Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm considering buying a pregnant Red Tail from a local reptile store. It is going for $200 and the shop offered me $50 for each baby once they are born in a few months. They just want to get rid of it because it is too large for the cage that they have it in at the shop. This is by far the most friendly snake that I've ever come across. It actually felt like playing with a cat or dog compared to my ball pythons. It is about 6 1/2ft long and in excellent condition. How many babies can be expected from a red tail. The biggest thing that I'm worried about is if it will become mean after having the babies like my Ball pythons do, or if it won't make any difference because they are live born instead of eggs. Is this something that I should be concerned about. Also, is it common for red tails to seem to enjoy being out of their cage and held?

Hmmmmm, sounds too good to be true!!! H healthy 6 1/2 footer could easily have a litter of 20.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I'm assuming you have snake breeding experience at least from what you said about your BPs so you probably know this, but just remember that you will need to have individual housing for these babies until they have had several meals. Female boas do get protective of their babies and can be quite nasty when you go to pull them away from them, but I believe they calm down afterwards. I also wouldn't be "playing" with a gravid boa, I would let her be to do her thing until after the babies are born.

I was wondering how people remove the mother or the babies from around her if she was aggressive. Last year our 25 lb female gave us hell after she gave birth. She moved around the cage to the point that it threatened crushing the babies (luckily she only had 5, and avoided this). Do you just take the bites and grab the female out? For us, taking the babies from the cage wasn't feasable, as we were struck at through the glass whenever we opened the door into the snake room at all.
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1.1 96, 04 Het Albino - "Suzie" & "Lumpy"
0.1 03 Poss. Het Albino - "Ami"
0.1 05 Super Salmon - "CreamSicle"
0.1 04 Anery Het Snow- "Squelchy"
1.0 04 DH-Sunglow - "Dwayne"
1.0 06 TH-Moonglow - "Gargamel"
1.2 01 BRBs- "Gobball", "Larva" & "Tofu"

My normally docile big gal turned into a wicked nasty beast while protecting her babies. I used the top of a large rubbermaid container as a shield... she was quick though and kept coming around the shield to try to get me, but persistance won. Used the shield over her head/neck while my other hand reached in and started pulling her body out. A protective mother boa is deff. a sight to behold!
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

a year ago I bought Barry Berg's cage collection. Included was a 4 foot dowel with a square of plexi attached on the end. Looks like a stand for something. Barry said it was for "coralling not so happy snakes". The plexi is sized to just fit through the door openings. I now think I know what it was used for...holding mommies at bay while stealing their babies
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Throw a towel over her may be a simple method that works.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

We tried the towel thing, but by the time we went in to get her she was already out from under it. It was a fun 10 minute or so until I just hid off to the side of the cage, had my husband distract her, then grab her behind the head
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1.1 96, 04 Het Albino - "Suzie" & "Lumpy"
0.1 03 Poss. Het Albino - "Ami"
0.1 05 Super Salmon - "CreamSicle"
0.1 04 Anery Het Snow- "Squelchy"
1.0 04 DH-Sunglow - "Dwayne"
1.0 06 TH-Moonglow - "Gargamel"
1.2 01 BRBs- "Gobball", "Larva" & "Tofu"

I agree with above posts... don't handle her too much unless gently moving for cleaning, etc. Do NOT feed her too much during pregnancy, feed half as often as usual and half-size her normal meals only... sometimes a gravid boa will even refuse food. Be sure to stop feeding around the last month before she is thought to birth her young... otherwise, when passing her waste she may prematurely have her babies.
My very sweet redtails even get testy after birth, instinct is to protect their young and of course, they will be hungry afterwards. I carefully remove babies after they are moving around on their own (respectfully avoiding angry Mom) and then feed her a normal sized meal. My last litter I removed a couple hours after birth, while using her meal to distract the mother from my taking the nest box. After eating and a day or two of digestion, she should be back to normal.
Babies should have shed at least twice, and eaten quite a few meals, for me to consider them 'established' enough to sell or go home with someone. I want them strong and healthy for their new life, and also, so that I am not responsible for someone elses mistakes if the baby passes away. At least it was a strong, 100% healthy baby when it left my care... and I guarantee it because that is what makes me (or you) a good business person and overall breeder. Oh and personally, I don't feed them until after they've shed once if possible, because I fear that the area on their belly where the cord/sac was attached (and eventually fell off) may be too tender and tear if I feed them too early after birth.
Good luck, if you haven't had boas before, I would do a little research and get opinions on caging, temps, etc. General husbandry practices, so that you get a healthy litter right off the bat. Too hot or cold can lead to premature, stillborn, or deformed young... as is similar with ball pythons I'm sure ;p
There are people here that can give you more precise answers... this is what I've learned from my experiences. I hope this helps!

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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
0.1 DH Sunglow (Bonnie)
1.0 Het. Anery (Guy)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.1 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal)
1.2 Hogg Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Apricot)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
0.1 Emerald Tree boa (Jade)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.1 Carpet Pythons (Jackson & Charlotte)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

>>I agree with above posts...
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

np
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
0.1 DH Sunglow (Bonnie)
1.0 Het. Anery (Guy)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.1 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal)
1.2 Hogg Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Apricot)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
0.1 Emerald Tree boa (Jade)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.1 Carpet Pythons (Jackson & Charlotte)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

Sounds like sales puffery to me. Probably just an overfed snake in too small a cage. Good luck with all those babies.
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

I would definitely suggest doing some serious homework before jumping into a project like that. If done correctly it definitely takes time space and money, by the way how do you know that she is gravid? Are you just taking their word for it?

I am just taking his word that it is pregnant, but I am friends with the shop owner and have worked out many trades and deals with him.

If that is the case, and the trust is there, I'd go for it, as long as you are prepared. The fact that he is also going to take most if not all of the babies off of your hands takes even more pressure off.

I love the birth process. Make sure the snake is (at least visibly)healthy, that you are prepared for it, and take her.

also make sure he isnt having you sell him high quality snakes for $50 each lol Ive heard some stories about how shop owners sometimes cheat people out of stuff being a "friend" or not. buisness is still buisness.
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My Photobucket

On the other hand, getting $50 each for generic Bci in quantity is a pretty good deal for you. That is why my initial response was a bit skeptical. A small shop may buy one or two a month at best for that price.
Just my 2 cents.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

exactly John and he is stuck with a big cage for mom and has to house and feed all the babies for the next few months to half a year or more and then has no male for his female and makes me wonder if the pet shop has a replacement female they are not telling him about and really want to get rid of her and not get caught on the 6 o'clock news I should be ashamed of myself
Bob

I know that from experience. The shop I kinda worked for before only paid $30 at most for baby boas and would buy 10 at a time which was nice to move them fast but there is still more money to be made. Pending on the time it takes to sell them.
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My Photobucket

Is the only reason you're considering buying it, because it's pregnant?

If that's the only reason, then you might want to reconsider.

If you're considering buying it, because you want a boa.... Then go for it.

If she is gravid, and she is refusing food while gestating, you can expect one hell of a feeding response afterwards. May last a month too.

Some really put your skills to test after parturition. My big albino is down right dangerous for a month afterwards. LOL
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Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices