Reptile & Amphibian Forums

how little I know about these snakes. In an earlier post responding to Nevin I stated how my adults infrequently use their bath. The next morning she's soaking and has been ever since (second day now). In the pic you can see how big she is mid-body. I've no clue as to what this means. Her last shed was on November 11, 2003. I fed her on the 14th and then two weeks later started cooling them down. From around Dec. 5 to 10 the pair was buried together. After that the male was very active and spent the evenings under the one warm spot (temps in low 80's). I started warming them back up at the end of December and she refused a med. rat on January 1. He was in blue and shed on January 14. She refused a rat on Jan. 7 but then accepted a retired breeder mouse on the 14th. She ate two breeder mice on the 22nd, refused a fat med. rat on the 31st, ate a breeder mouse on Feb. 4. The male has not refused a feeding since his shed (going for the rats) and is highly active. She spends alot of time in the warm spots (>85) but also down in the lower 70's. She's been looking big (see pic).
I've never seen any breeding activity with them but then again never did two years ago when they did breed. I think long-term cage mates don't exhibit the frantic mating activity I've read about on this forum, but that could be just my experience.
Anyway, thought I'd share some notes. It will be interesting to see what occurs (but as my dad used to tell me; 'expect the worse and be pleasantly surprised'). My feelings are the male never cooled sufficiently due to hanging out in the warm spots during the cooling period. The year they did breed, he ate once in early January then refused food through March. She ate that year through mid March, shed Jan. 23 and Apr. 5 and gave birth on June 4th.
I'll keep you all posted.
Paul

how many inches in lenght and wide is that water place, and how old is that rainbow boa.... by looking at that pic its looking like a young yellow anaconda hahahaha

hey paul thats pretty cool. this is a pic of my female, 15 months old, i said i was ganna get a couple shots of her wen she is done shedding but i snapped this shot yesterday. i thought it was pretty cool lookin, this is chaos. ill have more shots of her wen shes done.
nevin

Nevin,
Is that crushed granite in your basin? I've got to say that looks outstanding. The contrast with your BRB is really nice (after she sheds, wow). Is that the only water in your enclosure? Is it a pain to replace the water? Clean? I'd have to think it is worth it. I've never liked the look of the dish pan in my enclosure. You've inspired me.
Real plants in yours? Again, looks really nice. I had thought of doing that in mine but these big snakes would tear them up I'm afraid.
Paul

Michiel,
The basin is a standard dish tub 13"x11.5" (inside meas.). Eve is going on 5 yrs (cb '99). I've never measured her but the enclosure is 6' long and she stretches out about that far.
Paul
how many inches in lenght and wide is that water place, and how old is that rainbow boa.... by looking at that pic its looking like a young yellow anaconda hahahaha

Paul,
. That is a beautiful hypo looking BRB. It sure sounds like she has ovulated and that is what caused the lump and she likely went into the water trying to get comfortable. Lets hope the male was shooting good bullets.
Jeff

>>how little I know about these snakes. In an earlier post responding to Nevin I stated how my adults infrequently use their bath. The next morning she's soaking and has been ever since (second day now). In the pic you can see how big she is mid-body. I've no clue as to what this means. Her last shed was on November 11, 2003. I fed her on the 14th and then two weeks later started cooling them down. From around Dec. 5 to 10 the pair was buried together. After that the male was very active and spent the evenings under the one warm spot (temps in low 80's). I started warming them back up at the end of December and she refused a med. rat on January 1. He was in blue and shed on January 14. She refused a rat on Jan. 7 but then accepted a retired breeder mouse on the 14th. She ate two breeder mice on the 22nd, refused a fat med. rat on the 31st, ate a breeder mouse on Feb. 4. The male has not refused a feeding since his shed (going for the rats) and is highly active. She spends alot of time in the warm spots (>85) but also down in the lower 70's. She's been looking big (see pic).
>>I've never seen any breeding activity with them but then again never did two years ago when they did breed. I think long-term cage mates don't exhibit the frantic mating activity I've read about on this forum, but that could be just my experience.
>>Anyway, thought I'd share some notes. It will be interesting to see what occurs (but as my dad used to tell me; 'expect the worse and be pleasantly surprised'). My feelings are the male never cooled sufficiently due to hanging out in the warm spots during the cooling period. The year they did breed, he ate once in early January then refused food through March. She ate that year through mid March, shed Jan. 23 and Apr. 5 and gave birth on June 4th.
>>I'll keep you all posted.
>>Paul
>>

Jeff,
I'm hoping he got his guns out of the holster! I remember last year thinking she was gravid and nada. Certainly she did'nt look like this. Time will tell.
Thanks,
Paul
PS
You are a tremendous resource for all of us. I hope you never get tired of sharing what you've learned.

paul,
thanx for the nice comments, shes my pride and joy. i feel absolutly outstanding that ive inspired someone with ur expereance. as for the basin, its a 5 gal. cat litter box. it does have one live plant in it (pothos), with cruched granit on the bottem, i thought it mite make her feel a lil more at home. i have, a 2 gal aquraium heater, and a zoo med turtal filter in thereif u look close to the left side of the pic u can c the ripples from the filter. i also use exo-terra water bio degrader (or sumthing along them lines). as for cleanin i use a plastic cup and 5 gal bucket to drain it, then a small ratio of dish washing detergant to water for disinfecting.
jeff,
i absolutly agree with paul in the post above this one, with out you alot of us would prob have lost our brbs. i kno youv answerd quite a few of my own questions.
thanx again to both of you
nevin