I have a boa constrictor that's 5 years old. I've had her since birth and due to moving the front room round she's had to go in the spare room. Besides being the coldest room, it means she's not getting the attention that she used to get and i feel really guilty keeping her in there. After much thought i think she'd have a better life with someone else.

I've phoned the RSPCA but they don't want to know and after googling reptile rescue (and similar) there are tonnes of sites. I know a few people on here have reptiles and i'm looking for some advice.

I live in the Preston (Lancs) area so if anyone is local and maybe used a site to get or rehome one of their reptiles i'd be grateful for their input.

Thanks in advance.
boxx.

There is actually one in Preston - Link

You could phone them and see if you can get a 'feel' for them?

There is one in the Midlands that is pretty good but I can't find the contact info

If it isn't too far for you I'll have a better look later.


ETA: Doh - found it on the 'net (SM looses Google points) - Proteus - nice people there

Whatever you do, if you decide to sell/give it away privately, make sure you quiz any prospective owners before handing him on.

If they haven't done their homework before coming to see you. I wouldn't sell them it.

If you give it to a reptile rescue type place, it's less of an issue.

Pet shops (if you have a decent reptile one near you .... I have a couple near me but I'm in Edinburgh so thats not much help to you) are another possibility.

I had too many vivs so had to sell a few of mine on and the pet shop I get a lot of my food from were happy to buy them from me.

What kind of boa by the way?

Thanks for the advice. The midlands one is too far but i'll ring the Preston one over the weekend. I really don't want to get rid of her, but she's already being neglected in comparison to before where she was always out and the center of conversation. She's a very placid, sociable snake. My guilt for having to keep her in another room is what's driving me to give her to someone else to enjoy. Ho hum.

She's a rainbow boa sancheeez.

I don't undertand how moving your living room around means the snake has to be locked away in another room?

The tank is 5' long by 3' deep and 4 1/2' high. There's only one way to have the room which will fit it in, and due to new sofa it's not an option

haha fair enough, can't argue with that!

lol, you didnt think that a 5 year old boa was in a wee fish tank did you?!

cos i didint

but why does that stop you taking him / her out and giving it attention just because the tank is in a different room?

It doesn't, but the room is much colder than the room she was in and even with the heat lamp she hasn't been exploring (hence the name 'Dora') prefering to just stay in her bedroom over the heat-mat. Plus i spend a lot more time out with friends rather than friend's being round, so she's spending 90% of her time 'locked away' as someone put it. I just think that sopmeone else could now give her a better life and that, to me, is a good reason to re-house her.
Am i being unreasonable?

Not at all. You are thinking of the snake.

I will say, don't worry about giving her attention. As long as you have time to fulfill her needs and time to handle her enough to keep her 'tame' then she should be OK.

Is there any way to make the room warmer? Insulating blind on the window, turning the thermostat on the radiator up, additional heat source such as a lamp?

It's years since I had a snake, so I can't remember the heat they need to be kept at. But I did find the guys at Proteus very helpful. They absolutely love snakes and were always happy to give advice, so maybe give them a call and see if there is someway you can keep Dora. Even if rehoming is the best answer, they may be able to recommend someone closer to you or they may be able to arrange a transport run to fetch Dora to them

I wouldn't have got the new sofa then.

I've got two huge bird indoor aviaries and a huge guinea pig cage in my living room.

I sit on the floor.

no not at all, sorry, i wasnt suggesting that you were, especially if your lifestyle has also changed where you are round friends more than in the house.

I wasn't suggesting that you were suggesting that i was
When the weather's like this, at home is the only place i want to be

Thanks for the advices, i'm going to ponder my situation for a couple of days before making a decision, and i'll give Proteus a ring too. I don't want to see her go really, i've warmed the room up best i can but it's still noticably colder than the front room, maybe there's a ghost in there! I'm still thinking that someone could get more pleasure from her, (i've always felt guilty for just having one snake) but had to give her a better life than the one she'd have had if i hadn't taken her. Plenty to think about. Thanks.


I don't think that would be a popular move on my part.