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 #1673250


KReid
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 Hog Island Boa Questions!

I have just reciently aquired a hog island boa and i have a few questions. First its being kept in a 60 gallon aquarium with a low hiding rock. i have a 100w daylight basking bulb, it is right over his hide and the surface temp is 95.8F. he has a cool side around 75-78 with a UTH under his hide set at low. I also have a branch for him to climb with a large water bowl some fake leaves draped over the branch on the cool side. My questions are, Is it normal for him to spend most of the day under his rock and not come out? Also, I was told that they were avid climbers and yet he has still to go up on the branch, does that mean anything? I can here him letting out puffs of air through his nose, does this relate to uper respiratory problems? I have only had him for 3 days.
03/23/08  08:54pm

 #1673749


Sra
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   Message To: KReid   In reference to Message Id: 1673250


 Hog Island Boa Questions!

First off,
60 gallons is WAY too big... assuming he is a baby, of course. How big is he right now? How old?
You don’t need a light... snakes do better with belly heat. Lights dry them out and don’t do much of anything! Leave your UTH on at all times, so that your temps run about 80-90.
Yes, snakes hide all the time. Leave him alone for a week, no handling, no feeding attempts yet.
He will climb if he feels like it, some snakes do, some don’t. They have different personalities, likes and dislikes just like humans do. You should have brought your snake to a qualified herp vet before you brought him home. It does sound like he has an RI, so the best advice I can give you right now is, get him in a smaller tank, get rid of the lamp, turn your UTH up, and get your snake to a vet as soon as possible. I hope this helps,
Sara
P.S. You should have done more research before bringing your snake home.



03/24/08  10:40am

 #1673970


JR1987
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   Message To: Sra   In reference to Message Id: 1673749


 Hog Island Boa Questions!

Quote:

60 gallons is WAY too big... assuming he is a baby


Thats not true, boas are not like royals and are usually fine in larger spaces, just make sure there are plenty of hides, fake plants ect.

As you have only had him 3 days he will still be settling in and will probally stay hidden.

I use ceramic heaters in my vivs and have no problems, the hea bulb will be fine.



03/24/08  02:38pm

 #1674050


Sra
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   Message To: JR1987   In reference to Message Id: 1673970


 Hog Island Boa Questions!

Quote:

Thats not true



Yes it is! Any snake in too large of an enclosure may have stress, and probable unstable feeding responses. Get your facts straight.


Quote:

I use ceramic heaters in my vivs and have no problems, the hea bulb will be fine.



Again, bad advice.
Snakes need belly heat, not just ambient temperature. Not only do UTH’s provide the body heat snakes need to function and digest, but heat bulbs and ceramic heaters are dangerous and can burn snakes very severely.

Please don’t give out advice when you don’t know what you’re talking about!!
03/24/08  03:43pm

 #1674367


JR1987
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   Message To: Sra   In reference to Message Id: 1674050


 Hog Island Boa Questions!

Quote:

Yes it is! Any snake in too large of an enclosure may have stress, and probable unstable feeding responses. Get your facts straight.


I have and know lots of people how put there boas in large vivs with no problems at all, Sankes don’t come from vivs in the wild and as long as there is plenty of cover they will be fine.

Quote:

Again, bad advice.
Snakes need belly heat, not just ambient temperature. Not only do UTH’s provide the body heat snakes need to function and digest

Again used both and they both work fine.

Quote:

but heat bulbs and ceramic heaters are dangerous and can burn snakes very severely.


And thats what heater guards are for.

Quote:

Please don’t give out advice when you don’t know what you’re talking about!!


I know exactly what i am talking about thanks
03/24/08  07:50pm

 #1674631


KReid
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   Message To: JR1987   In reference to Message Id: 1674367


 Hog Island Boa !!!

I think the 60 gal. will be just fine becaue he is about 3-3 1/2 ft. long. He is no baby. As far as the UTH goes, i think i will just leave it on medium at all times. I bought him from the pet shop i work at and we had him for quite a long time. He is on a weekely feeding schedule and takes a small rat, although i think i might need to up it to a medium because im not really noticing a "lump" anymore in his stomach after he eats. Since the lamp is not over his branch and just over his hide i would like to leave it there for the light because the room is rather dark. I think i have a fine vivarium, he just needs to get used to the new setup. I will definetly take him to the vet asap and get him checked for upper respiratory.



03/24/08  10:32pm

 #1674730


ColdBlooded666
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   Message To: KReid   In reference to Message Id: 1674631


 Hog Island Boa !!!

Ummm okay, Sra is right a 60 gallon is WAY TO BIG FOR HIM. Sure hes 3 feet long but still, its to big for him. A UTH is perfectly fine to keep your snake warm, do u really want the risks of burning him BADLY?? Who cares if the room is dark...all snakes (or most, not quite sure) are nocturnal. They don’t need light all hours of the day. You can turn the light off, a UTH is perfectly fine for your snake and alot safer to. Wow...you really should’ve done your research first....And your snake doesn’t come out of hiding because hes new to the cage...let him settle in before trying to feed him or hold him. Leave him alone for one week before trying to do anything.
03/24/08  11:48pm

 #1674760


KReid
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   Message To: ColdBlooded666   In reference to Message Id: 1674730


 Hog Island Boa !!!

uhh ok, the lamp is not INSIDE the cage so therefore he cannot burn himself. It is sitting on top of the screen. The MAX temp on the hot side is 95.8F and that is not hot enough to burn anyone BADLY. I havent tried to feed him or handle him at all either.



03/25/08  12:16am

 #1674795


ColdBlooded666
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   Message To: KReid   In reference to Message Id: 1674760


 Hog Island Boa !!!

Okay first off, is this your first snake? Seriously, something that small should not be in a tank that big. And actually, if u have a hot enough bulb (even OUTSIDE of the cage) can and probably will burn your snake. What is the temps on the cool side?
03/25/08  12:47am

 #1674817


KReid
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   Message To: ColdBlooded666   In reference to Message Id: 1674795


 Hog Island Boa !!!

No, this is not my first snake. The snake almost stretches the entire leingth of the cage. The temps on the cool side are 75-78F. And 95.8F will not burn a 3 1/2 ft. snake especially when it doesent ever bask on that spot.



03/25/08  01:19am

 #1677403


Ambiguous666
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   Message To: KReid   In reference to Message Id: 1673250


 Hog Island Boa Questions!

the heat bulb is fine the only probs with that is it dries out the cage quick, so i dont know what type of humidity level they need but yea make sure you get a thermometer and hygrometer to keep an eye on that, and it is normal for snakes to hide that much most of them do, they mostly are nocturnal so they if they do come out it will be at night. and you should talk to the people at the rep shop about that puffing to see if he needs to go to the vet.

people on here are so childish they just sit here an argue. anyways good luck! hpefully hes alright!!!
03/27/08  12:25am


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