Reptile & Amphibian Forums

> Need your advice on my boa. I not sure and I do not think its this (IBD) but
> need your opinion. My Boa is 4 years old. She was a goood baby ate well, then
> she had a stint for a while where she did not eat. At this point I did not
> handle her. Well she started eating again after a long on and off phase and
> moved her into a rack system where she is in the dark all day. Now she has
> become nippy. I bring her out no problem but holding her she just decid es to
> snap one bite and then thats it. Maybe its because she feels insecure, or maybe
> she is just nippy. Do you know if Boas are so wound tight that they move
> akwardly. My pythons move gracful but the boa has always latched itself on
> tight and moves wabbly. And this brings me to my point. The other day I
> brought her out and put her on the ground and it looked like she was constriting
> her tail and stayed on her side. She stayed like that for awhile, and then
> snapped out not bitting but like someone pulled a cord and jus!
> t came out of it. Tonight I checked on her and I reached in there, now with a
> glove on because I am sick of being tagged, and she was moving away and trying
> to get her head away and curl the front half of her body but then did not. It
> just looks really weird. She eats pretty good, but she did have a regurge a
> couple months ago, for the first time since she was a baby. She is in a large
> rubbermaid container at 85 degrees on the cool end and about 92 on the warm.
> Another question is do you think it would be a problem if I just left it at 85
> degrees for her or a little warmer. I think she had the regurge when the water
> bowl kept spilling (I changed it) and the cage was always getting wet so I
> changed it every other day. Only thing I can think of it was to humid in there
> and a breeding ground of bacteria, but it was cloroxed each time.
> Thank you in advance
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
0.1 Green Burm
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

She sounds a bit stressed. I think your temps are a bit high too.

I keep the "hot spot" between 84 and 92. The ambient temps on the warm side is 82. The cool end is in the 78. Floor temp on the cool side is 75. My boas can decide if they want to be cooler or warmer.

I keep my boas in a 4 foot cages. It's easier to regulate the temps and himidity that way. I've always had problem getting the temps and himidity right in a rubbermaid container.

Boas need to have night and day. I have never seen a rack that didn't use clear tubs so light could penetrate. You need to make it so the boa gets day and night. I agree your back ground temp should be lower like 82, and your warm side should be 88-90. You didn't say if this is a baby or what size or age. If it's a baby keep handling it and it will calm down. If it's an adult get it into a regular cage. How big/old is your snake and how big is the tub?

Don't keep the whole tub one temperature, but the heater on one side so the boa can thermoregulate. If you boa spills their water you need to dry the tub and all everytime it happens, especially in a tub where humidity is high anyway. Maybe a bowl they can't spill would be better.

Your boa appears to have some sort of neuroligical problem from your description. You should take it to the vet and get it checked our for that movement thing.

Caden

Im thinking a clue can be found right here....
The use of bleach without "THOUGHOOOOOORLY" rinseing can no doubt be worth at least a headache to your boa.
Improper husbandry "causes" stress and stress kills.
The signs you describe are and can be directly related(no guessing about it)to the conditions the animal has been kept in.
Sadly not enough research is invested before impulse purchases of living animals are made.

M/

>Your boa appears to have some sort of neuroligical problem from your description. You should take it to the vet and get it checked our for that movement thing.
>>
>>Caden