Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm considering getting an Amazon Tree Boa, but I want to do more research before actually purchasing the snake. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any good books on them at the reptile store. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for good websites with good info on them that I could check out? I know that it's extremely easy to find bad information on the internet, and would really appreciate a nudge in the right direction.

Also, if anyone had any input on their own experiences with them. What do you use for cages, what have you found to be the ideal temp range, how often/what do you feed, are they problematic feeders even when you "go by the book", how long do they take to reach mature size, etc.?

I'm looking for information to make my decision; I haven't decided to get one yet. Deter me, encourage me, I'm just interested in what you have to say about the species.

Thanks in advance!

~jenny
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"Polysyllabism in no way insures that what you're saying is actually worth being heard." - Blake (an e-friend of mine)

"I have never made but one prayer to god, a very short one: "O lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And he granted it." - Voltaire

As far as a website with comprehensive info on the species, check out http://www.corallus.com

For keeping/breeding info, I have a fairly detailed page. You can also find links to a lot of other keeping/breeding pages in the "links" section of corallus.com

Corallus.com

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Mike Heinrich,
708-428-5616
Mike@amazontreeboa.org
http://www.amazontreeboa.org

I checked out your site and it was actually quite informative, more so than the one book I have been able to find about them.

The book I found said that ATB are 'notorious biters', have you found yours to be constantly grumpy or are they just a little jumpy? The one(s) I interact with seem to be just fine, as long as you use a little common sense. They're obviously not going to be the laid back lap snakes that ball pythons are, but they also don't seem to be as actively aggressive as the book I read portrayed them as. Am I just encountering unusually good natured boas or was the book exaggerating?

Thanks!

~jenny
-----
"Polysyllabism in no way insures that what you're saying is actually worth being heard." - Blake (an e-friend of mine)

"I have never made but one prayer to god, a very short one: "O lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And he granted it." - Voltaire

I would say that book made a fairly accurate generalization of ATBs.

They're not evil snakes just looking to attack everything in sight, they just don't like to be bothered. Some will strike every time you so much as look at them, others can be handled for short periods before they decide they have had enough and want to be left alone.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mike Heinrich,
708-428-5616
Mike@amazontreeboa.org
http://www.amazontreeboa.org

Okay. Good to know. That's definately something I'll keep in mind, then. A bite from a 5' boa is no joke.

Thank you!

~jenny
-----
"Polysyllabism in no way insures that what you're saying is actually worth being heard." - Blake (an e-friend of mine)

"I have never made but one prayer to god, a very short one: "O lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And he granted it." - Voltaire

>>Okay. Good to know. That's definately something I'll keep in mind, then. A bite from a 5' boa is no joke.
>>

Well, actually it's not that bad...and not many reach 5 feet. They average 3.5 - 4 with some of them hitting 5 or 6 feet, but that's pretty uncommon.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mike Heinrich,
708-428-5616
Mike@amazontreeboa.org
http://www.amazontreeboa.org

Yeah, that wouldn't be too bad. I've noticed that when the ones I interact with do strike, they strike more for show than to actually connect. I was nailed last week by a 4 foot dumerils that would NOT let go, and I definately prefer the "love taps" from the amazons to that.

I think I assumed they became larger because the book I've been reading said adults would do best in a 75-100 gallon aquarium (set on its side). For an inactive snake that prefers to sit on a perch, that seemed a little excessive to me unless the snake was at least 5' or so long. Is my point of view skewed because I've been dealing primarily with balls, who will actually get stressed out and stop eating if they get too much space?

Thank you so much for answering my questions. I'm still waiting for my account on Corallus.com to become active so that I can post.

~jenny
-----
"Polysyllabism in no way insures that what you're saying is actually worth being heard." - Blake (an e-friend of mine)

"I have never made but one prayer to god, a very short one: "O lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And he granted it." - Voltaire