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feeding an adult columbian boa question?

bdking15 Jan 11, 2005 02:42 PM

if i get a male and when it is full grown how do i feed it . i know not to feed lize food bc of injury to the snake. so i have a pair of 10 and a half inche twezers that i use to feed my ball and my monitor would that be enough bc i heard that bites from full grown really hurt. and also if you owned a bao before you went to college what did you do with it. im thinking of buying a few rubber maids in 2 yr whe i go to colleg and a few heat pads and putting them under my bed or in my colset with air hole would this be ok.

thanks tom
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1.1 bearded dragons iggy and harry
1. black rough neck monitor nemo
.1 ball python angel

Replies (5)

ChrisGilbert Jan 11, 2005 02:55 PM

Adults are usually easy feeders, I simply leave the rat in the cage and they eat when they want it. I try this with babies, but they usually grab it to quickly. Just start of well so the snake will be "trained" when it becomes larger.

College is one for me too, but do not do what you said. There is enough legislation out there banning reptiles. Do not keep them hidden because when they are found those are the incidents that cause problems.
Depending where I go to school will determin my plan of action. Two of my options are close enough I could keep them at home, my parents could change water and help take care of them and I could stop at home every two weeks to feed and do what is needed. After two years colleges will usually allow you to live off campus, then I could take them with me.

My other options for school include Cornell, which has a good herp program, so I am sure I can figure something out to bring them for the ride. After all all my cages have locks (boaphiles also provide good security). If I go to Purdue, where my cousin who is a year older than me is going next year I could stay with him. They allow you to live off campus and he and two friends are getting a house, I would just stay with them and keep the snakes.

Look at the schools you are interested in, see what their liveing policies are then check out local laws. This is one problem more people should consider and it is good you are, because many have to sell their animals and some people turn them loose. Both just cause problems. Sometimes it is better to wait till after school.

I am sure someone here has had experience in this field.

Here is my Argentine X Colombian I said I would post.

ajfreptiles Jan 11, 2005 03:40 PM

Hey Chris...nice looking argie cross. Andy

ChrisGilbert Jan 11, 2005 05:43 PM

Thanks Andy!

micahdenton Jan 11, 2005 11:26 PM

at my college you could have fish tank (of fish) but nothing else, so what i did was took a salt tank with my to school and put a moral eel in it was when the head resident ( the guy in charge of my dorm) ask me if i had a snake in my room I would point to the eel and say i have a eel it looks like a snake (never say you don't have a snake because then your lieing) he would look at the eel id say we can keep fish right? he say yes and leave the room. then after he would leave i would pull of the couch cushions to reveal to wood boxs set in to the body of the couch unlock them reveal the 20 or so boas that lived in the boxes each box had heat, lights and a fan to move the air `that were on timers. that how i got away with it a college wish i had a pic of the couch still but i dont

hognose15 Jan 12, 2005 01:45 PM

You cannot leave a live rat in with the snakes. I rescued a large male 3 years ago who had been mistreated. He was fed live and has the scars to show it. Scars are the best case scenario. Infection, death, etc. are other possibilities.

Your best bet, get a 15-20 gal. Rubbermaid tub and some 15" (or longer) forceps. Use pre-killed or frozen/thawed.

Using a dead rat for feeding is safer for you and the snake.

The rescued male is the pastel/pink in the trio. This is a picture from a year ago. He finally just recently shed on his own without problems. The shedding problems were due to other mistreatment issues. You cannot see the scars in the pic, but he has 5 or 6 sizeable scars.

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