Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got my first Red Tail Boa on saturday from the show in manases. He was fine to hold yesterday on the way home fromt he show but today I reached in to change his water and he snapped at me. I think he was asleep on top of his habba hut (wierd?) and I surprised him. I just wanted to know when would it be ok for me to start handling him to get him used to me so he will be less nippy...

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1.1 ball pythons (Draco and Naga)
1.0 red tail boa (no name yet...still working on that)
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad (Prince William)
coming soon (well not that soon...need more space and tanks first)
1.0 blood python (lestat)

I'd wait until he eats a few times, then you know he's settled in.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

when should I feed him?

I have food...do you think he could have struck out of hunger...I dont know when the seller last fed him...the seller did not seem the best of people...
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1.1 ball pythons (Draco and Naga)
1.0 red tail boa (no name yet...still working on that)
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad (Prince William)
coming soon (well not that soon...need more space and tanks first)
1.0 blood python (lestat)

I'd wait until 5-7 days after you got him. He should be able to wait that long if he's not actually skinny.
I think all but the tiniest boas can eat furred mice, and I'd try a frozen thawed one first.
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Eryx - All the fun of a boa in a convient pocket size!

ok...
I have 10 fuzzys for him.
he does not look too thin at all. I think he should be fine.
thanks for the info.
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1.1 ball pythons (Draco and Naga)
1.0 red tail boa (no name yet...still working on that)
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad (Prince William)
coming soon (well not that soon...need more space and tanks first)
1.0 blood python (lestat)

Well from personal experiance its soooooo hard for me to get a new animal and let it adjust without playing with it... I always just want to touch it and get use to the new guy, BUT it is good to let him get settled in, i would try to feed him like wed/thurs and then give him another day or two to settle in before handling him...So i would say by Friday or Saturday your little guy will be ready for a good lot of love..... take care of that little guy and keep us posted if you run into some more problems.

Sincerely,
Rose & Steve

Ps. I would try feeding him a frozen thawed mouse first, boas usually are easier to switch over to F/T than Ball Pythons, so you should have any trouble.

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www.srsnakes.com