Red Tail Boa

[abadawi]

I saw red tail boa and I really want to buy one. But I've never owned a snake before and I'm buying my first snake (cornsnake) ever sometime next week. I heard they're easy to take care of, is that true?
-How much expereince do I need to have?
-Is there any risk of any major injuries to a human from a RTB?
-Who knows how much it costs (monthly) to take care of a RTB.
-Are there any responsibilities other than the ones that apply to corn snakes?
-How aggressive are they?
-How often can I handle it?

Sorry for all the questions, but I really want to buy one as soon as possible.
Thanks alot guys. This site has been a great source of information and help to me.

Ahmed

 

[Tula_Montage]

I saw red tail boa and I really want to buy one. But I've never owned a snake before and I'm buying my first snake (cornsnake) ever sometime next week. I heard they're easy to take care of, is that true?
-How much expereince do I need to have?
-Is there any risk of any major injuries to a human from a RTB?
-Who knows how much it costs (monthly) to take care of a RTB.
-Are there any responsibilities other than the ones that apply to corn snakes?
-How aggressive are they?
-How often can I handle it?

Sorry for all the questions, but I really want to buy one as soon as possible.
Thanks alot guys. This site has been a great source of information and help to me.

Ahmed

I doubt if you have ever owned a snake, that you should buy a red tail.
Try doing optimum amounts of research on your own about the species before planning any sort of purchase.

Corn snakes tend to be the best "beginers" snake.

 

[CMLReptiles]

I saw red tail boa and I really want to buy one. But I've never owned a snake before and I'm buying my first snake (cornsnake) ever sometime next week. I heard they're easy to take care of, is that true?
-How much expereince do I need to have?
-Is there any risk of any major injuries to a human from a RTB?
-Who knows how much it costs (monthly) to take care of a RTB.
-Are there any responsibilities other than the ones that apply to corn snakes?
-How aggressive are they?
-How often can I handle it?

Sorry for all the questions, but I really want to buy one as soon as possible.
Thanks alot guys. This site has been a great source of information and help to me.

Ahmed

Experience is a good thing to have before trying to care for an RTB. They do have more requirements than a cornsnake, i.e. they require higher humidity.
Depending on what type of RTB, a bite from an adult could require more than just a bandaid.
Cost gets higher than a cornsnake, mainly cause food gets more expensive. The larger RTBs can get up to eating rabbits. Figure food costs alone depending on where you can get food from can be under $4/month (baby) to over $20/month.
A main responsibility is keeping the humidity in the right range. Too dry or too wet for extended periods can easily read to a respiratory infection. Also, keeping up on handling is a little more important. A bite from an adult corn cause you didn't handle it for a while vs an adult boa.....you figure that one out.
They don't really start off aggressive..I actually think corn hatchlings are more aggressive than neonate boas. When older though, the feeding response can get pretty intense, so care needs to be taken.

So, read some books and care sheets, and figure out if you're ready for a 20+ year commitment to a snake that can grow well over 10 feet.

 

[johnbort2]

Honestly you shouldn't get a RTB until you have a cornsnake or a kingsnake, in my opinion. While MOST boas are docile, temperment is like a box of chocolates..you never know what you are going to get...lol
After raising a couple of the beginners snakes, then you should be ready to handle a larger, more demanding animal. Boas ARE more demanding than corns as far as humidity, temps, etc. Please, take your time and get a corn...they are wonderful! Good luck and please ask as many questions as you need to.