Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all.

I am looking into getting my second snake, and I was looking at Rainbow boas, I cant get over how beautiful of a snake they are. Was wondering if any of you could give me a rundown about them, I done some basic research but thats it. So questions like temperament, how active are they, what they need in their viv, do they climb, frozen or live typically? Anything else would be great to know! Thanks guys!

Well, I kinda like them I liken them to corn snakes on steroids. Active like a corn snake but of course larger. Have bad reputations as nippy but not really that nippy in real life. Babies are very nippy at birth but settle down within a month or two. Many will take whatever you offer while others can be finicky about what they eat. Babies will climb more than adults but even adults will climb around if given the enclosure they can climb in but pretty much only late in the evening/night.

Humidity is key, if it's high, they thrive, if not, they do not. Very easy in the right cage, very hard in the wrong cage. Excess ventilation (like a screen top) is the primary cause of low humidity.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks for getting back with me! But that's good to hear about BRB's! They sound a lot like what I'm looking for my next snake! Only concern I have is the humidity and what size of an enclosure should a baby BRB have? Would a 5.5 gal last them a while?

But back to the humidity, I've read about trying to keep humidity levels high, would I've read conflicting things about it, using glass top with no ventilation spots bad because it creates stagnant air, so how many holes and what size should you put in the top of it? Just want to make sure before buying anything! Any personal advice on what their viv should be like?

Thanks!

Yes, it is a bit of a fine line to follow, limiting air flow without limiting it too much. Personally I prefer a plastic box style cage like boaphileplastics.com or apcages.com Those come with no vents, only the gap around the door which along with opening the door to check/clkean will provide plenty of fresh air.

If using a glass tank you have to cover most of the top with plexiglass to limit air flow. Drill a row of 3/16" holes at each end. Remember, it's easier to add holes than to cover them up.

My babies are in shoebox racks, ~ 6"w x 12"d x 4"h adn can stay in that size tub until yearlings at which time they move up to sweater box size tubs ~ 10" x 16" x 4" No holes in the tubs, only the small gap between the tub and rack.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks for getting back to me guys and for all the info! I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get a rainbow after what I've read and what you guys told me! I'll probably get it from my local reptile expo next month or in December! I think I've decided on an enclosure from animal plastics! Figured in my extremely dry house, making sure that 90% humidity is possible!

And when they are adults what do you house them in considering they need so much floor space?

My personal opinion on expo's - great if you're buying from the breeder, most will have full detailed information on each individual baby.

But there are a lot of resellers there, more likely the ones with a little bit of everything on the table. If they don't know all the details on the animal or if you don't get the right vibe, walk.

If you want a really top notch specimen, typically those will only be at a breeders table. The resellers purchase wholesale and those are often the plain ones.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats