Tarahumara question

[wafisherman]

I have an opportunity to pick up a free Tarahumara female. Age unknown. Good eater. Good temperment. Assumed to be full size at about 5ft.

For temporary housing (could be month or so) I'm looking at either a 40 gal breeder tank I already have that isn't being used, or a plastic tub.

I'm sure most would choose a tub and that is the way I'm leaning. Just wondering if the 40gal tank is even worth considering? I'd cover the top 3/4 to help with humidity.

If I go with a tub, what size would be OK? Should I go with length over height (4ft sweater type box) or about a 3ft long box that is taller to allow for some climbing?

Thanks!

[wafisherman]

I met her today. She's very impressive.

Pretty thick and 5+ feet. Estimated at 5yrs old. Very neet markings.

We handled her just fine and she isn't handled all that much (they tend to be intimidated by her size - mainly the husband). No snapping or anything. Just some hissing her and there - even while holding her.

They picked her up from CL a year or 2 ago and she wasn't in great shape. Some scars from who knows what and needed to put on some weight. Well, she looks plump and content now. They are giving her away if they find the right home. She's mine if I want her... I'm working out the details of where I'll put her...

[Skiploder]

I have an opportunity to pick up a free Tarahumara female. Age unknown. Good eater. Good temperment. Assumed to be full size at about 5ft.

For temporary housing (could be month or so) I'm looking at either a 40 gal breeder tank I already have that isn't being used, or a plastic tub.

I'm sure most would choose a tub and that is the way I'm leaning. Just wondering if the 40gal tank is even worth considering? I'd cover the top 3/4 to help with humidity.

If I go with a tub, what size would be OK? Should I go with length over height (4ft sweater type box) or about a 3ft long box that is taller to allow for some climbing?

Thanks!

I had a pair of Tarahumara locality boas. The male topped out at under 44" at 7 years of age.

As adults I kept them both in 41 qt tubs.

My pair did better at lower humidity.

5' is fairly large for a tarahumara spp. Do you mind telling me who produced the animal?

[wafisherman]

I don't know the origins. I'll be the 3rd (or more) owner.

Thanks for the info!

[Skiploder]

I don't know the origins. I'll be the 3rd (or more) owner.

Thanks for the info!

I've seen a few claimed tarahumara spp. that were something else (most notably sonorans). At 5' in length my uneducated guess is that it's a sonoran.

There aren't too many breeders producing true locality tarahumaras - so the more you can find on the lineage, the more you can narrow down what you may be buying.

[wafisherman]

Do you have some good pics I could reference? Is there a way to tell them apart?

I have a few pics, mainly of the head that I can post if that would help. I'm not buying it, so I"m not too concerned about it. Won't be breeding either. But it would be good to ID it if possible.

[wafisherman]

What do you think?

[Skiploder]

Do you have some good pics I could reference? Is there a way to tell them apart?

I have a few pics, mainly of the head that I can post if that would help. I'm not buying it, so I"m not too concerned about it. Won't be breeding either. But it would be good to ID it if possible.

Chad:

I can't tell from pics and I don't know if even a breeder could. Remember, they are a locality of a sonoran boa which in itself is a locality of a mexican imperator.

I sure there are saddle count methods, but I have no idea if they overlap with sonorans.

The only way to be sure is to know who produced the snake.

[wafisherman]

I was looking here and wonder if this helps at all:

http://www.cuttingedgeherp.com/boaco...erator&UID=119

"These beautifully marked Boas have a light, beige to white background color as juveniles with very distinct black body blotches and an exaggerated black Head spear. Youngsters may also show hints of pink in between the saddles and down their sides. As they mature their rust colored tails turn to an almost jet black and the overall background color darkens. They have a high dorsal saddle count from snout to vent of 26 – 29. The dark color is most likely an evolutionary response to create an easier way of absorbing more heat in its high elevation habitat"

What was striking about this snake when I met her was the jet black coloring mixed with hints of pink and orange (especially on the belly).

And the extented head spear is there as well.

Is this any help, or also typical of any Mexican locality boa?

[Skiploder]

I was looking here and wonder if this helps at all:

http://www.cuttingedgeherp.com/boaco...erator&UID=119

"These beautifully marked Boas have a light, beige to white background color as juveniles with very distinct black body blotches and an exaggerated black Head spear. Youngsters may also show hints of pink in between the saddles and down their sides. As they mature their rust colored tails turn to an almost jet black and the overall background color darkens. They have a high dorsal saddle count from snout to vent of 26 – 29. The dark color is most likely an evolutionary response to create an easier way of absorbing more heat in its high elevation habitat"


What was striking about this snake when I met her was the jet black coloring mixed with hints of pink and orange (especially on the belly).

And the extented head spear is there as well.

Is this any help, or also typical of any Mexican locality boa?

Sonoran boas exhibit similar colors. You could e-mail Russo a photo and see if he can ID it - but remember, the tarahumara is a locality of a sonoran. The fact that this one is fairly large may be indicative it's something else.