Red Tail Boas

[Lick496]

Just ot a 7 footer and a 4 footer today. Questions

Are redamps OK for them? Whatabout during he night? Im in Van Nuys s its pretty warm during the day
If i am to by them med/large rats, how often should i feed them? Not looking to overfeed them

How to keep humidity? They are in avision-like tak, wit newspaper for now

 

[MizM]

Just ot a 7 footer and a 4 footer today. Questions

Are redamps OK for them? Whatabout during he night? Im in Van Nuys s its pretty warm during the day
If i am to by them med/large rats, how often should i feed them? Not looking to overfeed them

How to keep humidity? They are in avision-like tak, wit newspaper for now

I keep a breeding pair of red tails, both around 7'-8'. Your biggest worry is respiratory infection as they are quite succeptible.

Like all reptiles, they need a range of basking temps to thermoregulate. Boas need a high temp of 100F, they should be able to get their entire body to this temp. Put your heat lamp on one side of the tank, they can move to the other side to cool off. Room temp is fine for the other side. I use plain 100 watt light bulbs.

Screen enclosures are really bad for these guys, they really need their humidity. Low humidity will cause respiratory infection. You don't want we substrate however, they will get scale rot. I keep mine in glass enclosures and mist twice a day, and provide a very large tub of water for bathing.

I only use newspaper for substrate, they poop large and often and newspaper helps to keep things really clean. Most publications use soy-based ink nowdays, so no worry of chemicals.

Both of my boas are ravenous all the time, only stopping for the shed cycle!! The female only goes off food during her pregnancy. We usually feed one large prey item per week (jumbo rat). Now that we are in Texas, we have been able to add guinea pigs and squirrel to the rat diet! The male shows a definite preference for grey fur tho, go figure THAT one!

Lastly, keep the enclosure really clean. Mites, once introduced, are almost impossible to get rid of. It take a 3 week regimen to eradicate the little buggers. I haven't seen ONE since we've moved to TX, but were having huge problems in California, along with all the other reptile keepers I knew.

Congrats on your new babies, really awesome animals and one of the sweetest species I've ever owned!

 

[Lick496]

thanks man

 

[Lick496]

ma'am i meant. And if they are kept on newspaper (which mine are), doesnt that effect hmidity? and what if water spills?

 

[MizM]

ma'am i meant. And if they are kept on newspaper (which mine are), doesnt that effect hmidity? and what if water spills?

I use a huge water dish, actually a kitty litter box size, and fill it halfway. That way, when they bathe, it doesn't flip or overflow. Misting shouldn't get the paper too wet. They shouldn't be on top of anything wet, they will get scale rot. Here is my loving couple taking a nice bath together: warning, explicit nudity!

 

[Lick496]

Pic doesnt show...

Also, is it ok for the Red Infared light to be kept on during the night? It can get kind cold, and thesethings are heat lovers, but i wasnt sue if that wuld effect their sleeping. It is not bright, but might make a difference?

 

[Will Hunting]

Pic doesnt show...

Also, is it ok for the Red Infared light to be kept on during the night? It can get kind cold, and thesethings are heat lovers, but i wasnt sue if that wuld effect their sleeping. It is not bright, but might make a difference?

They cannot see the infra-red, so it'll be perfectly fine =p

 

[MizM]

Sorry, I reorganized my Photobucket after I posted the photo!! Scroll down, it's back!!

I have my lights on a timer, so they go off at night. Mine are currently in the winter cooling period, but being inside, are still warm enough at night. The red light shouldn't bother them at all.

 

[JayLeidal]

Huh?

I would use a ceramic heat emitter. They last forever and put off no light at all. Just make sure that your dome has a ceramic base to it. And are you seriously giving your boas squirrels. I hope they aren't wild. Just a thought. Squirrels carry plague.

 

[arachyd]

When did squirrels start carrying plague? We hunt them all the time and I've never heard of a case of squirrel-borne plague. Congratulations on the new snakes. They are one of my favorite species and make great pets.

 

[MizM]

I would use a ceramic heat emitter. They last forever and put off no light at all. Just make sure that your dome has a ceramic base to it. And are you seriously giving your boas squirrels. I hope they aren't wild. Just a thought. Squirrels carry plague.

I don't feed my snakes any wild-caught critters. Pre-killed, frozen & thawed. No buggies, no plague!