Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I live in SoCal where it is generally very dry. I have kept and bred a wide variety of boa constictors, sand boas, and rosies for many years now. I am, however, considering venturing into the realm of arboreal boas and am interested if anyone in my area has successfully maintained/bred any of the species (particularly ETB and ATB). If so, I am curious about what husbandry (i.e., caging/care) methods you've used to maintain the appropriate humidity/ventilation, as I've read that those are two of the most important climatic factors to regulate in order to keep these species healthy. I am concerned that the very dry conditions here in SoCal may make keeping these species very challenging. It seems that many of the breeders of these are located in the eastern part of US.

Any and all replies will be greatly appreciated.

SSSSSSammy

While I do not breed ETBs, I do hope so in the near future. I definitely would like to work a few more basins into my collection.

However, I do keep and breed Suriname BCC. They come from the same geographic locations. They love the high humidity and are not a walk in the park to breed.

I use a high quality misting system in all of my cages. It goes on 2x a day for a short period of time (it is adjustable up to 12 times a day for different variations). This seems to keep the humidity up and I haven't had a bad shed since I purchased it! I absolutly love it. As you know it is esential to for the right humidity...after having a misting system I would never go back.

I am jealous of those Florida Guys...they got it easy heheheh

Are located in SoCal or somewhere equally dry? Also, does the misting system connect to a water faucet or does it have a container that you fill? What kind/brand of cage are you using?

I'm jealous of your basins. They are what I hope to someday aquire. I really like the looks of those guys. Maybe by the time you breed yours I'll be ready to get some.

Thanks again,

SSSammy

San Diego....Misting system is from pro-products.com. I use a 5 gallon bucket and fill it 2x a week. I use vision cages...... for the BCC. The basins are babies right now so they are in a rack.... Email me if you have any other Q's

I too have kept a number of species here in SoCal over many years. In December of 03, I obtained a female (ccb-reportedly),2 year old northern ETB. I set her up with a simple Vision cage with bottom heat-coils and a 75 watt red bulb in the well, all controlled with a thermostat. On the floor I keep a poly pan filled with a couple of inches of water wicked with paper toweling around all sides to contribute humidity. I maintain the enclosure at 78 to 82 degrees and the humidity stays around 80%.I also keep fresh water below her favorite perch which I have obs her to use on several occasions. I feed too much by others' standards, but she has responded by merely growing like any other snake really. Never refused a meal; defecation and sheds have been uneventful, but I do faithfully record all anyway. She is "tame" but I really only handle her generally only to exercise her or to clean the cage.

I delight in the species and intend to aquire a male to try a breeding. My sense is that if one gets the habitat dailed-in and can read snake behavior reasonably well, ETBs are no more difficult than say, a common Boa.