experienced enough?

hi, i know this is a corn snake forum, but i also know alot of "experts" use this. i am wondering if i am experienced enough for a common boa. i know they are relatively easy to keep, other than their size. i have had 3 garter snakes, 1 kingsnake in the past. and i currently own a corn snake
do you think this is enough experience? obviously i would buy books, look at care sheets consualt "experts" etc.
i jus wanted your opinions before i start makin plans etc.
cheers
dan
ps im 14 yrs old if that may change your thoughts in any way

I'd personally opt for something smaller

Nothing wrong with boas, but having been on the receiving end of a big snake bite, I can tell you it's scary stuff! Not that a responsible 14 year old (which you seem to be) couldn't care for a boa constrictor, but the feeding response can be viscious and quick. They grow like weeds, too, and that cute little hatchling will be eating small rats before you know it, and large ones a year after that. Then multiple large rats per feeding...

Boas are, in general, good natured snakes, but I have dealt with a lot of them and find many expect food as soon as the cage door is opened. These specimens will come out of their cages to bite! You will probably get completely comfortable with it, since it will "grow with you," and may well find it to be a wonderful and rewarding experience. The downside is just enough to lean towards suggesting something smaller as a "stepping stone" first. I LOVE black milks and womas (womas are VERY expensive, though) as far as big husky snakes go. Bullsnakes can make great pets if handled regularly, too. Rosy boas (although small) are very docile and you can still say you have a boa!
Good luck and keep us posted!

Figure up the time you've had each snake and total the times. If the result is less than four years, then the answer is not yet. If more than one died, then the answer is not yet.

A few other things to think about: How does the family feel about getting a boa? Where to put the cage (we are thinking of something roughly 10 square feet in floor area, with a lock, for an adult boa)? Buy or build the cage?

The food source can be a concern. Will you buy or raise your own? Will your budget stretch enough to handle the costs?

Laws can be a problem. There is something about the words "python" and "boa constrictor" that raises hackles. Does your town have restrictions on ownership of exotic animals, like boas? My town does. Is there a problem disposing of soiled litter?

Safety. In a couple of years a boa is pushing 6 feet long. By that time you ought to have a backup when he is out of his cage. And you never, never, never wrap a snake around your neck, no matter what the snake's size.

Boas are impressive animals, but despite what all the Viagra spam says, size isn't everything. And I hate to see someone locked into one large animal because of space considerations when several smaller animals might better broaden interests and experience. Good luck.

Nice perspective, Paul!

We're not trying to turn you against Boa imperator, just suggesting some downsides and alternatives. There are so many fascinating American colubrids (and small boas) that would seem a more logical next pet after a corn. I made a big mistake at your age acquiring an Eastern Indigo (that I'd love to have now) that ate me out of mouse and home. Were it not for the fact he'd eat eggs, raw meat and squirrels I'd killed w/ pellet rifle, I don't know how I'd have mowed that many lawns to keep him going. And his health suffered on more than one occasion from my bad food choices. Not that you'd follow my redneck snake-husbandry path, but there are a lot of potential pet snakes out there that would be similar to a cornsnake (but times two in size). When you get older, they'll be easier to sneak into your dormroom than a nine foot boa, anyway!

Well, I'm not an expert, but I'll give some advice (or at least my experience) anyway

I got my first snakes, 2 corns, in August of 2001 (daytona show). 4 months later, I got my bci. I don't think it was too soon. But you have to take into account I was 17 and my dad was whole-heartedly in support of getting the boa (technically she's half his).
Some things I've learned in the past 2 years:

1. GET A SNAKE HOOK. Last year, for some reason during feeding time I needed to reach into the cage and grab something (not the snake). I thought that I could just 'reach around' her and not get noticed, but no such luck. She bit and constricted around my hand, and I went 'AHHH!'. More out of surprise than anything else, though. She figured out soon enough that I wasn't a rat. Luckily she was only around 3' or so, but she did leave a little bruising on my hand. After that I promptly went and bought a 2' snake hook just in case I need to move her out of the way.

2. Don't let the snake wrap around your neck. Not out of fear of being constricted, but just the sheer muscle 'grip' that the snake needs to hold on will cut down on your blood flow. I tend to carry her slung over one shoulder, or over both shoulders and behind the neck. I don't let her make a full circle.

3. They are -very- strong. My snake is 6 1/2 feet of pure muscle. When she wants to go somewhere, it takes a little power to make her stop. Not like a corn where you can casually pull them back with no effort.

4. When she's hungry, she's hungry. My boa has a habit of sticking her head out of her hide when she's hungry. Another day, she'll have her head even further out. And so on, until she's cruising the cage like mad looking for a rat. She gets in 'feeding mode' very easily, before the rat is done thawing. (good sense of smell). Don't grab a boa when you're thawing a rat out in the other room.

5. They grow -fast-. For quite a few months she was growing an average of an inch a week.

6. An 'interesting' fact - boids in general seem to have poo with more 'form' than colubrids. Comparing poo of my corns, milk, and king to my BP, tree boa, rainbow boa, and BCI, the latter tend to have more shape.
My boa's poos right now are about the same size and shape as a standard human poo.
This makes it not as messy to clean up, but it sure scares the neighbors

Lastly, I've attached an image (however bad) of my boa, 2.5 years, 6.5', and my amel corn, same age, 3.5'. Not the best pic because the perspecive seems to make the boa look smaller than what she really is.

I think you could get a Boa if you keep in mind that Boa's do get big. I don't know about the back-up suggested at 6' but I guess a 6' Boa could do some real damage biting and constricting you. Not life threatening like a 12' Burmese would be but a challenge all the same. I have had several Boa's and Burmese pythons and I think it is safe to say Boa's are not really dangerous. When you buy a Baby now it might be 5' in a year. Then you will be 15 years and big enough to handle that size. One more year and it will be 6' and you will be 16. No problem I think. In this picture my female Boa is one year old.. And yes, as you can see in the pic they are very strong. Their bites hurt a lot compared to a corn bite. They eat large prey like Guinea pigs and rabbits. That kind of food is not always readily available and cost a lot. Their cage is a lot bigger than the average corn cage and heating such a cage is not cheap eighter. Just some things you should considder.

but there are a lot of potential pet snakes out there that would be similar to a cornsnake (but times two in size).

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Any chance you could list a few?

I was going to ask exactly this sort of question myself but after reading some of the replies here Im beginning to think a python/boa might be beyond my experience level at the moment.

Also , I might have the chance of aquiring an asian beauty snake soon and wondered if anyone has any experience of these?

cheers

I think an Asian Beauty would be a great snake to give you more experience if you don't feel you are ready. They are really nothing like boas or pythons BUT they are faster, more bitey and more jumpy than most colubrids as well as larger than corns so you can learn how to handle a snake better. They will definitly give you some learning experience.

bmm

I've never had any of the beauty snakes, so can't comment on them.

I like the pine/gopher/bullsnake group. They are among the largest of the North American colubrids and are relatively thick for their length. Feeding response is impressive. Work with them, and they get as tame as a corn snake.

Sometime soon I want to try African house snakes. I've heard good things about them.

IMHO, some of the milk snakes are as spectacularly beautiful as they come and not difficult to keep (though second snakes, not first snakes). For example, Sinaloan or Honduran milks. BTW, Robert Applegate's booklet The Milk Snakes (AVS Herpetocultural Library) has portions that are applicable to nearly any species, and parts are better written than anywhere else I've seen. IMHO, the Love's The Corn Snake Manual and Applegate's booklet are the two best booklets in their price range.

The black rat and subspecies are closely related to corn snakes and are similar in many ways. Also larger than corns.

bmm said:

I think an Asian Beauty would be a great snake to give you more

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what is an asian beuty like? are they available in the uk?
i wanted some info but i didnt dare search on google for fear of what may come up.... i mean i dont mind it but my family might lol

This is me with a male Taiwan beauty. They grow very fast and in fact this male is only two years in the picture. They are dog tame untill they get that large. Then they loose their shyness and will bite at request. Most of the times because they are hungry but also when they have a bad hair day. All in all awesome snakes.

You might also want to check Russian ratsnakes. They get big at age and are very tame. I even dare to say that they are more dependable than corns.

This is my wife and son with my large male. He is well over 6'

I'd say that you get a asian rat or a bull snake before you get into the boas. Simple because these taiwan beauties and the bulls can get pretty big in length. Once you get used to their length you can imagine the same lengthed snake but with much more power. Getting the asian rats and/or the bull snakes can let you get a rought idea on how to handle with the boas.

but if you are willing to go stight to boas that's fine too.
just be sure you are ready to feed large prey items
have a large enclosure
a snake hook for them is always nice
have someone with you when you handle the snake (just in case it over powers you for some reason)
make sure that the by laws in your area will let you keep boas (or giants like these)

Marcel,
ah~~~
your kid is really cute! Makes me want to squeeze his face...hahahah he's really cute and nice varaity of collection you have there!!

The taiwan beauty snake Ive seen is absolutely gorgeous but Im also very taken with that russian rat snake. Funny enough I was only reading today how good natured they are

I think I might have been a bit naive thinking I was ready for a boa/python so looks like Ill be setting my sights a bit lower for now. You know how it is though , I want one of everything lol

thanks guys for the info , looks like Ive got some decisions to make

cheers

My experience

Ok I am 15 now I have kept snakes for 3 years and kept many of species including larger boas and pythons out of the many snakes I have had none were more demanding mentally and physically than the larger boids I was 14 when I got my first BCI a good tempered 6ft female, I LOVED that snake but it took up alot of my time as I had to clean it often and the poo's were like someone earlier said "Human Sized" and they could stink if they were fresh too and then sometimes the darned boa would poo in its water and that was a mess, I believe now that I was not ready for that snake as I ended up tired of cleaning the poo after a ear and traded it for 2.1 corns you cannot believe over the internet how massive and powerful these snake are they can literally choke you and have huge feeding responses as I have found out. Sorry to just repeat but really just want to make that clear. But She was fun too... I say wait a Little while choose a larger colubrid for now.

Marcel ..

Just been looking at the pics on your website ... awesome stuff and truly enjoyable to look at

cheers

that taiwan beauty is a beauty! are they available in the uk? how much are they? how old is the 1 in the pic?
cheers
dan

they are fairly widespread in the UK

try here http://www.reptilecentre.com/

cheers

CornDude said:

that taiwan beauty is a beauty! are they available in the uk? how much are they? how old is the 1 in the pic?
cheers
dan

Click to expand...

You mean the picture where I wrote 'in fact this male is only two years in the picture.'?

Ehhh.. Two years?

Marcel Poots said:

You mean the picture where I wrote 'in fact this male is only two years in the picture.'?

Ehhh.. Two years?

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im dumb
how big is it? wots its girth like?
like i sed im dumb