Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just purchased my first red tail and came here to hear from some experienced snake owners what my new snake does and/or doesnt like... Ive had him for about 24 hours and been handling him lots.. Not even a hiss has come from him so he seems pretty tame.. Thanks in advance.

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I'm a new boa owner myself (experience with them, just not actually owning them). But one thing I've picked up fast is that you shouldn't handle a new snake for at least a week. Give them time to get adjusted to their new environment and destress a little. It's really hard... I'm on day three myself... but in the end it will be worth it.

Even after the first week, you shouldn't handle them too much. I've read a lot of literature that indicates it is very possible to over handle a snake, and that many first time boa owners will often handle their snakes to death. So constantly isn't the best idea...

Otherwise, I like boas because of their sweet temperment and beautiful coloration. I also think they have a much more attractive head than a python, and I like that they get big enough to see me as a whole person, and not just as a pair of hands. I also wish I could have more than one
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~Alika~
1.0.0 green iguanas
0.1.0 cockatiels
1.0.0 senegal parrots
0.1.0 blue-fronted amazons
0.0.1 red belly piranha

Bleh ok, So i wont hold him anymore for a week ... Ive also noticed that when i have been handling my snake he feels cold, is that normal or is that an indication that his cage is not warm enough for him? Another thing is that he always burries himself under the wood chips on the bottom of his cage, is this normal or what? My cage is big enough to house 3 red tails but im not sure how much i like the idea of breeding just yet

>when i have been handling my snake he feels cold

Well, that is pretty normal... AS LONG AS the snake has access to the correct temps in it's cage. Our body temps are 98 degrees so anything less than that will feel luke warm/cool to our touch and boas like temps 80-90. If it is really cold outside don't keep the snake out of it's enclosure for a long period of time.

>he always burries himself under the wood chips on the bottom of his cage

Do you have any hides in the cage? Going under the substrate is ok, but I find my boas usually sit on top the substrate or in their hides. If there are not enough hides (or no hides in the right temp spots) the boa is just trying to hide iteself. You mentioned the cage can hold 3 boas, little boas get nervous in big open spaces, they don't know if something bigger is waiting to eat them or not. Try putting in more hides or fake plants, just more cover in general and I bet the boa won't bury itself so much. (is it burying itself over the heat pad? make sure the ambient temps in the tank are warm enough..)

Also, it's best to keep boas in cages by themselves. When they are kept together sometimes they can compete for the best spot in the cage, or some may intimidate the others from and cause undue stress, and the main problems come if feeding multiple boas in the same cage.

Anyways, I hope some of that info may be useful to you, good luck with your new snake!!!
-April

well those are just some thoughts I had when reading your email, just trying to help! Good luck!

I do have a hide spot for him, its one of those half peices of log but honestly i need something bigger for him... hes burrying himself under the UV light.. i have the UV light in the right corner of the cage, and in the left corner of the cage i have one of those red heat bulb and a few inches away from that i have a normal heat bulb