Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently saw a local ad at another site, and after contacting the owner, she stated that her 2.5 year old RTB is just barely longer than the 20 gallon tank it is housed in. This seems obsurd to me... she also stated she feeds her about 3 mice every 10-14 days.... also doesnt sound quite right to me. I'm considering purchasing the snake from her, but am concerned as to what health problems the snake may have because of how small she is at 2.5 years old. According to the lady she has had her since she was a few weeks old.
Any and all opinions on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

i am also wondering if my snake is under sized although not as drastic the snake was purchased by my younger cousin as a baby and he had it for a year. i obtained the snake about a year ago and now it is six feet long. so i would think the snake you are speaking of should be longer than mine but i have also seen people claim their snakes to get about five feet in a year. if someone more knowledgeable could clear things up as to the average growth per year of rtbs im sure it would be helpfull for many people.

Most of mine reach approx. 30"-36" in the first year. My females usually reach the 6' mark around 3 years of age. I try to keep my males around 4.5'. This is just my experience, but I seen a lot of people whose femals are over 4' at a year old. I grow mine slow because I feel it is healthier for them. Hope this helps.

Matt Crabe

well that makes me feel alot better .. i am hoping that this boa is a 'she' but it is a relief that it is at the appropriate length

The lady didn't specify if it was a 20 gallon high or long tank... for the sake of the snake I'm hoping she means a 20 gallong long as those are a little over 30", but even then if the snake was lets say 30-35" at 2.5 years old that still seems very small to me. I've decided not to purchase this animal, as the lady cannot even answer simple questions that I have asked about the snakes environment (temps, humidity, eating live/prekilled/frozen thawed) she just flat out ignores the questions even though I've asked twice. I feel sorry for the animal, and wish I could help, but as she is so unwilling to inform me of her husbandry practices I figure I'm better off passing on this snake and waiting for another to come along from someone who is more willing to share their husbandry practices with me and cares more about the welfare of the animal than the amount of $$ she can make from selling me the snake.
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Liz
1.0 bearded dragon
1.0 100% het for albino ball python
2.4 normal ball pythons
0.2 colombian red tail boas
1.1 anery kenyan sand boas

although it seems like the animal is in need of a better home as far as you are concerned i agree your better off spending your money elsewhere

n/p