Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a rather peculiar question--I am considering purchasing a 6 foot hog island male boa. I currently have a boaphile 421d cage that is uninhabited at the moment, and I was thinking about putting the hog island in there. However, I can make room and have the cash for a 72x36x18 inch cage. I have read that sometimes a bigger cage backfires and results in a nastier snake. What are all of your thoughts? 4x2 or 6x3?

either cage would be fine, but i do not agree that a large cage will result in a nasty snake. the size of the cage should not effect the temperment of the snake.
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- Jason F.

from what I've read/been told, the large cage could make the snake feel threatened, thus reverting it to its "natural" state: avoid people! Still, I am wary of this statement, as a large cage should make the snake "happier", if anything.

Both cages would be fine. The real issue is not the size of the cage but the size of the hides. As long as there are adequate places to hide, the boa will feel safe. Hides should be large enough for the snake to get into and not much larger than that. To feel safe they like to be crammed into some nook or cranny with little ot no extra space. Also, need several hides for a larger cage so it could hide just about anywhere.
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Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB)
4.12 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
2.1 Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 Het for Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)
1.0 BCI albino het stripe
1.0 BCI salmon hypo
0.1 BCI ghost

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats