seeking advice & opinions
 

Hello everyone and thanks for viewing my post. I am an avid animal lover. I was the kid always bringing home strays & helping injured wildlife. I have had various pets growing up, including snakes. Recently I have decided to make a commitment to purchase a couple baby boa's (thank you SmokyMountainReptiles) I have a male & female (both born in May) together in a 55gal tank. From my experience in keeping snakes, the two both seem to be complacent. They don't appear stressed or sick. This is the first time I've kept 2 snakes together. I know that many species prefer to be solitary, but I've read a few articles & spoken to a few breeders that said that boa's don't mind 'neighbors'...
The female had refused a couple offers (live & F/T) and had even refused a meal before she was sent to me. Last night I gently encouraged her to eat. I took a small f/t pinky, as not to stress her with a larger meal, and gently placed it into her mouth and let her take-over. I am hoping that she will willingly eat on her own next time (a few days, since she's young and also hasn't eaten in about a month I believe). So, wish me luck.
Anyway, I'd like to get some advice/tips from those of you who have more experience than myself. The more I know, the better I can take care of my babies =) since I am aware that they can live 20+ years, this is a big commitment. I want to make sure that I'm doing it right
I do not plan to house them together permanently, once they get a lil bigger, they will each have a 55gal, and once they get more to their full size, I will be building 2 custom enclosures

They should not be together at all. I do not know what breeders you spoke to saying that boas "do not mind neighbors" but they are not supposed to be housed together outside of breeding. The fact you have one of them being a problem feeder kind of supports the stress factor of being forced to have a roommate. If you see boas curled around one another, they are competing for space, whichever one predominately stays atop the other is the more dominant animal and has decided it wants whatever spot the other is in.

How will you know who is defecating or passing urates properly? How will you know who is drinking water? How will you feed them without removing them from the enclosure?

Tanks are a struggle to maintain proper temperatures in humidity. Depending on their sizes, the best option is to get a strip of 3'' flexwatt, hook it up to a thermostat, and put them in Sterilite or comparable tubs (each animal in its own tub) with holes drilled into them with the flexwatt beneath the back portion of the plastic bins to provide heat. This will provide them with a safe, secure and proper environment where accurate temperature and humidity can be achieved with ease.

Well, I always removed snakes to feed them, even when I only had one at a time. I was told that glass tanks didn't hold the moisture properly because of the mesh top, so I have glass covering half of the top. But I will go out and either purchase 2 custom made snake enclosures, build them myself, or get the sterilite containers you mentioned. I thought breeders did that because they weren't really concerned with space, more interested in their profit. But I was recently told that it's for moisture retention.
She had already refused food before I bough her & continued to refuse once I had her, but maybe I introduced the second snake a little too quick to know
This is why I ask. I didn't think of it as they were competing, but that's a very good suggestion. thank you

Competition in boas in regards to space is subtle and not nearly as aggressive as it is in mammals, such as dogs or cats, so it is harder to pick up on the subtle cues. The other concern is that you placed another animal in with the first without proper quarantine procedure. If that second animal is carrying any internal parasites or a currently unseen disease, it can pass it on to the other one.

Most breeders care about their animals, I know I for one do. I cannot sell any animals if I do not take care of the ones I have so that they can breed. Plastic enclosures are ideal for boas, whether they be tubs for smaller animals or specially manufactured cages for adults. With just a single connection of flexwatt on a Boaphile 421D cage and a water bowl, I maintain perfect humidity and temperature for the animal in it with minimal effort.

When boa constrictors refuse to feed as babies, it is a problem, especially since they are generally indescriminate eaters. Something is either wrong internally, it is overly stressed or the enivornment is not right.

I really appreciate your help
I suppose if one of the snakes are sick, it would be the first. I will separate them (regardless) and see if it helps, otherwise I will be making a veterinary appearance soon

at the very least divide the tank with cardboard,use the end of the tank as a template and cut it edge to edge,it needs to fit tight. DO NOT USE TAPE of any kind,snakes and tape do not mix at all.
What are the temps and humidity "accurately" measured with ?
Its tuff to fast track someone thats made an impulse purchase,but it can be done
with abit of coin and diligence(action)

I would try to seperate them asap, boas like to be alone in there own enclosures, another option to try for a more successful feeding would beto to try rats or larger prey item. I start baby boas on fuzzies (hoppers too) with no problems and not long after that rat crawlers. Boas like large prey items

Its best to leave new acquisitions in solitary for a week or two and allow them to decompress from relocation stress.

Sounds like you're getting some good advice, and congratulations on the new additions. One suggestion that I would make for the problem eater is to give her at least a week or two before offering her next meal. I would try a f/t hopper mouse. Use tongs and wiggle the mouse around or make it hop around lol. That may get her more interested. If she still doesn't seem to want it, leave it in her cage and don't disturb her for a couple of hours. I like to cover the cage during this time. She may just want to be alone to eat.

Best of luck, and don't be afraid to ask any other questions!

Oh, and here's a great feeding schedule discussion I like to share: http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...d.php?t=255782

More is better for me
 

I have been keeping reptiles for pets for over22yrs.I have several cages with more than one snake in it.There are pairs,trios and quads.They all get alone fine.One pair of dumeril boas didn't stay together.I think one is sexed wrong.I have boas and blood pythons together.They are always curled up together.They share the same hide boxes,there are several in each enclosure.I have always fed outside of where they live. The only down side is the extra cleaning. My argentine boas have lived together for13yrs.now.I have no problems in keeping snakes this way.This might not work for everyone but it works for me.:yesnod: JOE