Good Beginner Boa -

I'm currently looking for a good starter Boa, I myself have a ball python.
I don't know if I should jump straight into Red Tail Boas, or is there any other type of Boas a bit smaller? A bit like the Hog Island Boa ... but a bit easier to find.

rosy boas and kenyan sand boas stay small, but i personaly dont like the looks

um....their are localalities (sp?) of the red tail boa, like a cay caulkers, but they might be a lil more expensive, but you could still find a good breeder online that isnt TOO expensive

If everything goes well I'm planning to go to Daytona for the big Reptile Show in August, just wanted to get some boa names so I can do research in advance.

Edit: What do you guys think about Viper Boas?

Also, I'm a bit confused is a Boa c. imperator a red tail boa?
I read that Boa c. imperator are a good beginner snake.

RioBravo will be there and he has some Hog's:
http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/

Good way to save on shipping!

These may help explain the differences:

http://www.boa-constrictors.com/com/com.html
http://www.redtailboas.com/morphs/morphs.html
http://www.nafcon.dircon.co.uk/boaconstrictor.htm

Sand boas and rosy boas are awesome as well!

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Originally Posted by Blink

What do you guys think about Viper Boas?

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Viper boas (Candoia) are really cool boas, but everyone that I have talked to that has kept them has said they are difficult. They are or can be very picky about eating and sometime refuse anything but lizards. They also can be very flighty and nippy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blink

Is a Boa c. imperator a red tail boa?
I read that Boa c. imperator are a good beginner snake.

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Boa C Imperator is referred to as a red tail boa in the pet trade, but it really is not. The true red tails are the Boa Constrictor Constrictor. If you were to ever see a BCC you will understand why the tails hold the red color a lot better than the BCIs. Most BCIs tails darken into a brown or a brownish red color as they age.
BCIs can be a good beginner snake, but they can get big. That means that some long term caging commitments need to be planned out early on. A 6x2 cage for a female or 4x2 cage for a male can take up a lot of floor space. If you do decide on going with a BCI please look at a rescue facility as an option for a snake instead of hitting a breeder or store. There are a lot of BCIs in rescue facilities and most times you can get one of them for even less than buying one.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stormyva

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blink

What do you guys think about Viper Boas?

---

Viper boas (Candoia) are really cool boas, but everyone that I have talked to that has kept them has said they are difficult. They are or can be very picky about eating and sometime refuse anything but lizards. They also can be very flighty and nippy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blink

Is a Boa c. imperator a red tail boa?
I read that Boa c. imperator are a good beginner snake.

---

Boa C Imperator is referred to as a red tail boa in the pet trade, but it really is not. The true red tails are the Boa Constrictor Constrictor. If you were to ever see a BCC you will understand why the tails hold the red color a lot better than the BCIs. Most BCIs tails darken into a brown or a brownish red color as they age.
BCIs can be a good beginner snake, but they can get big. That means that some long term caging commitments need to be planned out early on. A 6x2 cage for a female or 4x2 cage for a male can take up a lot of floor space. If you do decide on going with a BCI please look at a rescue facility as an option for a snake instead of hitting a breeder or store. There are a lot of BCIs in rescue facilities and most times you can get one of them for even less than buying one.

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I actually found a male BCI for adoption, I'm planning to go see him soon.

That's great!

im planning on calling the reptile rescue facilty in las cruces to see if they have any up for adoption, (thanks tigergenesis for that link you gave me) maybe a red tail,corn,or another ball. My mom is loosining up on the strict "one snake rule".

That's great! Wish I could have adopted some repitles. A lot of the rescues I find are out of my area and won't ship. Those in my area always have burms and other larger snakes.

Tigergenesis... what you are finding is pretty much the same across the country. It's real easy to place a corn or a king snake that is only 3' long. BPs are pretty easy to get rid of too. When it comes to BCI, retics, and burms it's a different story though. It's a LOT harder to place a snake with that kind of size potential. that is exactly the reason why I cringe when I go into a pet store and see racks full of baby burms and colombian boas. This is also the reason why I am hesitant to breed my Colombians..... on one hand I want to do it for the experience but on the other hand I dont want to throw another batch of snakes out that could very well end up a burden on the rescues, Sorry to get this thread off topic... but I had to vent a little :)x