Soon to Be RTB owner

[Poleock]

Ok everyone Im going to the Hamburg Reptile show Dec 5 I got about three weeks to go. I plan on getting my first Boa there. I do want to get a male because from what I read they tend to be a little smaller when full grown(and it pleases the wife cause she is the boss....but dont tell her I said that lol).I have a 40 gallon breeder tank I plan on using for now. When the time comes I will most likely order a cage from Boaphile or try to build a custom. Now I am new to boas, I have done a good amount of research. If there is any tips, pointers, anything ya wanna let me know please feel free to let me know. Also if anyone knows of any breeders that will be at the hamburg show with some RTB and you reccommend them please let me know. Sorry for such a long post once I start writing I just keep going.

[MSwift]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

i think the real question is do you have anymore questions what type of boa are you planning on getting and yes males tend to stay smaller there are some freaks out there

[Poleock]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

I have looked closely at 2 boas Columbian(because its the most common I see in stores ) RTB and the durmils boa. Does anyone recommend another ??

[Ace of Snakes]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

Congrats on the boa and if you have any questions, alot of people will chime in. I for one ask questions from time to time but just being on the site and reading post is awesome. You will not find a better forum out there by the way.

My one suggestion would be to get a boaphile with a thermostate as soon as possible. It is SOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it. My glass tanks are used for my snakes that do not require humidity. You can use your glass 40 gallon breeder but it will be a pain in you butt misting twice a day and just worrying about the well beaing of your animal.

Welcome again and congrats.

Joe

[MSwift]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

I have looked closely at 2 boas Columbian(because its the most common I see in stores ) RTB and the durmils boa. Does anyone recommend another ??

both are good boas i dont have any experience with dums sorry but there are some really good looking columbos out there whats your budget?

[mrpittsir]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

I have my boa in a 40 gallon glass breeder and I used to have a lot of trouble with keeping constant temps and humidity levels, but if you get some plexi glass from home depot (or any store like it) and cover part of the tank it helps with that.
Also, i recently got some spahgnum moss and it has really helped me with my humidity levels.
Good luck with your boa and congratulaions in advance!

[b3napoleon]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

The best thing you can do is download and read the care guide on this site. Lots of information and very accurate. If Tim Koppenhofer (Special K Reptiles) is at the show, I highly recommend him. I have bought several boas from Tim and all have been fairly priced, healthy, and beautiful. He has also been very helpful on the phone before and after the sale. If you're using an aquarium, a solid top is a must. On my aquariums, I use melamine tops with a light fixture built in. I also use a UTH with thermostat. This keeps the temp and humidity constant.

[davenkelly]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

My Friend "STEP AWAY FROM THE REPTILE SHOW"....

You are headed down a road of ADDICTION. There is NO CURE !!!!!....Modern medicine has yet to find a drug that will cure it, or even give just a bit of relief....Below are some of the symptoms ( you already suffer from one of them )

1 - Counting down the days till the next reptile show
2 - You check this site (best on the net), when you get up in the morning, at each break at work, naturaly at lunch, and as soon as you get home from work. ( and you aint even got the snake yet!! )
3 - You have made it to page 124 or higher, of older posts on this site attempting to learn all you can about your "soon to be"
4 - ( fast forward in time )...you now have 2/5/10 Red tails. You rack your brain for reasons/excuses to raise your own rats for the kids. You try to convince the BOSS of how much $$ it will save if you breed your own food. ( FYI, It dont save nuttin, I have 15 RTB's and if I spent on frozen, half of what I spend on kepping them buggers alive and happy, I would have a freezer full)....
5 - ( the truest sign that the addiction has taken hold and wont let go) - Your 100% most favorite snake in your collection IS YOUR NEXT ONE!!!
6 - You see a boa on the net you want to get. Your fingers are shaking as you dial the breaders phone #.......You make the deal (payment plan or whaterer...what the heck the darn power bill can wait).....And there is a tempory relief from the RTB DT's.....That temp relief is just the addiction playing games with your mind. Because the day it ships, you will check the tracking# every 20 minutes, and call in sick on the day it is supposed to arive.....and look out the window for the delivery truck from 6am on. Then by 9 am, you kinda know the delivery route, and decide to go track the truck down....Drive a few streets, dont see him, then RUN back to the house to make sure you have not missed him....I have sound mind and body but, have done exactly that ( when the other members, that know me, say I do not have sound mind and boby, make them prove it in a court of law.

OK BTB'ers....feel free to add your symptoms to the list......Lets save this poor soul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Beror its too late. Add some of the symptoms I have missed.

And welcome to the site.

[Poleock]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

wow that has to be the greatest thing I have ever read and it is so true. I got my first BP about a year ago since then I joined a ball python forum.
4 months after that I ordered my first morph online left my vacation early checkout was 11 we left at 6am so I would be home for my fedex package(fiancee was not happy ) I sat at the door like a puppy waiting for my package 3 days later I was looking online for my next one. After getting my 3rd Ball pythons I went out and got a rack. Took some time off and just moved into my apartment 3 weeks ago . Finally got my finacce to like snakes and she is getting her first this weekend (corn snake she held at a guy I knows house who rescues reptiles) and now Im getting my first boa in 3 weeks. Those are my symptoms. Am I addicted yett or do I have a chance lol ????

[b3napoleon]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

We're all addicted, we're just at different stages. I went from one snake to 12 in a matter of 6 months when I first started out. I have been through steps 1-6 multiple times. I downsized my collection when I left for basic. Since I got out of the Navy, the addiction has kicked in again and now I'm powerless against it.

[MSwift]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

you forgot repeat 1,2,5,6 multiple times that was pretty freaking awesome dave



its not a bad addiction unless your girlfriend/boyfriend don't like snakes ... then at that point it is your DUTY i repeat your DUTY to convert him/her to a snake lover ok

and i went from 3 boas to 10 in less then 6 months its like crack dude soon there wont be anti meth commercials there will be boa addict commercials

[stripeboa]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

Just make sure you buy a Cb Boa.
There should be some good breeders up there. I will try to see if anybody i know is going..

[Poleock]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

This Site is great I love how people respond so quick here

[MLynch]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

Because the day it ships, you will check the tracking# every 20 minutes, and call in sick on the day it is supposed to arive.....and look out the window for the delivery truck from 6am on.

LOL! I've been doing this all morning!

I found out at an early age that you can't just have one boa.


Dave, you left two things out:
1. You steal time out of a vactaion to call a breeder to set up the purchase of a boa that you've been looking at,and then send the PayPal payment from your BlackBerry ...Yes, I actually did this one.

2. You see a snake you want and can mentally envision the layout of your snake room, and know where the next snake will go before you ever purchase it.

[Ace of Snakes]

Re: Soon to Be RTB owner

My 4th boa just came in the mail this morning. I am looking at a ball python today so I am up to 8 snakes in 6 months and going for number 9. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!