Joba
New member
You'll want to top out that warm side at 92, max. preferably about 88. 95 is too warm. (sorry if it's been said; I didn't finish reading the thread.) Congrats on the beautiful boas!!
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Found two boas under the dog's water bucket (first snakes, need help!)
- Thread starter ArmyWife
- Start date
You'll want to top out that warm side at 92, max. preferably about 88. 95 is too warm. (sorry if it's been said; I didn't finish reading the thread.) Congrats on the beautiful boas!!
It's 88 on top of the paper towels, 95 under them so they can choose. How long will it take for them to get 8ft? After watching some videos on youtube I "popped" them and from my inexperienced hands, I definately have one boy, I couldn't get any hemipenes on the other one so I'm glad I bought two bins!!
Joba
New member
There is no certainty as far as how big they get. Boys will usually be around 6 feet, while girls will get 7-8 and bigger around (give or take on both). They grow pretty fast but not crazy fast. You've got a few years, but they will definitely need some 4X2X2 PVC or melamine cages in the future 
Joba
New member
Check your PM. Also, forum member Nythain has a large boa. He might be of service to you.
You can certainly use large bins with heat tape/thermostats. I personally think it's a shame to hide beautiful animals in a sweater box. But many do. There's a DIY section here for handy folks who like to build their own.
You can certainly use large bins with heat tape/thermostats. I personally think it's a shame to hide beautiful animals in a sweater box. But many do. There's a DIY section here for handy folks who like to build their own.
Alright. We could go tomorrow if we had to put the closest pet store is 25-30 minutes away and gas is just crazy! I already love them, the little "girl" of whom we've named Nagini, is on my hand relaxing as we speak. She has the biggest eyes! When I put them in their bins she drank for a long time, poor girl must have been thirsty.
Don't get them TOO hot. Excess heat will kill them quicker than excess cold. Let them have some place relatively cool to retreat to if they want to. A temperature gradient from one side of the cage to the other usually works well.
Hope they didn't get too chilled being outside. They ARE tropical snakes, after all.
Hope they didn't get too chilled being outside. They ARE tropical snakes, after all.
vetusvates
Gamaliel's Principle
Wow, are they lucky, ArmyWife!
And wow, are you willing, able, and industrious!
I'll bet (unfortunately for them) there are more outside and around. If there were two under the same bucket. Looks like someone rehomed a clutch (is that the word?) in the worst, most irresponsible kind of way.
Don't they come in litters of a couple dozen or more?
And wow, are you willing, able, and industrious!
I'll bet (unfortunately for them) there are more outside and around. If there were two under the same bucket. Looks like someone rehomed a clutch (is that the word?) in the worst, most irresponsible kind of way.
Don't they come in litters of a couple dozen or more?
I woke up this morning to the hotspot being 115 under the towels, 97 on top! Woo! Wayy too hot. It's gonna take playing around with this thermostat to get things settled. I set it on 90 to see if it would lower them back down. The snakes are still alive, thankfully. I don't know what it was on their cool side as I have them under the crib with a board and my husband's weight vest on top to secure the middle of the lids until I can get some locks and the landlord finally fixes our plumbing. When I first brought them in, Nagini was making popping sounds and her lung area felt like it was clicking when she was making them and I thought she had an RI but it seems to have stopped. Is there a reason these noises went away? Was it just due to being warm finally or will they come and go until it gets more serious?
While I can get their hides and some food, that is pretty much going to max me out money-wise for a little bit. My husband is currently working temp so we didn't get paid for the mandatory hollidays off (two weeks in a row) and he just found another job that he starts in two weeks. He's having to take off to go fill out paperwork at the other place AND we will be making the switch from a weekly pay scale to a biweekly. Not to mention I'm almost 8 months pregnant.
They will be fed, have their paper towels changed, ect, but aside from what we already have, I really can't do much more for the time being. I hope it looks like I have everything right. I want to do my best for these sweethearts and I think I have all the major necessities down, but I worry I'm missing something I can't afford.
While I can get their hides and some food, that is pretty much going to max me out money-wise for a little bit. My husband is currently working temp so we didn't get paid for the mandatory hollidays off (two weeks in a row) and he just found another job that he starts in two weeks. He's having to take off to go fill out paperwork at the other place AND we will be making the switch from a weekly pay scale to a biweekly. Not to mention I'm almost 8 months pregnant.
They will be fed, have their paper towels changed, ect, but aside from what we already have, I really can't do much more for the time being. I hope it looks like I have everything right. I want to do my best for these sweethearts and I think I have all the major necessities down, but I worry I'm missing something I can't afford.
Nanci
Alien Lover
Okay, so the probe for the thermostat needs to be ON the heat tape. You can attach it with that foil tape from Home Depot, or Lowes, in the heating/duct work section. I like the thick, heavy tape. Then I'd set it at 85 or 90 and see what you get. The Hydrofarm ought to be relatively accurate, but it all depends on where it is measuring.
I would recommend measuring the temp with a probed thermometer- with the probe in the bin, on the "hot" area. You can get a cheap one at Lowes or Walmart. You can even get one with a high/low alarm.
Then- I wouldn't feed until you have the temps stable. Waiting till Wednesday isn't going to hurt anything at all. There is no rush. It's worse to cause regurgitation from inappropriate temperatures.
And the snakes -should_ feel cool to your touch. Human skin temp is about 91F, and snakes are generally cooler.
If Nagini has a respiratory infection, the most important thing is going to be heat. I am not a boa person, but as long as they have a temperature gradient, and are able to get well away from the "hot" area, I think I'd be happier with her being able to get on 90 or even 95F if she wants to. Any boa people feel free to contradict me.
I would recommend measuring the temp with a probed thermometer- with the probe in the bin, on the "hot" area. You can get a cheap one at Lowes or Walmart. You can even get one with a high/low alarm.
Then- I wouldn't feed until you have the temps stable. Waiting till Wednesday isn't going to hurt anything at all. There is no rush. It's worse to cause regurgitation from inappropriate temperatures.
And the snakes -should_ feel cool to your touch. Human skin temp is about 91F, and snakes are generally cooler.
If Nagini has a respiratory infection, the most important thing is going to be heat. I am not a boa person, but as long as they have a temperature gradient, and are able to get well away from the "hot" area, I think I'd be happier with her being able to get on 90 or even 95F if she wants to. Any boa people feel free to contradict me.
I'm using a temp gun to measure the temps, is that bad? If the landlord managed to fix our plumbing last night (we'll find out in a few hours) the weight vest won't be an issue. They are under the crib because we aren't allowed to have animals aside from our outside dog and fish. We're going to be moving in a few months so we aren't too worried about hiding them for this little bit of time, it just makes it inconvinient to access them. I need to have a talk with my husband about putting the probe back when he's done messing with them. I always make sure it's put back but he's bad about it, I don't think he knows. I keep the probe under the bin that is at the end of the heat tape because it seems to stay much cooler than the half where the cord is. I have Nagini in the bin that stays a little bit warmer because of the popping I heard and felt.
daddio207
THUG FROG !
HI, welcome and "WOW" what a crazy find
That popping noise sounds like it was the start of an RI and the quickest cure to a minor RI is to raise the heat and it looks like that happened by accident.
Usually by the time the snake starts gasping for air by gaping its mouth the RI is pretty advanced and would require a vet visit. Doesn't sound like that's the case here. You can check its mouth for foaming/bubbles and excessive fluids.
Since you were able to "pop" them then you probably could check for an RI.
I'll try to explain how.. gently grasp the snake right behind the head by wrapping your fingers around his/her neck while placing your thumb under its head. With a little bit of pressure, slide your thumb sideways to pull down its lip on one side. I do it one handed but it might be easier to use your other thumb. Your not trying to open its mouth. Your trying to get the bottom lip to move down just a bit to peek inside the gum area. If there is foam/bubbles or mucus then it has an RI. You can also see if its anemic by the color of the gums. They should be at least a light pink but not white.
As Rich mentioned, Your Boas are a tropical snake so its heat requirement is more than north American snakes. Due to that though what I've seen a lot is people actually overheating them thinking and feeling (cold to the touch) that they need more heat than necessary.
Congrats on your upcoming baby!!
You want to use the utmost care in hygiene. Your snakes will continually be in contact with their own fecal matter. Sanitizing your hands after any contact with them or the tubs is a must !! The snakes should never come in direct contact with your newborn. Also snakes are great escape artists so I would doubly secure their tubs.
Looks like I was typing this as so was Nanci........
IMHO>....I would only go to the higher temps recommended if you can verify that she has a RI. if not then I'd keep it at 90 hot side max. My past experience has told me that RTB's (red tail boas) are more susceptible to RI's if they're kept at high temps for long periods then their is a sudden drop is temps even to the 70's.
That popping noise sounds like it was the start of an RI and the quickest cure to a minor RI is to raise the heat and it looks like that happened by accident.
Usually by the time the snake starts gasping for air by gaping its mouth the RI is pretty advanced and would require a vet visit. Doesn't sound like that's the case here. You can check its mouth for foaming/bubbles and excessive fluids.
Since you were able to "pop" them then you probably could check for an RI.
I'll try to explain how.. gently grasp the snake right behind the head by wrapping your fingers around his/her neck while placing your thumb under its head. With a little bit of pressure, slide your thumb sideways to pull down its lip on one side. I do it one handed but it might be easier to use your other thumb. Your not trying to open its mouth. Your trying to get the bottom lip to move down just a bit to peek inside the gum area. If there is foam/bubbles or mucus then it has an RI. You can also see if its anemic by the color of the gums. They should be at least a light pink but not white.
As Rich mentioned, Your Boas are a tropical snake so its heat requirement is more than north American snakes. Due to that though what I've seen a lot is people actually overheating them thinking and feeling (cold to the touch) that they need more heat than necessary.
Congrats on your upcoming baby!!
You want to use the utmost care in hygiene. Your snakes will continually be in contact with their own fecal matter. Sanitizing your hands after any contact with them or the tubs is a must !! The snakes should never come in direct contact with your newborn. Also snakes are great escape artists so I would doubly secure their tubs.
Looks like I was typing this as so was Nanci........
IMHO>....I would only go to the higher temps recommended if you can verify that she has a RI. if not then I'd keep it at 90 hot side max. My past experience has told me that RTB's (red tail boas) are more susceptible to RI's if they're kept at high temps for long periods then their is a sudden drop is temps even to the 70's.
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