Anyone near Milwaukee?

Hi all

I am considering buying a BCC or BCI, and am currently absorbed in the research. I was hoping that there were some breeders nearby in Milwaukee or SE WI that I could visit to see and maybe even handle some large snakes - I want to know what I'm getting into before buying one.

I have done lots of research already, but I am getting a LOT of contradictory information on size differences between BCC and BCI - nearly every site says something different. Reading about them is fine, but I am hoping to see adults instead of the juvies that populate shows.

I appreciate any help!

Hi, I don't live near Milwaukee, but I would like to recommend The Complete Boa Constrictor by Vin Russo. It is an excellent book, and has very detailed info on all BCIs and BCCs.

Hi, I'm not a breeder but I live in Greenfield. Some excellent resources would be Garys pet jungle or just a locale library. HOffers is also a good place to get some info.

Thanks, guys. I'm not really looking for boa care info since sites like riobravo and this one have it pretty much covered. I'm just looking for someone who has some large snakes that they wouldn't mind showing off. I've been to Hoffer's and was very unimpressed - their cages were dirty, they had unsupervised mice running around in some of the ball pythons cages, and the staff were mostly concerned with making a buck rather than actually giving people good reliable info. I want to see, in person, a large boa and get a feel for what I am getting into. All I have for comparison are ball pythons...not much comparison.

Anyways, I have now decided that I want a surinam, and I'm pretty positive that of the few breeders of those in the country, they aren't in my neck of the woods. :) Now, if I could only get a hold of them...

If you don't mind driving to Madison, Richard Allen has a store called Reptile Rapture on the east side... he's got a couple adult boas at his store and a few younger snakes for sale. Here's his site:

www.reptilerapture.net

PS. I got my first boa today! So excited :D