Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have a 3.5 ft col. rtb, shes in great shape, i feed her once a week however her skin actually wrinkles, is this a sign of malnutrition or under feeding? i'm new to snakes so any tips or suggestions would be appreciated,thanx.

IDK how long you've had your Boa so its hard to judge your experience level.

Might be as simple as its going into shed or if you have had it
long enough to experience & understand how they look
through several sheds phases

Possibly low humidity and or dehydration. Usually when boas get
bigger over 5-6 feet they can get these creases, I would
describe them as creases more than wrinkles.

Smaller Boas usually don't develop those creases I'm speaking about

I'd make sure your humidity levels are at least 55% and
60%-65%-70% is better

Be certain plenty of fresh clean water is always available also

. . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz

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Thanx Lar M, I'm pretty much beginner! I've had her a month, and hav'nt experienced a shed, I try to keep humidity in her enclosure,a 75 gallon tank, at 55(thinking higher humidity would cause mold or respiratory probs). I use the eco-dirt substrate mixed with repti bark, with temp. at a consistant 82 on the hot side(of enclosure). However, she really spends more time out of her enclosure than in! It almost seems as if her skin is growing faster than her body, thus causing these "wrinkles"! Shes not a year yet, and is about 3-3.5ft., I feed her a large hooper once a week as I have been told not to "grow her" by overfeeding, shes a beautiful snake and I dont want to have her grow faster than normal rate, causing "stretch marks", but I don't want to starve her either! thanx J

If she is nearly 3 1/2 feet I would give her a larger prey item ... like a small or medium rat (start with small). Then see if that fills her internals up a bit and takes up the 'slack' in the skin. By no way are you now over feeding ... if anything I would say the opposite. Just my 2 cents

Trey Stowell
Wichita, KS

Posted by: lucie1rtb at Sun Apr 18 09:39:18 2010
>>>>>Thanx Lar M, I'm pretty much beginner! I've had her a month, and hav'nt experienced a shed, I try to keep humidity in her enclosure,a 75 gallon tank, at 55(thinking higher humidity would cause mold or respiratory probs). I use the eco-dirt substrate mixed with repti bark, with temp. at a consistant 82 on the hot side(of enclosure). However, she really spends more time out of her enclosure than in! It almost seems as if her skin is growing faster than her body, thus causing these "wrinkles"! Shes not a year yet, and is about 3-3.5ft., I feed her a large hooper once a week as I have been told not to "grow her" by overfeeding, shes a beautiful snake and I dont want to have her grow faster than normal rate, causing "stretch marks", but I don't want to starve her either! thanx J
>>>>>

OK Trey covered prey item , it sounds to me as if this is the problem. A Boa 39 inches long needs a medium rat, as Trey stated start with a small rat for several . Probably 4-5 weeks, as her body adjust to the bigger prey size you can start feeding the medium Rats.

OK now to cover the other topics on hand. You can use a 75 Gallon tank but for a new comer to Boas, this makes your life a whole harder and this in return isn't helpful to your Boa.

Its hard to keep constant heat and humidity levels in proper
range when using glass tanks.

I'm not saying you can't use them because I know you can
I do have a couple still.

You just have to understand what is happening in that tank,
For a new comer this can be very challenging.

Temp should be ambient about 84* degrees with a hot spot at 92*-98*

So if you realize you're having troubles keeping good temps and good humidity in that glass.
This will be most challenging in winter time. I suggest switching to a Sterilite, Rubbermaid or Iris type plastic container (tub)

Use a UTH on a Thermostat to control temps, I also suggest you get yourself a Temp gun to check temps with.
Temp guns are possibly the most valuable accessory tool for proper husbandry.
I find mine invaluable

Now to cover substrate , honestly I suppose you can continue to
use what you're using but there can be troubles
I question Eco Earth as a good substrate. That stuff rubs me the wrong way,
I would think all those little particles with captive Boa would cause breathing issues eventually ,
I could be wrong about that.

The Repti Bark while starting off attractive somewhat, it has its problems too.
Reptibark has been ingested by Boa and caused worry for people who have used it among other problems.

Personally I like plain good old Fine Laboratory grade Aspen,
but many people swear by Newspaper and many
love Kraft type indented paper

Aspen to me is unbeatable but it can end up in many places other
than the cage . So it's a little messy around your room or
house in my case, I vacuum alot, ha ha

I would suggest switching over to one of these substrates I've suggested

I really you and definitely your Boa would happier in a Plastic container,
I hope you didn't money for that glass tank.

As a Boa gets larger plastic professional caging is a good idea

Just google Plastic Reptile caging and click on
Plastic Reptile Cages, Tanks and Racks. Snake, arboreal, lizard

Below is also a link to the Ultimate Care Guides

I suggest you click and read that guide its extremely helpful

It will answer questions you haven't thought of yet

Enjoy your new Boa good luck read that care guide !

. . . Lar M
Ultimate Care Guides

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Boas By Klevitz

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