Red Tail Boa Question

[Tcollector]

I was trying to do some research on these. I heard that these do grow FAST. When you get a hatchling how long can you keep them in a 20 long? and how long can you keep them in a 40 gallon breeder?

I am planing on getting one in about a 6 months to a year. Space is no problem.

 

[bamato]

How fast they grow really depends on how much and how often you feed them. Feeding them appropriately sized meals once a week to week and a half will keep growth safe and steady.

I bought my red-tail as a hatchling, housed her in a 20 long, and within a year to a year and a half I had her in a 40 long. Most max out length-wise around 8 feet in my experience. And depending on how healthy he/she is they can get FAT. 40 long should last you a good few years, unless you powerfeed IMHO.

 

[DrGigglez666]

I have a male right now thats about 3-3.5 feet long and stretched out he's almost as long as the 55 gallon tank i got him in. Feeding does play a big role in how fast they grow. Mine can eat about one large rat a week and be good until the next week. 8 feet is the max you will get one up to but ive seen one about 7 feet at the most.

 

[bigtyler1025]

I believe they grow something like 3 feet in the first year. I'm not 100% on that though. I voulenteer at a snake shop during the weekend and we work with alot of boas, it seems like the first year they grow very rapidly.we get alot back after the first year it seems because of size issues. I just bought what looks to me like a baby Nicaraguan boa. So she will probably be smaller than normal. Those large specimens are most likeley female btw. So if you want a little bit smaller snake go with a male. And by smaller, I mean six feet as compared to 8.

 

[Mina]

Is it a Columbian or a Suriname? Columbians get bigger.

 

[ChondroGirl]

In my experience, the 20L should last a year, then move to a 40. This should last until the boa is almost 3. If if is a female, you will then probably need to check out some boa cages (4'x2').

 

[hardlucktattoo]

you can always custom build one cheap i would use ply wood or flake boare for the sides bottom and back and plexiglass for the front but thats me

 

[Diggy415]

i have 11 snakes all different boas, i have most of mine in boaphiles, if you have the 200.00$ it costs it's worth it, they don't need fancy set ups to display with and do fine in there and you can get two that connect together and you can make it one or two cages. go to the website with that name and you will see what i mean. Good luck

 

[reverendsterlin]

you might as well go as large as possible, I finally housed my female in a 3X3X8 enclosure that I built (front was 1/4 inch plexiglass). They get big, my girl was 8.5 ft and 45 lbs when I finally sold her to a local breeder. BTW rabbits are spendy but not as much as 30 jumbo rats lol, best to get a good pellet rifle.
Rev