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Opinions on keeping 2 or 3 baby boas in the same 36" terrarium?

MountainLyon Jul 18, 2004 02:30 AM

If so, until what age? I have two baby hogs coming in a few day and might order another. Randy Turner was kind enough to share with me his method of moving young boas through 2 or 3 progressively larger tubs before putting them in their adult enclosure.

The health of the boas is the #1 priority so I will put them in individual tubs if an aquarium is not recommended, but it would be convenient and look really cool to display them in the glass cage in the front room. I also remember how much the Colombian I had years ago used to like to climb when it was little.

I'm thinking of using one large UTH, no overhead heat or light, and a folded up tapistry/towel thing on the screen top to keep the humidity at acceptable levels. I'm using low tech temp/humidity guages. I could put a piece of cardboard under the towel to reduce ventilation a little more if necessary or put the water bowl on the heater, correct?

Is a thermostat a good idea with a UTH like a cobra mat or something? Is a good UTH supposed to maintain a constant temp without a thermostat when the room temp changes 15 degrees or so? Any recommendations or other ideas?

Yeah, last minute, I know. I had planned to give away my Cal king and use its setup also, but that didn't happen yet. I should be able to get anything I need here in town.

Replies (3)

MountainLyon Jul 18, 2004 02:42 AM

thing again because I couldn't find it! I did add a thing or two in the top one.

CCS Jul 19, 2004 02:39 AM

Only bad things can come of keeping more than one animal in the same enclosure. Look at Hermann's post and John just reposted it, the one where the boa ate the ball python. That can just as easily happen with two boas. Not saying it will but that is not the first case of cannabilism I have seen. Also the spread of disease that can happen with two cohabitating animals.
If I were you I would set one up in the terrarium to display it and put the other in a tub set-up, I highly doubt the snake will know the difference.
I know there are people who say there is nothing wrong with keeping multiple animals in the same cage and I have done it temporarily, but I do not see an advantage to it and try to keep individual housing for all my boas.

Chris

MountainLyon Jul 19, 2004 07:21 PM

The post about the boa eating the ball is very interesting indeed. I figured that might have something to do with why I wasn't getting responses, but I wasn't sure exactly how relevent it was to my situation. Very good point about the possibility of spreading disease. Also good idea displaying one boa and keeping the others in tubs. For some reason I hadn't thought of that, like some kind of symetrical mental block where I was only picturing matching cages if I split them up. I am now looking into a rack system with heat tape and a thermostat. I'll keep them in seperate aquariums until then. Thanks again.

Lyon jerlyon@msn.com

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