is my baby rtb healthy?

[Lisa]

Last night I was looking at my baby boa.....I just can't stop worrying about him. I looked at his genital area and it looks pink and a bit swollen and at each side there is a little thing that looks like a claw......please tell me is this just normal because I'm worried that the pet shop owner was rough with him when he probed him to check his sex. Also, a little way up from his genitals on his belly where his wide belly scales are..there is a part where the scales are in two parts, it looks like it could be natural or a cut in the scales that doesn't look sore.
Is it normal that a 22" baby boa's body is arched...ie flat underneath, flatish on his sides and round over his back, and you can see grooves running down his backwhen he coils. His skin underneath feels quite loose...this could all be normal anatomy of a baby boa but I feel like the pet shop owner was not very helpful with me , any help would be apreciated. thanks.
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[Dr.Oviparous]

Depending on how swollen it is it is usually normal. boas do have a slight bulge right about there. I forgot exactly what the "claws" are called, I'm sure someone else knows and will be around soon to say, but they are normal as well. thats's all I got! hey, anyway you could post a piccture? this always helps, that way we could see the snake, and get a better idea of what you're describing. -Juggalo
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[bensnacks]

The spurs or "claws" are normal they are
used in mating & combat between males,
that goes for pythons anyway.
They are what is left of their ancestrial legs.
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	Spurs A pair of claws on each side of the cloaca which assist in mating. A spur is much more defined on a male

[Lisa]

how do I post a picture on here. I haven't got a digi cam but I've got a web cam but the pics it does are not very good. I've found a pic of a baby boa that looks the spit of mine and I'm a bit worried incase mines the same type cos its a suriname rtb constrictor constrictor, and they grow big don't they.....can the smaller ones have this exact colouring and pattern too, cos up to now I haven't found a pic of any imperiator that matches the colours on mine.
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[Relayer]

First the price you paid for the snake should tell you if its bcc or bci. I'm guessing bci go for $70 - $150 price range with bcc being much higher. $300-600. Your description of your snake sounds exactly like my little guy even the size, the little split in the skin and everything. I think everything is fine and sounds like it has a good home.
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	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.

[Karen]

If this is your first snake you're gonna worry for awhile. lol It'll eventually pass. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] The spurs are normal oh and I think I know of the "cut" you're referring to. If its not too far from the spurs and its a pinkish color and a couple centimeters then its what I'm thinking of. From what I've been told in the past its where they were attached to the sac. I'm going on what I was told though so if I'm wrong someone will correct me. About his "shape" I wouldnt worry about it right now. Get some food in him and fill him out a little . [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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