Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello Everyone!
This is my first time posting, so forgive me if I'm asking a question that's been recently asked or discussed.
My fiance just got me a Hog Island Boa for our 5 year anniversary, and I've had trouble find good information about them. I have experience with keeping snakes (I have 1 ball python, 1 argentine boa, 1 brazilian rainbow boa, 1 kenyan sand boa, 1 cali. kingsnake, and 2 cornsnakes) so I know the basics, i.e. making sure they have fresh water, temp. gradiant, etc.
But I was hoping to get some good input from those who have hog island boas, like what temp. range seems to be the best, what substrates work the best to meet their humidity requirements, do they enjoy having many branches to climb on, that type of stuff....anyone have any advice for me?

Well, I've used caresheets and temps/humidity for normal BCI and that seems to work just fine for my hogs (they were my first boas). I use carefresh bedding because my male hog island got a splinter of aspen stuck in his nose back when I used to use that, which swelled and had to be aspirated by the vet (not infected, but there was pus that had to be removed). I don't think they have unique requirements, since they are the same species, and are just a dwarf form (that look AWESOME!).

Otherwise... they're just like "mini" BCI... ambient temp of about 82 with a 90-95 warm spot, large water dish, hide cave (with moist moss if in shed or if humidity is a problem), humidity of about 60% (or misting every other day or so, more when in shed).

I love my hoggies and am trying to breed them for the first time this fall.
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Lauren Madar
www.ophidiagems.com
1.1 Hog Island Boas
1.1 Hypo BCI
0.1 Sorong-type GTP
1.0 Normal Ball Python
1.1 Surinam BCC

Oh yeah - just like BCI - my hogs seemed to enjoy branches when they were younger but as they got older and larger, stayed more on the bottom of the cage.
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Lauren Madar
www.ophidiagems.com
1.1 Hog Island Boas
1.1 Hypo BCI
0.1 Sorong-type GTP
1.0 Normal Ball Python
1.1 Surinam BCC

Thank you for the advice...I hope you can successfully breed your pair! I have yet to see mine, my fiance lives 2 hours away so I've had to wait almost a week since she got it for me, it's been killing me! One other question...do they seem to prefer mice or rats? My Brazilian Rainbow Boa would not even look at a mouse, but stick a little rat in and she goes crazy for it. Again, thanks for your help.