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(Mainly) To the boa people...

Kels88

Kels88

New member
A question for curiosity's sake (Mostly directed to BCC owners, but I'd value anyone's input!):

Does anyone notice a difference in cage aggressiveness between snakes kept in top-opening and front-opening enclosures?

From the standpoint of common sense, it seems the giant humanoid coming in from a top-opening cage would appear to pose more of a predatory threat...

I ask because we are wanting to purchase a BCC (in the fairly distant future, but I'm excited about it now!) and I was admiring this space-saving idea for a large snake enclosure:
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86338&highlight=coffee+table
I was thinking about 2.5x4 ft

Plus, this design would easily allow me to toss a table cloth over the top for non serpent-friendly guests (my mother-in-law would never have to know :dgrin:)

I just don't want to get any chomps that I could have avoided by getting a front-opening enclosure...and my curiosity is getting the best of me.
 
HOOK TRAINING.
I cannot emphasize it enough. Hook training is essential to owning any large constrictor, in my opinion. The hook is a great way to avoid a bite.
 
I've seen snake hooks...what exactly does "training" consist of?
Obviously you don't want to skewer the snake...Is there a text walk-thru? maybe I should just search youtube, but I'd want to make sure the person knew what they were talking about.
 
Kels88 said:
I've seen snake hooks...what exactly does "training" consist of?
Obviously you don't want to skewer the snake...Is there a text walk-thru? maybe I should just search youtube, but I'd want to make sure the person knew what they were talking about.
Click to expand...

The "training" is just the act of using the hook whenever you pick up the snake so it gets used to the hook meaning "play time" instead of "FOOOOOD" or "predator".
 
ok, makes sense. Thanks!
have you ever used a homemade one or do you order them? I think I saw instructions somewhere to make one out of a hotdog/marshmallow roasting stick with one prong chopped off and the other bent to a curve...
 
I would not advise working with a home-made hook for BCC- those are big, insanely powerful boa constrictors.
Are you fully aware of their size and demeanor?

They are beautiful, no doubt about it, but their size is no laughing matter
 
Yes, I am aware of the size. That's why it will be a while til we get one: I don't want to have small children and the responsiblility/chance of danger of a bcc at the same time.
 
Boas I'm more lax with... My adults have side opening cages and the babies are in tubs. I can just grab the boas, including the adult

My Retic is in a large tub and is a species that MUST be hook trained. Period.
 
Kels88 said:
I didn't know they made tubs big enough for retics...or is it a juvenile?
Click to expand...

She is a "teenager" at 7+ feet and the tub is 4x2... . She's moving into a 6x3 very soon and then an 8x3. They tend to coil up most of the time any way. Even when she was 4 feet long she never utilized the space.
 
Also, boas tend to do the same in tubs... they will pick either the warm or cool corner and stay there most of the time.
 
Kokopelli said:
I would not advise working with a home-made hook for BCC- those are big, insanely powerful boa constrictors.
Are you fully aware of their size and demeanor?

They are beautiful, no doubt about it, but their size is no laughing matter
Click to expand...

I would never use a hook to physically pick up a BCC or a large constrictor. Not even a python hook. Too much stress on the ribs.

The only thing I have ever used a hook for with large (5'+) constrictors is "cancelling" their feed response.

Remember, you are not really training them, persay. They will recognize the hook as not representing food, but the largest snakes will come out whether you have a hook or not... if they so choose. A hook is a great tool but it isn't a replacement for being highly aware of the animal's demeanor or having the reflexes to dodge it.

Trying to overpower it is just silly! :punch:
 
Naturally, but I never meant for it to be used as a pick-up tool. You still need it to be very stable and sturdy.
 
Kokopelli said:
Naturally, but I never meant for it to be used as a pick-up tool. You still need it to be very stable and sturdy.
Click to expand...

You're okay. I was just making reference for anyone reading this thread that would interpret it that way. :)

Also, to the OP, if the enclosure is top-opening, the snake might be more likely to see you as a threat if you are coming at it from above... just more food for thought.

I us AP T24? (can't remember the model# of the top of my head) for my larger boas. They open from the side.
 
Wow. I feel dumb. I just realized that I put BCC instead of BCI...We won't be getting a BCC.
I was kind of confused why kokopelli was so concerned about demeanor. The BCIs I've dealt with have been sweethearts (even the one that was a hurricane rescue-poor girl had a rough life).
So my apologies. We were looking to get a BCI.
 
I had my 2 boas since they were babies. I haven't had any problems with them at all. I think,like with most snakes,it depends on how u raise them. I handled mines a lot when they were younger. Now,I handle them about 2-3 times a week.
 
whoty said:
I had my 2 boas since they were babies. I haven't had any problems with them at all. I think,like with most snakes,it depends on how u raise them. I handled mines a lot when they were younger. Now,I handle them about 2-3 times a week.
Click to expand...


That will go a long way too... a baby boa bite does not hurt and I have one right now that is finally getting the fact that she does not have to get defensive when I handle her.
 
Kels88 said:
Wow. I feel dumb. I just realized that I put BCC instead of BCI...We won't be getting a BCC.
I was kind of confused why kokopelli was so concerned about demeanor. The BCIs I've dealt with have been sweethearts (even the one that was a hurricane rescue-poor girl had a rough life).
So my apologies. We were looking to get a BCI.
Click to expand...

:laugh01:

See what a tiny letter can do?
BCI's are smaller and tend to be a deal easier to work with... BCC's can end up being a bit evil is all.
In that case- you made a wonderful decision! If I can suggest dwarf BCI like Hog Isle/Corn Isle/whatever... look into those, they are very beautiful and even more compact :)
 
hmmmm..Well, I've checked out the hog isles a bit, but not really the corn isle. Do you have an idea of what these would cost in the states? I'd be willing to pay more for a snake that's a better fit, but there is definitely a ceiling on price!

And could you suggest a good place to look at pictures of hogs/corns? I am trying to avoid pink-tinted snakes. I really like the look of the anery BCI, but I don't know where that will put me on prices.
 
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