Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just wanted some peoples input on making a checklist for supplies for a boa.. I've been wanting one for awhile now .. read up for the last year or so, and have kept other reptiles.

I have plans for a cage from here ...
http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/4x2.shtml

Correct me if im wrong, But baby boa's can be kept in a 20 gallon tank for awhile and I read somewhere that its not the best idea to introduce the baby boa into a big living area, but to instead keep in a small rubbermaid tub/20 gallon.

Is this true? How long Until I switch him/her over into the bigger housing unit?

I know i'll need flexwatt, and other things along those lines like a Temp gun.

Can you guys throw me links possibly of which you think are the best ones of each, such as lighting,temp gun,place to buy flexwatt, ect.

I Really want a Brazilian Rainbow Boa but I was Also looking at the Peruvian Red Tails, with the yellow in them.

I'm trying to get a price list together as of now to see how much it will all cost together.

Thanks for all your input if you reply, any info on items is very good for me.

-- Paul

Hi!

I think a 20 gallon would be fine for a baby boa for at least the first year or two depending on how fast and furious you feed (I grow my boas up slow and steady). I keep mine in 2' neos for the first 1-3 years and then move up to 3' caging for a year or two and then finally into 4x2x2 cages as adults (my largest adult is only 7.5').
You *can* keep a baby in a small cage but you would need to provide at least 2-3 good hiding spots throughout the cage so the baby doesn't feel out in the open. Smaller cages when young usually make them feel more secure. I just moved 2 of my boas to new bigger cages and they are hiding. I notice they usually hide anywhere from 1-4 weeks before seeming to be 'comfortable' in the larger cages.

If you use flexwatt (I do too) that you get a good thermostat to control the temps. I like the big apple thermostat, worth the investment IMO. It's always a good idea to also have some thermometers in the cage in addition to using the temp gun, or at least a hydrometer to check humidity.

Fake plants make great decorations (esp when you get them at the dollar store!) and are easy to clean. Personally I like the look of a tank backdrop, either I make them on black posterboard or buy the fish tank backdrops ($1 a foot) and tape the the outside back of the tank.

It's a good idea to also have a rubbermaid tub or an extra tank so when you are cleaning the cage you have someplace secure to place the boa.

Good luck!
-April

Thank you very much for your input and also any Website in which to buy the thermostat and temp guns?

Also I had another question i have seen in caresheets, What kind of lighting do boa's require, Do they use like uvb/uva lights like reptisuns or just regular lights? Will they benifit from uvb/uva or will it hurt them?

Just another question that poped up..

Thanks in advance,

-- Paul

The website links for shops are on the main page to kingsnake, I like to go to a few diff ones to compare pricing before I buy... but the thermostat I got is found at http://www.bigappleherp.com/Reptile_Supplies/Product/Herp_Power_Proportional_Thermostats_921100.html
it's pricey but works great IMO!

As far as lighting goes, I do not provide any lighting for my boas they just get the light that comes thru the blinds in the snake room. I used to use lighting for heat (just normal 25-75 watt bulbs for day and 25-50 watt blue 'party' bulbs for night) just because it is cheap and I liked having the light on the boa but since I moved to Las Vegas the bulbs just dry the air out too much so now I use only heating pads and flexwatt heat tape.

Nothing wrong with using lights but snakes do not require the UVB like lizards do to process calcium.

Here is a pic of the 2'neos, just basic setup, once I had gotten above 6-8 snakes I started trying to make the clean up easier and using lots of newspaper since it's easy to replace and cheap to use as bedding. (I also use/have used repti-bark, pine shavings and carefresh in the past)

Hope some of that helps!