Reptile & Amphibian Forums

so i visited my "local" reptile saler/enthusiast/oner/collector on Sunday - he's got a small store in madison, tn. - the night before some lady had brought in and sold back to him a pair that she had bought from him several years previously - are you ready for this - - - - hogg island boa and an irian jaya carpet python that she had housed together in a 40 gallon breeder ( i bought the tank and lid for 40 bucks, cleaned up like new - to breed my dums) - anyway he slung them in an empty bay in his exoterra display setup - when i questioned him about the odd pairing he said "yeah, i know, they shouldn't be together but she said they have always been together so he left them for now" - anyways Sunday must be feeding day cause he had mice/rats slinging everywhere - i mean baby monitors chewing pinks like a komodo on a deer - it was crazy - so much for some of the feeding plans on these forums - just kidding, but his feeding etiquette was out the window - anyway, the irian jaya took his rat right away but the boa seemed disinterested so in a few he gave it to a different boa - well, i'm just watching them interact - thinking about how i'd like to take the carpet home when i noticed the boa basically attack and wad up on thepython trying to choke her out - i told dude he's better take a look at it but he was on the phone/watching tv - so i just watched that boa working over the python until i finally said, "you better come take alook at this and he did - he was stunned - that boa - argue about it if you want but i saw it (or share opinions if you want) - that boa was trying to choke out that python and force a regurge for a feed for herself - i'm almost sure of it - they were not cuddling - so he slung the boa in a rack bin and the carpet took therat on down - it was incredible to see - - wow - - - i also passed on a fantastic 7 ft scrub python for 135 bucks and a baby coatal for 75 bucks and some other fantastic stuff i would love to have had - thought you might enjoy this story

I was in a local reptile store and witnessed almost the exact same thing, except it was 2 adult boas in the same cage. The store owners failed to separate the animals prior to feeding and one animal struck the other one mid-body and wrapped it up. I (a customer of the store) had to help the owner pull the two adult boas apart. I'm glad they were only about 6 feet long instead of some of the larger 8 footers. Some of the store owners don't know anything about what they sell, lol.

Anthony-

crazy - this store owner is snake smart - he was tripping on it too!