Soloman Island boa

[StopStaringAtMe]

Anyone have one, or know what they're like? I know you have to feed them anoles, which would be hard for me, but I LOOOOVE the way they look and they stay small.... ideas?
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[Ed_r]

I would stay away from it. I hear they are a real pain to get to eat rodents if even at all. I was thinking about it as my first snake now I'm glad it was sold before I did it.
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[Stormyva]

Like Ed said, I did some research on them and found out the same thing. They can be difficult to get started on rodents and are not one of the better snakes out there.
If you are looking for something that stays at a managable size there is always the Rosy Boas, Children's Pythons, Hog Island Boa, or the Jungle and Irian Jaya Carpet Python.
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	Hog Island Boa hogg

[mirabelasunshine]

And if you want something stumpy and purely ground-dwelling and really really cute (although rosies compete on all these counts) look at a rough-scaled sand boa.
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[Raven]

Actually, they are great little boas and not that difficult IMO. Here's a website that offers all the information you'll need on them. Also, Jerry Conway breeds these little beauties and I believe has some available now. It's best to start out with captive bred animals versus wild caught (which is what my pair is) because captive bred animals are more likely to accept rodents as prey. Don't write them off as too difficult before you do a bit of research. They are really underated as pets but are actually great little boas. At least, I think so.

Jerry Conway
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	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

[Stormyva]

Raven, that site had some really good information.
The reading and opinions that I had learned in my research was primarily based on wild caught animals. I did not come across much in the way of information on captive bred Candoias.

Where in VA are you from?
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[Raven]

Hi Stormy!

Jerry's site is great. I'd read his article in the Oct '98 Reptiles magazine and just fell in love with these little beauties. It's completely his fault I ever even heard about these little boas. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] I had looked for them off and on since reading that article but hadn't thought seriously about it or bought any until last year. I got my male last May at a local show and ordered a female from Hiss-N-Things in June. Both of mine are wild caught and that does pose it's share of challenges. My male is sweet tempered but is still assist fed at this point, no meals taken solely on his own. He literally went months without eatting before I opted to force feed him those first couple of times. The female eats like a champ and has since day 1 BUT she's not tame and getting bitten is the order of the day with her. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] She's still a beauty though. I think most of the idea that they are difficult snakes stems from the wild caught animals, especially wild caught neonates or juveniles. Also, other than Jerry Conway's site & his article in Reptiles way back when, there's not much available on their care, breeding, etc. That's pretty intimidating in and of itself. Both of mine are set up in Sterlite plastic tubs with a large water dish and hide in each and a branch for the male (haven't set a branch up in the female's cage as of yet because I don't want to have to pull her off it while she's trying to bite me! lol). It's all pretty basic and simple compared to many of the snakes available now.

It was in researching for different tricks to try to get my male feeding that I ran across Jerry Conway's name again and contacted him via email. He was super helpful and gave me all sorts of ideas to try to get the male eatting on his own. Around the same time, I found that he breeds and sells the Solomon Island boas. It's my understanding that he tries to get neonates switched over to mice early on but don't hold me 100% to that - I can't remember if I heard it from him or someoe else. Either way, his are THE ones to get if you're going to get them. In fact, I hope to breed mine in the future and plan on purchasing the rest of my breeding group from him. I CAN first-hand vouch that he is the most helpful and knowledgable person about these little guys there is. He hadn't sold either of my pair to me but went out of his way to help me get them thriving. That's proof to me that he will provide excellent customer service whenever I do purchase from him.

As for my location, I'm just outside of Richmond - by half an hours' drive or so.

Raven
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[StopStaringAtMe]

Ha ha thanks guys.... I think they are some of the cutest snakes I've seen, my boyfriend thinks they're ugly lol. I was just looking into getting another snake, mainly if and when I move back to phoenix and I have more room for one... they caught my eye.... Thanks again
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