Pet Kingdom has had good deals on boas too, in the past. There are some very good breeders of all sorts of herps in the Vegas area, the majority of which belong to the Southern Nevada Herp. Society...a very fun bunch of people.

Good luck on your new pet, and welcome! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[Boaguy]

that cage sounds good as long as you have more then one water bowl and heat light (if you get a baby) so it doesnt have to go realy far to get to it and get tired and stressed
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[wlwcom]

hey jonny801 can I get your e-mail or you e-mail me I'd like to know somone in utah besides me who will/does own a rtb

wlwcom@charter.net
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[Johnny801]

I'll send it to you via the private message system on this site. Just check next to your nameon the online list to access the mailbox. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[wlwcom]

ok thanks =D
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[Foo_Man_Chu]

Here's another Utah snake owner. I've been into snakes for ever and finally just bought my own at the reptile expo recently held in SLC. I got a cross between a Colombian Common and a Guyana Retail, two months old. Just stumbled on the site and LOVE IT!!!!!! Any hints and or suggestions for a first time snake owner would be more than welcome.

foo_man_chu@hotmail.com
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[kogoz]

the people in the Utah/Wyoming area are finnaly starting to come here.
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[mirabelasunshine]

Forgive me if somebody already took this up -- did you say "hatchling?" Just so you know, boas don't hatch. they're born live. Don't feel dumb, many snakes do hatch from eggs (pythons, corn snakes, king snakes among others). Looks like the other folks have taken care of most of your questions. Good luck -- I'm sure you'll enjoy your snake if you pick a healthy one from a reputable source and do your research first. One piece of advice -- get your cage & heating set up well before the snake itself, so you have plenty of time to fiddle with the temperature before your pet's life depends on it.


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

[Seany]

Welcome to RTB! and good choice with your snake pick. Enjoy him [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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[Jowex]

Eddie gave great answers on your Qs but i didnt see a reply on how you can tell its hungry.

The snake usually moves a lot more and the toungue flicks mopre often because it is looking for food.

And yes handle at least 1/2 hour everyday

Oh and congrats on a truly great snake ive only ever held one once and it was very tame/docile

Later Jowex

p.s. you'll love this site its great for info and all sorts of other stuff!!!
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[ShakiraFuego]

Oh I'm envious! I hope to get a Colombian RTB eventually sometime in the near future... once you can get pics, I'd love to see some of your new baby! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]
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[Voodoo]

I can always tell when my Royals are hungry because they become quite active. They move around the cage, and nose at the screen top. The only time my baby royal got out was when she was hungry a few days after my cat popped the screen. Before she got hungry, I don't think she noticed the loose screen, hehe. I still don't know HOW she managed to fit out of the small gap. I've learned - snakes are AMAZING escape artists.

Depending on which source you read, either RTBs or BPs are the best beginner snakes. I opted for BPs. *shrug* They're more docile, but are apparently more finiky eaters (I've yet to have a problem). They need less space, but aren't as colorful. So, it's really just a personal call on that one.
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	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

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[Voodoo]

Oh yeah, the shed thing. I didn't see anyone else answer it, so I'll give it a try. I don't know RTBs very well, tho.

Well, babies shed more often than adults, and well-fed shed more often than hungry. Just watch for the pinkening of the understide and the clowding of the eyes. Don't touch them while they're in their shed cycle, `cause their skin's really sensitive. After the shed, MAKE SURE the eyecaps came off. If it didn't come off in one piece, then the humidity's probably too low (I learned that one the hard way, hehe).

Er, anyone else have anything to add?

On the cage size: I have a 20L for my snake (I'd have a bigger one, but I had to adopt 2 adult snakes and them move, so they're a bit cramped). I've read that a 30L is big enough for a pair of adult BPs. Of course, I'm in the process of building a 4'x2'x2'. I've found it's hard to keep heat in with the glass and screen, and the humidity hard to control with the screen top. So, I'm building a plywood/plexiglass/screen cage.

_________________
Man cannot survive on bread alone . . .

Unless you keep him in a cage and that's all you feed him.



Email: VoodooDragon@trust-me.com

AIM: VoodooDragon137

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

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