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PashaD   Addicted   Jasono  
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 #1783712


PashaD
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 Eccentric boa owner w/ eccentric question

Thank you for your thoughts on the matter: My father had a large python when he was younger, so I talk to him about my Columbian boa. He had a sterile science-room setup (a science teacher.) My aptmnt (600 sqft) )has an excessive amount of large houseplants and sticks, so I leave my columbian boa in an OPEN aquarium. I’ve had it since Feb (5 months now) and it’s developed patterns of venturing outside confines of glass (I assumed that it would.) His advice (and everyone ese’s) is to close it up now before the obvious happens.

I, however, see the animal’s patterns. it leaves when prompted, sometimes on it’s own at night. It goes to the same spots and ALWAYS returns to the underheat-pad "cave" setup in the corner at dusk, or when cold. Tank is appropriate heat & humidity for open-top setup, and I have a temp guage to be sure (stays b/w low 80’s at night and varis to the upper 90’s on an extremely sunny day. The tank is set just underneath the window that gets afternoon sun, and it "escapes" to the sunspot, surrounding plants & sticks. It is seemingly the happist snake w/ free range in a 600 sqft greenhouse.

Do I trust, nurture and bolster it’s habits NOW so when it’s large and dangerous it’s "SAFE"? Is there advice for large-scale or natural/tropical habitats?

AM I HEADED FOR DISASTER!?!?!? I don’t think so. I believe that as it gets bigger and more docile it will settle for close spots. As for lost & found issues, I’ll steer it away from the front door. Right now it’s exactly 3ft long. I’m thinking about getting a complicated doorhandle for my bedroom though. Would you suggest a lock? Trust?
Please, your advice?
Thanks!!!
07/05/08  05:23pm

 #1783823


Addicted
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   Message To: PashaD   In reference to Message Id: 1783712


 Eccentric boa owner w/ eccentric question

Probably not a good idea,get it a proper cage and keep it confined.And also a tank near a window is very bad,it can cook reptiles very quickly.
07/05/08  07:02pm

 #1784048


Jasono
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   Message To: Addicted   In reference to Message Id: 1783823


 Eccentric boa owner w/ eccentric question

I wouldn’t suggest it. I can see how it would seem believable, but what if it decided to wander and goes behind the fridge, or if the power went out and escapes somewhere to find a warm location. for it to work there would have to be absolutely no dangers or possible areas where the snake could escape or become inaccessible for you, which doesn’t really work well with a living environment for you. i can definitely see why you would want to do that but i would never trust leaving the snake like that. Enough snakes are escaping as it is and making a bad name for reptile keepers, housing a red tail boa isn’t really that daunting and i really suggest you don’t take the chance of leaving your snake like that, it’s too big of a chance
07/05/08  10:53pm


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