Feeding Our New Brazilian Rainbow Boa

We recently bought this BRB in northern VA for $75 (I know! Crazy, right?). Anyway, the girl who had him had no idea about humidity requirements, etc - these snakes require a steady 80% humidity, at least. So he has eyecaps on both eyes, retained shed skin all down his body, and when we first got him even his nostrils were covered with old shed skin. He kept having to open his mouth and pant to breathe. He was also underfed (yes, these are slim boas, but he was underfed and too skinny - you can feel his spine and ribs easily). Hence the reason for feeding him live - he couldn't see, was underfed, malnourished, and really needed to eat. My husband and I have 12 other snakes, all of whom are on pre-killed or frozen/thawed - even our wild caught and 10 foot Burmese. So please, no hater comments, because there's really nothing wrong with live feeding, we just prefer the ease and safety for the snake of p/k, and he will be switched to p/k as soon as he's healthy. He's in his new home with 82% humidity and is due to shed any day now, so hopefully his eyes will clear up and his skin will get that rainbow-y look that these guys are known for! But that's why he looks rather dull in the vid. Thanks for watching, leave a (non-hater) comment please!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• brazilian
• rainbow
• boa
• snake
• feeding
• mouse
• mice

[1986wake1986]

hi how active are these snakes as im thinkin about getin one.

[Anguifera]

My BRB is fairly active, but mostly during the night and moving from vine to vine to find a new hiding spot.

[ORSUMfezbubble]

btw.

RAT LOVE

<:3)~~

[Anguifera]

Btw - we also have pet rats, so yay, rat love.

[ORSUMfezbubble]

very pretty snake.

out of curiously, are you able to at least knok they mice out, to they still sence they warmth, they mouse is still alive, just.. not moveing and cant feel anything?

its quick.

and keeps everyone satisfyed.

[Anguifera]

What you are describing is called stunning, and it is possible to stun some mice, but others are so small it's very difficult without pre-killing it. And stunning really doesn't keep everyone satisfied in terms of feeding response and snake-haters. Some snakes won't feed unless the prey is live and moving, not stunned; and many people feel that feeding a snake anything living, stunned or not, is evil. But it's a good thought, and we do feed f/t or p/k whenever we can. Thanks for your comment!

[MyApocalypse17]

I love your snake, im getting a BRB myself soon as my first "more difficult to keep" snake, however I strongly disagree with you live feeding your snake. One day the rat will turn around and bite the snake, and you will have a rediculous vet bill or a dead snake in your hands, it is irresponsible when you could just defrost a dead rat in warm water...

[PaulThePolymath]

@thetimeofday591 might want to use a head pad instead of a heat lamp, as lamps will dry out the ambient are pretty easily.

remember not to get BRB's over 85 degrees or they can die pretty easily.

[PaulThePolymath]

@kahooker10 juvenile snakes are a lot more shy because of how small they are, once they grow older and not only realize you aren't trying to kill them, but gain some size so you dont seem so gigantic, they'll get more comfortable and move about more

[PaulThePolymath]

@SaabT1 make a "humid hide" using damp sphagum moss

you can just take a plastic tub and flip it upside down and cut two holes a bit thicker than the snake, she'll go hide in there when she knows she needs more humidity

[SaabT1]

Hi I'm kinda in the same situation as you were, I have a baby BRB that wasnt bein taken care of that I bought from a friends brother. She has retained eye caps and they look pretty bad. Ive had her for about a week now and Ive kept the humidity up around 80 to 85 and she shed but she just wont shed her head and eyes no matter what I do! I was wondering if you had any tips on how i could help her get better Ive tried the pillow case and wet towel trick it wont work. Thanks

[chesleycareystar]

75 bucks??????

[kahooker10]

My BRB is about 6-8 weeks old. She feeds and handles well. Strikes just like this one. She's hardly active at all though, and I know a lot of boas and pythons are not very active, but i was expecting a little more. I've had her for about 2 weeks and about 90% of that she has been burrowed in the bedding. About the only time she moved around was after feeding. She doesn't look like she's about to shed and I keep the temp and humidity right. Maybe she's just a shy snake. What do you think?

[thetimeofday591]

I just got a baby... I got a humidity box, mulch, hides etc... any tips on care and stuff for these guys? Mine is really mild tempered doesn't mind being held at all ... just really mellow... do you recommend getting a fogger? or is a humidity box/mulch hides heat lamp/pad good enough? I have the heat lamp and pad on one side of the tank and the other side of the tank is kept cooler... thoughts?

[HatchetMan628]

THEREIS NOTHING WRONG WITHFEEDING LIVE PREY. F all u haters there is no frozen thawed in the wild

[wntrstm]

Very nice snake! I just got my BRB from a breeder friend. It is my first snake and it has been really fun watching him grow over the past few months. He (yes he has been sexed lol) is about 5 months old and is feeding and shedding like a champ! I feed live mice, I don't think there is anything wrong with it.