BCI Temperaments and Experiences?

[bubs]

I've been looking into adding a snake and have been thoroughly researching carpet pythons and ball pythons but I thought I'd look into all my options. I think the dwarf boas are pretty neat, like the crawl cay and cay caulker, but there aren't any in my area. I did happen to find a breeder with both Hog Island, Nicaraguan boas and Tarahumara Mountain boas, and I'd love to know a little more about them.

1) What's their general size? I've seen so many different responses I'm not quite sure anymore. I'd get a male no matter what.

2) How do their temperaments vary from one another?

3) Which do you prefer working with, and why?

I'm really not sure what to go with. I love the coloration of the Hog, but I'm a little worried about the size. Any other tips and advice would be wonderful. Thanks in advance!

[Expensive hobby]

My opinion, get a nice looking BCI morph male. Still stay relatively small, easier to acquire, cost less and are just as fun to keep as far as I can tell...

Just my humble $.02


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Colombian B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 EBV Red Group Pastel Hypo Jungle B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 Hypo Colombian B.C.I 2011
0.1.0 Anery Colombian B.C.I 2010

[Evenstar]

I've been looking into adding a snake and have been thoroughly researching carpet pythons and ball pythons but I thought I'd look into all my options. I think the dwarf boas are pretty neat, like the crawl cay and cay caulker, but there aren't any in my area. I did happen to find a breeder with both Hog Island, Nicaraguan boas and Tarahumara Mountain boas, and I'd love to know a little more about them.


1) What's their general size? I've seen so many different responses I'm not quite sure anymore. I'd get a male no matter what. Those are all smaller localities of BCI. Usually male Hogs and Nics will max out around 5-6 ft. Tarahumaras are quite a bit smaller and are about 4 ft as adults.

2) How do their temperaments vary from one another? All 3 of these are a bit touchier temperamentally than Colombian BCIs. Hogs are not usually too bad at all, but Nics and Tarahumaras can be particularly nippy, especially as babies.

3) Which do you prefer working with, and why? I actually prefer Colombian BCI and BCO. Can't beat a Colombian as far as temperament and the mainland localities and some of the pattern morphs are just spectacular. And, well, BCO are just huge personalities.

I'm really not sure what to go with. I love the coloration of the Hog, but I'm a little worried about the size. Any other tips and advice would be wonderful. Thanks in advance! Why are you worried about the size of Hogs?? They fall into the range of all three you mentioned. And truthfully, temperament is much more important. A gentle large snake is much easier to manage than a smaller critter that wants to take your head off. LoL! Of course, neither Hogs, Nics, or Tarahumaras are that bad. Some of them are quite nice. But as a general rule, they tend to be more temperamental.

I have to agree with Expensive Hobby. My first boa was a Colombian BCI female. I've never, for even a moment, been sorry!! A nice Colombian male will max out around 7 ft, but they are really gentle snakes and very curious and outgoing. But no matter what you decide, you'll love having a boa! Once you get one, there's no going back.

[Expensive hobby]

I have to agree with Expensive Hobby. My first boa was a Colombian BCI female. I've never, for even a moment, been sorry!! A nice Colombian male will max out around 7 ft, but they are really gentle snakes and very curious and outgoing. But no matter what you decide, you'll love having a boa! Once you get one, there's no going back.

Man I feel smart having someone like Evenstar agree with me lol. Hopefully one day I will be one of those forum names everyone drops when it comes to knowledge on boas lol.


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Colombian B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 EBV Red Group Pastel Hypo Jungle B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 Hypo Colombian B.C.I 2011
0.1.0 Anery Colombian B.C.I 2010

[bubs]

I have to agree with Expensive Hobby. My first boa was a Colombian BCI female. I've never, for even a moment, been sorry!! A nice Colombian male will max out around 7 ft, but they are really gentle snakes and very curious and outgoing. But no matter what you decide, you'll love having a boa! Once you get one, there's no going back.

My opinion, get a nice looking BCI morph male. Still stay relatively small, easier to acquire, cost less and are just as fun to keep as far as I can tell...

As this is my first boa, I'm looking to stay small, but still have the boa temperament. I still live at home so having a 7ft snake just wouldn't fly. My parents aren't fans as it is, and that would definitely be pushing it. I'm sorta leaning towards the tarahumara, but the hog isn't completely out of the question yet! Just trying to find a little bit more on temperament.

[Trackstrong83]

I have a dumerils and she is awesome! They get about 7 feet, and at first I was really torn between her and a hog island. Hog islands are awesome animals, and have great tempers.
Though I have been tempted lately to get a sunglow BCI because they are just that awesome

[Evenstar]

As this is my first boa, I'm looking to stay small, but still have the boa temperament. I still live at home so having a 7ft snake just wouldn't fly. My parents aren't fans as it is, and that would definitely be pushing it. I'm sorta leaning towards the tarahumara, but the hog isn't completely out of the question yet! Just trying to find a little bit more on temperament.

There are a lot of Hogs that get bigger than the average. If you really need to stay small - like 5 ft or less - then stick with the Tarahumara. But to get a true TM, you need to go with a reputable breeder and TM breeders are few and far between. Start with Legacy Reptiles. Joel and Orlando Diaz are great people and they work with a lot of locality specific BCI.

But TMs are the only locality of BCI that will definitely stay small. Nics and Hogs tend to, but there are larger individuals out there.

Another option are Sand Boas. Keyans are pretty popular and easy to find and so are Rosy boas. Either of these species will stay around 3-4 ft and they have that true boa personality you're looking for.

[Daybreaker]

1) What's their general size? I've seen so many different responses I'm not quite sure anymore. I'd get a male no matter what.

2) How do their temperaments vary from one another?

3) Which do you prefer working with, and why?

I have no experience with the Taras or Nics, but here's my input on Hogs:

1) Hogs range from about 4-6' though I have seen females get up to ~7'. I recommend a male Hog just to be safe if size is a concern. Though Hogs are considered a dwarf boa some can still get the same size as Colombians.

2) Depends on the snake. My Hog can be a brat but she's calming down and is actually really good outside her tub. Here's a pic of her on one of those "temperamental" days (though even then she's still handable: she likes to bluff):



Most Hogs have wonderful personalities though. I'd start with a baby that you can grow with.

3) I love my Hog but also love my Colombians, BCL, and Argentines. I would recommend a Hog if that's what you're considering though: JimiSnakes and Chad Duggin work with pure Hogs and I fully recommend each as I've bought from them before. Rio Bravo also works with pure Hogs and though I haven't worked with him he's a trusted name on all things boa.

Here's Attika being less of a drama queen:

[bubs]

There are a lot of Hogs that get bigger than the average. If you really need to stay small - like 5 ft or less - then stick with the Tarahumara. But to get a true TM, you need to go with a reputable breeder and TM breeders are few and far between. Start with Legacy Reptiles. Joel and Orlando Diaz are great people and they work with a lot of locality specific BCI.

I've located a breeder in Montreal that breeds pure TM's but I'm still trying to learn a bit about their temperament. I love the small size but I want to make sure it still has the boa temperament.

I have no experience with the Taras or Nics, but here's my input on Hogs:

1) Hogs range from about 4-6' though I have seen females get up to ~7'. I recommend a male Hog just to be safe if size is a concern. Though Hogs are considered a dwarf boa some can still get the same size as Colombians.

2) Depends on the snake. My Hog can be a brat but she's calming down and is actually really good outside her tub. Here's a pic of her on one of those "temperamental" days (though even then she's still handable: she likes to bluff):



Most Hogs have wonderful personalities though. I'd start with a baby that you can grow with.

3) I love my Hog but also love my Colombians, BCL, and Argentines. I would recommend a Hog if that's what you're considering though: JimiSnakes and Chad Duggin work with pure Hogs and I fully recommend each as I've bought from them before. Rio Bravo also works with pure Hogs and though I haven't worked with him he's a trusted name on all things boa.

Here's Attika being less of a drama queen:

AHH she's gorgeous! These pictures make my decision even harder. I'd get a pure male for sure, I'm just not sure if I want a snake that could potentially get that large.

[Expensive hobby]

Just pretend that you are trying to get a green anaconda or a retic, and then when your snake only hits 7-8' you won't be overwhelmed lol.

I'm still trying to talk the Misses into letting me buy a yellow conda. One of those fresh ones from 2 nights ago.


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Colombian B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 EBV Red Group Pastel Hypo Jungle B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 Hypo Colombian B.C.I 2011
0.1.0 Anery Colombian B.C.I 2010