Questions about Colombian Boa Constrictors

[nca1979]

Hello all....

Relatively new ball python owner here (going on 4 months now)...
He has settled in better than I could ever have imagined. Feeds very well, had a reasonably good shed, etc, etc....I plan on waiting a little longer to see how I do with him......

But a Colombian Boa Constrictor caught my eye in a local pet store the other day, a new arrival there. Absolutely stunning snake!!! The colors and eyes are awesome!!!

I'm figuring this snake would probably be for owners with a bit more experience, but I was just curious if anyone out there had any first hand experience with them....whats their mood like compared to balls? how long does it take for them to reach the 8 or 10 feet that the pet store says they will reach? Can you keep the boa in a 20G terrarium for a long time before it out grows it?

Any info would be great! Thanks!!

[ladywhipple02]

You'll actually find that quite a few people on here have boas... they'll breed balls and keep a boa or two on for pets.

I'm just the opposite I can't get enough boas!

First off, if the snake at the store is, indeed, a BCI (boa contrictor imperator... more commonly the Columbian boa) then they probably won't reach 8-10ft. Males will stay around 5-6 ft and females will get around 6-7ft. Sometimes they can get bigger, but it's the exception rather than the rule*

I find that boas are more curious than balls. They will roam their enclosure, always checking things out, and when you have them out for handling, they most likely won't sit still for very long. They're always on the move... "Hey, what's that over there?"

A 20 gallon... hmm. I don't use tanks, so I'm not sure how long a 20 gallon is. I use tubs for everyone, and cages for the big girls (though I don't have any yet!). An adult female is going to need an enclosure that's around four ft by two ft long... possible longer depending on how big she gets. Males can usually stay in three ft enclosures their whole lives. It'll take them two or three years before they get up to full adult length... but that'll also depend on the boa and your feeding schedule (I feed once a week for their first year, then usually move it back to one every two weeks... boas can become obese if you let them... if they're happy and healthy, they'll eat and eat and eat no matter what you put in front of them!)

Let me know if you have any more questions! I LOVE these guys!

*BCC, boa constrictor constrictor get bigger, but they are more typically from Suriname, Guyana, or Brazil. There are quite a few different localities, but the boas you see on the market are usually going to be Columbian BCI.

[joemophase]

hi im from mass. & if you realy looking for one i can get you one for free .i would take it but i cant get a tank for it .let me know.it is 5' long & needs love

[nca1979]

I appreciate that offer....

but if I do decide to get a boa, i really want to get him/her as a young'ling. Plus, since I've seen the one from the local pet store, thats the perfect image of a boa I have in my mind right now. The snake is incredible.

That is good info to know ladywhipple02....thanks for posting so soon!!!! yeah, i had a feeling this would happen, i would buy my first snake, and then just want more and more. i gotta go with a good variety, and these boas seem to be the next step in the collection, they are just way too cool....

i'll post pics if i end up getting him ASAP.....

[joemophase]

cool .the snake is a rescue.and the keeper needs the room for new inbound snake. it is under weight but he has fixed the ri & mite problem.if you think of any one who would like him\her let me know.

[JimiSnakes]

I couldn't agree more with the Lady. She's right on the money! With the exception of Columbian is actually Colombian! lol Columbia is the college, Colombia is the country.