I\'m new owner with questions

[Tonya]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this site as well as a new snake owner. Well, my son's snake actually. We just got a red tail boa that I am told is about 2 years old. The store is guessing at this due to it's size, just over 4 ft. I bought it from a pet store and was told a few things that I wanted to check out with real snake owners, not just workers. Okay first off, I was told that he is starting to shed. His eyes look to have a film over them. I was told that to help him shed easier to give him a warm bath once a day or at least twice a week. Is this true?? He doesn't seem to like water much. I was told not to feed him until he is done shedding. They fed him on the 6th, I bought him on the 7th. They said they have been feeding him once a week a small to med. rat. He has also been fed both live and pre-killed. Which is better?? If pre-killed, do I just put it in the cage or wiggle it around? Then I was in another store and heard this sales person tell someone who was buying a snake, that they needed to be allowed to hibernate from Nov. to Feb. Is this true?? I know with other animals I have had, I have been told to either prepare them for it and let them hibernate or keep them completely out of hibernation.
What am I suppose to do? I have not had much dealings with snakes because I don't like them. However for some reason I have taken to this one. It is very gentle, lets you carry him around, and is very mild in nature, I have felt very comfortable holding him. I just am not sure on all the basics that I think I need to know to keep him healthy. I keep saying him, but was told that it is to early to tell what sex it is. How can you tell? I did pick him up today and he acted a little bit more jumpy today, but his eyes seem more clouded also. So, I think it just has to due with the shedding process. He didn't strike or anything, just seemed a bit more nervous. Sorry this is so long. I am just short on knowledge in the snake department, but want to learn more. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] Thanks for listening.
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[thomasito]

hey

maybe the first time the pet store is actually right !!!l [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
if he's in shed his eyes will be cloudy 4 about 3 days and then his eyes will clear up again and in 3 or 4 days he'll shed.
pre-killed is better then live because the rats/mice could attack him and maybe even kill him .but they say the best is frozen rats ..you can buy them from http://www.rodentpro.com/



and Boa's never hibernate ..because they are tropical snakes (they don't do that ..only snakes where the temperatures get really low ..like in the United states.

ohyeah...after feeding a snake...don't touch it for 48 hours.

here is a caresheet for Boa Constrictors (Redtailboa's)


nullBoa CARESHEET

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[Tom]

Hi Tonya,

Welcome to RTB. Yes your boa is starting to shed. You do not have to give him warm baths if you do not want to but they do help.
I only do the warm baths if my boas are having a bad shed. However I do mist my boas & cages every day with warm water when they are going to shed. Your boas eyes will clear up and then in 2 to 4 days he/she will shed.
For feeding I would feed your boa 1 per-killed rat every 10 to 14 days. If you can switch your boa over to frozen thawed rat.
You should wait until your boa has shed before you try feeding him/her.

I have a lot of care sheets on my website that will help you out.
Just click on my banner to go to my website. Then click on my "Care Sheets page"
If you do not find the info you need there just post here or e-mail me anytime.

Take care,
Tom
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[mirabelasunshine]

Tonya, the age sounds like a reasonable guess, though if it's a male it could be older and if a female it could be younger, or it could always be younger and overfed or older and underfed... Anyway, I'll try to take your questions point by point(and by the way, your pet store people sound on the whole more informed than most).

* Soaking can help him shed, but you could also just mist him in his cage with a plant sprayer. A snake that doesn't know you well may not be cooperative about bathing. Really, as long as it isn't super-dry where you live, it isn't too big a deal. If it doesn't all come off in one piece, he needs to be more moist. The whole process should take around a week from when his eyes cloud up to when he crawls out of the skin.

* he probably won't eat until after he sheds. The feeding schedule sounds pretty reasonable.

* dead food is way safer -- it can't bite or kill your snake. Some snakes are a little finicky about it, but sounds like your guy takes it OK. Offer it warm, on tongs; gently vibrate it near him. If that doesn't incite a strike, just leave him it with him. Prey should be about the same thickness as the widest part of your snake.

* Don't feed him in his cage -- use a separate container, like a rubbermaid tub. This way, he won't ingest substrate with his meal, and he won't associate your hands coming into the cage with an incoming meal.

* boas don't hibernate. Some snakes do -- colubrids like rat snakes, corn snakes, etc. but you don't need to do anything different for your boa in winter.

* don't handle him while his eyes are cloudy -- if he's ever going to get frightened and bite you, that's when.

* snakes are mostly nicer than you probably think, and boas are nicer than most snakes. He will melt your heart. You will miss him when your son goes off to college and takes him away.

* he/she isn't too young to sex. An easy way to eyeball, and probably 90% accurate, is to look down by his vent (the poop hole) and see if there are visible spurs (they look like claws) above it on either side. If so, he's a boy.

* Do you know about proper cage temperatures, etc.? I have a really exhaustive caresheet (sent it out with babies we bred here this year) I could email if you like -- I'm at mirabelasunshine@msn.com just let me know if you want it.

Overall, boas are pretty hardy creatures, and there are only a few ways to really screw them up badly. Until your little guy sheds, though, I'd suggest just leaving him mostly alone to settle in to his new home and get used to things. He'll probably be nice and friendly again when you take him out. Anyway, welcome to RTB. Hope some of this helps. Keep asking questions, that's the whole point of this place. Enjoy your (son's) snake.
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	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

[Shadrach]

Hey Tonya Welcome to the site! Just do as everyone else has suggested and you'll be OK! Seem's as if they have ya covered!! Enjoy your new friend!
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WELCOME TO REDTAILBOA.NET!!!

The info you have here is great to get you started with your new found friend. Allthough in regards to sexing the snake.. The easiest, most accurate way is to have someone that is experienced in doing such to "PROBE" the snake for you. This should only be done by an experienced person as it could harm the snake if not done correctly. Is it imporatant that you know the actual sex of the snake really? If not, then don't worry about getting it sexed at all.

As for the live feeding thing.. here's one of my pages on that...LIVE FEEDING
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[nomadbean]

Tonya-
Welcome- It seems all of your questions were answered already, but I hope you and your snake are getting along. This place is great for people who have never had reptiles before. Enjoy it and good luck

Oh yeah...Welcome again to RTB!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[slaponte]

>> I have not had much dealings with snakes because I don't like them. However for some reason I have taken to this one. It is very gentle, lets you carry him around, and is very mild in nature, I have felt very comfortable holding him.

Right on!! Amazing how most people I introduce to my snakes realize they don't hate them that much, and they are not evil things. I like you already! You also seem like an outstanding Mom giving your son a chance with the snake.

>> Sorry this is so long. I am just short on knowledge in the snake department, but want to learn more. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] Thanks for listening.

Never apologize for seeking knowledge. You might be the best thing that could happen to the snake, in that at least you recognize you need help and look for it. Not all of them are that lucky. Follow the advice here and you can't go wrong.

Welcome to RTB.
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[Dr.Oviparous]

Welcome to RTB!

Can't really say much that others have already said, so I'll just say that it's great you came here and got good info! now just stick around [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] -Juggalo
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[XzyluM]

Welcome to RTB! Good to hear you have got a new friend. The others have pretty much covered what you need to know to get started.
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