How do I get rid of my Boa?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
ScatMan;5114540; said:
reaching in on any snake is a risk. i would never do it without "hooking" them first. it's called "hook training", that's when you stroke a snakes back and head, testing it's temperament and letting it know it's not feeding time before you put your hands near it.

i recommend cypress mulch or aspen shavings over pine. pine has oils in it proven to irritate reptiles. some animals will stop eating or even die from a compromised immune system caused by stress from the irritating oils. you might not see any signs of stress because some reptiles are tough sob's, but that doesn't mean it's not irritating them.

not eating during the winter happens to a bunch of snakes. i've seen it every year with one of my bp's, my children's python and a bunch of colubrids (not hibernated). it's not every snake but it happens. nothing to worry about unless they're losing too much weight. stressful for the keeper, but at least it saves money on feeders!

i apologize if it sounds like i'm preaching. i'm not, just trying to put some tips out there.
Click to expand...


I use Aspen shavings. I do not use Cypress mulch because of this:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200119&highlight=cypress+mulch
 
^^^ it's a $ thing. all herp safe cypress alternatives are considerably more expensive than cypress mulch. 1 cubic yard of cypress is about $3.

call me a bad guy, but i use cypress where i have to; my boa tank and monitor cages. everyone else that doesn't need the humidity gets aspen.

i doubt that the herp community is the real problem in this situation, it's more than likely all the people copiously spreading it around their yards and gardens.
 
I like Eco earth it holds in moister and all it is made up of is coconut shavings. Its pretty cheap just to buy the brick and it expands when you soak it pretty large.
 
ScatMan said:
^^^ it's a $ thing. all herp safe cypress alternatives are considerably more expensive than cypress mulch. 1 cubic yard of cypress is about $3.

call me a bad guy, but i use cypress where i have to; my boa tank and monitor cages. everyone else that doesn't need the humidity gets aspen.

i doubt that the herp community is the real problem in this situation, it's more than likely all the people copiously spreading it around their yards and gardens.
Click to expand...


I would love to know where you get cypress mulch for $3 around NJ or PA.... I used to get 1 cubic hard of cypress for $3.. Now i pay like $9 for a tiny bag from the pet store. They've pretty much banned the selling of it in NJ, which sucks because its the only thing i like to use for my monitors and snakes.

To the OP, any luck finding him a new home yet??
 
Varanus973 said:
I would love to know where you get cypress mulch for $3 around NJ or PA.... I used to get 1 cubic hard of cypress for $3.. Now i pay like $9 for a tiny bag from the pet store. They've pretty much banned the selling of it in NJ, which sucks because its the only thing i like to use for my monitors and snakes.

To the OP, any luck finding him a new home yet??
Click to expand...

tell me about it, i used to be able to buy it for $1.75 at any big box store with a garden center... damn environmentalists. then literally almost over night, nothing!

it was a struggle tracking it down but i found it at a mulch place in westchester pa... i think it's called 'a-1 mulch' if i'm not mistaken. when i found it, i stockpiled it in my basement, lol! i'm actually down to my last bag now :(

if you call local landscapers, they'll probably point you in the right direction.
 
Varanus973 said:
I would love to know where you get cypress mulch for $3 around NJ or PA.... I used to get 1 cubic hard of cypress for $3.. Now i pay like $9 for a tiny bag from the pet store. They've pretty much banned the selling of it in NJ, which sucks because its the only thing i like to use for my monitors and snakes.

To the OP, any luck finding him a new home yet??
Click to expand...


Thanks for asking, I still have her. I think i'm going to discuss with the local shop I buy my frozen rodents from. The one little annoyance is they buy their reptiles from a local dealer so my snake will end up being placed wherever this particular dealer/breeder chooses or they may wait her out, power feed her and get a litter from her next year. I guess from the snakes perspective there are worse things in life.:grinno:
It irks me just a little that they will basically give me nothing for her, yet sell her for $200.:cry:
Thanks for the White Plains info, I may ride the bike up there to check it out.
 
coco fiber doesn't work when you have a hundred cages to fill .
Menard's and fleet farm sell cypress around here for $4-$5 a huge bag some where around the 30-35 lb range
 
Update: I traded my girl for a Pueblan Milk snake to Jungle Bob.
Nice people; he was willing to let me pick what I wanted. I know Pueblan's are common but I never owned one.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom