HOW TO CARE FOR RED TAIL BOAS (BCI & BCC)!! IN DEPTH CARE GUIDE!

Greetings universe! Today we talk about one of my favorite snakes, the red tail boa. There are mainly 2 species that are most common in the pet trade; the common boa (BCI (Boa Constrictor imperator) and the true red tail boas (BCC (Boa Constrictor constrictor). BCC encompasses the Suriname, Guyanan and Peruvian red tail boas. These guys make such incredible pets and I highly recommend them! In this video we go in depth and talk about how we care for them, some ways to tell the difference between a BCI and BCC, and show off our beautiful babies!

[@Steevee14]

"Listen to your snake, look at your snake." Excellent specific advice!

[@gbliguanas1759]

Always!

[@BVA663]

Thank you for talking about enclosure size for snakes. It’s so great to see enclosures with enrichment and habitats they can explore in. We need more people like you that actually care about the individual snakes welfare. Not just keeping masses of snakes all thrown into racks with the bear minimum.

[@gbliguanas1759]

I’m right there with you! All of these animals deserve the best!

[@aliallen383]

different set ups for different purposes. you want a minimal set up if your breeding boas and selling them as its easier to clean and maintain good health of 50+ boas before sending them off too their new homes. if its to elaborate, cleaning 50+ set ups becomes hard, you start to lack on some procedures, one thing leads to another and now you have a bunch of sick babies which no one wants. if you have a few boas for personal use then of course make it big and amazing but make sure you can clean and maintain the terrarium or your worse then someone who has a minimal set up but cleans and makes sure their boas health is top tier.

[@onechallengeatatime]

Lovely to see someone advocate for large enclosures and bigger than 'good enough'. Full respect

[@gbliguanas1759]

Thank you! These animals deserve everything and more!

[@SamanthaHind-tr3of]

This is such a great video it’s so refreshing to see these beautiful animals being taken care of properly your enclosures are amazing ! Your boas are beautiful !!!

[@gbliguanas1759]

Thanks so much!

[@LeoThompson-ek6zu]

Thanks for this vid, i'm thinking of getting a 6yr old female BI and you've helped a lot.

[@gbliguanas1759]

Awesome! Glad I could be of service!

[@SendItKelly]

Awesome video. I've been doing a ton of research on ball pythons for my first snake... But I'm leaning towards a boa more and more. Definitely just as good if not better as some of the bigger channels out there. Thanks for all the great information! 🤘🏻

[@gbliguanas1759]

I appreciate that! Ball pythons are cool and all, but boas are much easier in my opinion. If you get a male, they stay smaller and they’re just so much easier than ball pythons

[@CrazyDogLadySky]

Great video! I have wanted larger snakes since i was little. Got a corn snake back in 2017 (she passed away a lil over a year ago from cancer.) Then i got my 1st ball python. I have 3 now. I am working on saving up my money for a baby IMG boa. I plan on having a Sunglow and a Suriname (1st boa i ever saw and i love them!) Been getting the tools to build their big enclosures myself 1st. Thank both of you for the video!

[@gbliguanas1759]

It’s definitely addicting! Boas are awesome. I love our Suriname!

[@patrickalilbitofeverything5181]

Great and informative video bro and awesome boas 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@gbliguanas1759]

Thanks man! We try :)

[@matthewweil9949]

Loved the video 🔥🤙🏻

[@gbliguanas1759]

Thanks bro!

[@michaelearl2789]

You're the only one I've seen giving them as much room as I do . I start them out in a closet with a glass door . At 6 ft they get a walk in closet . I'm thinking about a full bedroom with a pond at some point .❤

[@gbliguanas1759]

Man that would be incredible! I’m a big believer in giving every reptile huge cages. Some of mine are still in smaller cages but the goal is to get each one a huge space with a bunch of enrichment

[@bryanspanjer3213]

That’s the same rule I use for my children! If my snake wants its own room, it must pay!

[@ashley104]

Just got my first boa(she’s 6 months old) , this is was very helpful for me! Thank you!

[@gbliguanas1759]

Awesome! Boas are amazing. You’re gonna love her!

[@jay-mk4yt]

kevin is livin it up!

[@gbliguanas1759]

He loves it! It’s amazing to see all his natural behaviors in this enclosed.

[@erickperez8770]

Ive found using halogens instead of ceramic heat emmiters is better overall for your reptile. Halogens + ubv + LED is the closests we can recreate the outside sun and the wavelenghts it radiates. Usually i still use a DHP at night but only at night if its needed to kep the temperatures where theyre supposed to be.

[@kingbradarmy]

Beautiful snakes💯💯💯

[@gbliguanas1759]

Thank you! They’re incredible 😍

[@scottgoodall9616]

Love the p***ed off boa impression 🤣 😂 👌

[@gbliguanas1759]

I try 😂😂😂😂

[@jimowen9438]

Thanks Sir for the prompt response. I would never own any Animal if I didn't know how to properly care for it. Thanks again Boss.

[@karyannfontaine8757]

My Boas are BCI and they are fantastic snakes. I am thinking about adding a BCC this year, most likely a male as he will stay a bit smaller. My Boas use their large water dishes to soak. Enjoyed this video. I have always kept the hot spot on 90 and was surprised when you went as high as 93.

[@gbliguanas1759]

I like giving all of our animals the option to pick whatever temperature that they like. They all have enough space in their enclosures that they can pick and choose whatever temp they want to be at :)

[@sodalines]

boas should look like a loaf of bread that tapers.. great video m8

[@gbliguanas1759]

100%! Should never be round!

[@jimowen9438]

Hi Boss. Outstanding commentary. I have a 200 Pound Sulcata Tortoise, he was 3 ounces, 21 years ago when I got him. Love him too Death. I've been researching Boas for a while now. After watching your Videos. I think I will proceed to get one. Question ❓ What's the best way to keep the enclosures Humidity level up to a safe level. I've seen other videos saying you can spray water on the substrate. Any specific info would be appreciated.

[@gbliguanas1759]

Boas are great man! It’s not too hard. Make sure you have a good substrate, decently thick amount in there and have a large water dish. Along with that, mist the enclosure a couple times a week. With a deep enough substrate, the bottom layers can stay nice and moist when the top dries which helps

[@mrmouse-ol9pw]

Damn. Kevins got a nice enclosure. I have my 6 ft in a very similar 4*2*5...never thought shed outgrow it, but im thinking she has. Like yours she uses ever inch or vertical. I have a big ledge about 3/4 up and thats her fav spot to bask

[@allfallonsfronds2863]

2:12 Daw 😘 I thought u we’re gonna kiss him for a second 🤣

[@gbliguanas1759]

I mean I have before 😂

[@samarabevin]

Hi! Love your videos so much. I got my BCI about 6 months ago. Right now I have 4x2x2 (my BCI is a male and about 2.5yrs old). I have worked so hard to add a shelf and have plenty of hides and tree branches in this pvc enclosure. I want to build him something bigger like yours one day, but I’m losing motivation to attempt it because he never, EVER moves or leaves the cool side. I have so many temp probes EVERYWHERE in his cage, and I have a heat gun , and thermostats for any heating devices I try. I’ve tried ceramic heater, then tried DHP, then try UTH, and I’ve always used my thermostats with any of these heating devices. But no matter which one I use, as soon as the ambient temp gets to 76F, he’s literally OVER it and wants it cooler. Is that normal? The only time he ever goes to the basking shelf or warm side is when the ambient is 75-76F on the warm ambient. MAYBE. it’s so weird! But then that time he STILL wanted to leave it and found a corner of the cage that was 67F! I don’t get it! Moving forward, I know that’s not healthy, so I still keep the warm side 86-88F because I just feel weird about how much he likes the cold side being lower. So now his cold side is 74 and he absolutely will NOT leave it ever. And he never ever moves, unless the temp rises above 76F he will try to escape. I’m so confused I would so appreciate any advice!

[@gbliguanas1759]

That’s strange. Definitely make sure the temps are correct. Low 90s basking spot and ambient low 80s. You could also try rearranging the stuff in the enclosure and that will kinda force him to explore.

[@avaogara]

good info n tips your boas are gorgeous 😍..just a Lil too large for me but planning on a male ball python. .so do you own any ball pythons ?

[@gbliguanas1759]

Yes we have an albino pied male

[@avaogara]

@@gbliguanas1759 nice❤.I been loving snakes all my life .I'm recovering from wrist surgery now so snake n enclosure got to wait ✋. like to see a video on your ball python

[@gbliguanas1759]

I hood your recovery goes well! We did do a ball python care guide! Check out our “care” playlist :)

[@avaogara]

awwcthank you n I will do that 🐍💚🐍🙂🐍🐍

[@ryanyoshimura4652]

Where do you put your temp probes for the heat panels?

[@gbliguanas1759]

I try to get them in the middle of the panel, and have them either on top of the substrate or on top of their hides. I monitor everything with a temp gun to keep things accurate

[@gregms7661]

Kevin’s got a nice size on him. Can’t wait to see how big my BCI male gets. Named mine Rupert 😂 I didn’t catch it. How old is Kevin?

[@gbliguanas1759]

He’s perfect. Hard to believe he was a rescue!

[@joelfougstedt1591]

recently got a red tail BCI at 4 month old and I am wondering how often should I take them out and handle them on a regular basis?

[@gbliguanas1759]

Great question! Really as often as you’d like. Personally I don’t handle them on feeding day or the following 48 hours after feeding, so they have ample time to digest. I also don’t handle while they’re in blue(shedding).

[@isaiahdrummond3884]

Hey hey good friend how are u just won’t to say my buddy jj is doing really well he has grown looking really good he is now on rats now and he’s doing really good

[@joshuaduque8819]

I have a hatchling boa I was wondering if a tub is better than a glass cage , I don’t want to put the snake in a pvc cage yet

[@gbliguanas1759]

There’s a lot of debate on that. I’m personally not a fan of tubs. When I got my BCC, she was small and I put her in an exoterra enclosure. Just make sure there are multiple hides so it can feel secure and make sure you keep up with temp/humidity and you’ll be perfect

[@imwaytogoodlookingtobeyour1188]

Bci and bcc can both get up to 14 feet....but USUALLY top out at 9 and a half

[@karenschmaltz649]

With the variety of morphs and localities I find the only way I can tell which is bc and which is bi is the eyelash markings. Otherwise I am lost.

[@gbliguanas1759]

It can definitely be tricky!

[@heatherssnakes]

How do you check your humidity? Where in the enclosure do you place your probs for humidity and temperature?

[@gbliguanas1759]

The temp probe goes on the basking area in the pvc enclosures. In Kevin’s cage I use a temp gun. I don’t measure humidity. I just make sure they have big water dishes and I mist the enclosures every now and again. When they are in blue I will most more frequently

[@heatherssnakes]

@@gbliguanas1759 Because in the video you said percentages of humidity...like 60% and the when they're shedding you bump it up to 80%...how do you know what percentages your humidity is at?

[@gbliguanas1759]

@@heatherssnakes I’ve been doing this long enough that I basically just kinda know how my enclosures run and the things to do for my set up. I get perfect sheds every time. You can get a digital hygrometer on Amazon for around $10 and those do a great job. I used to use them religiously when I was first starting out

[@ravenonyx122]

Do u have videos how to build big enclosures??

[@gbliguanas1759]

I did make a video showing the process of building Kevin’s cage

[@ravenonyx122]

@gbliguanas1759 sweet, I'll be needing to build a couple of these but didn't know if wood was safe to use as it could mold from the moisture.

[@slippedknot2001]

@@ravenonyx122 Wood can be sealed but wood framing with pvc sheeting is probably the way to go. 6 foot tall is a bit ridiculous imo but if that's what you want to do I'm sure it'll look amazing

[@ravenonyx122]

@slippedknot2001 6×4×4 or 8×4×4 6 or 8 feet long not tall.

[@luiiibilll00]

great info overall but I don't think that much height is necessary. if set up a 6x2x2 is plenty for most adults that do not get past 6 or 7 feet if set up with the enrichment. where they have plenty of opportunities to climb. of course bigger is better and that setup is amazing but not everyone can do a setup like that and not everyone has to as long as the enclosure size is adequate and they aren't trying to cram a 6-foot boa in a 40-gallon or 75-gallon and giving places for them to climb. Not all boas climb as much too some climb more than others. Again it's great to encourage that size but I would not paint the picture that it should be the minimum size.

[@gbliguanas1759]

It all depends on how you want to look at things. Yes it’s difficult for everyone to provide this large of an enclosure. But if you have the space for it then there is 0 reason you shouldn’t. These are phenomenal animals and deserve the best. Boas are more arboreal than the hobby leads you to believe. If you give the space, they will use it.

[@xray5043]

What lights are those? How do they do with humidity?

[@gbliguanas1759]

It’s just an led shoplight off Amazon. Haven’t had any issues

[@lastblood8550]

​@@gbliguanas1759does your big boa in the 6ft tall enclosure also have a heated area on the floor of the enclosure or does he spend enough time out on the branches that it isnt needed? Im wanting to build a tall enclosure in the future but have a shy baby boa

[@gbliguanas1759]

@@lastblood8550 he uses every inch of it. No heat on the bottom. It’s definitely much cooler at the bottom but he picks and chooses where he wants to be

[@lastblood8550]

@@gbliguanas1759 thanks for the response ..were any of your boas shy as babies? ...mine never comes out unless nobody is home and my old creeky house is empty.

[@gbliguanas1759]

@@lastblood8550 no my bcc was just super fiesty which is normal. But babies of any snake can be shy. They’re small. They’re prey. Give them plenty of places to hide and feel secure and that helps

[@Redthirteenjamie]

Boa imperator

[@malikharris4311]

Did you build Kevin's enclosure?? If so how??

[@gbliguanas1759]

Yes I did! I actually made a video documenting it. Check about 10ish videos back or so!