Peruvian Long Tail Boa

I'm kinda reluctant to buy a pair from the same breeder... 'cause it's likely they are closely related when sold. I'm super careful with my ball pythons to make sure breedings are from different or long distant lineages to minimize birth defects in the future. It kinda seems like a waste to spend extra money on a pair I would be reluctant to breed. (And I don't believe that crap that somehow magically snakes have a more robust genome. NO.)

Back when I got my normal female from lllreptile they had a much cleaner reputation and would be up front on which breeder they got her from. I was able to look at the breeder's website, etc. They aren't being as up front right now.

Going to show reputations change.

So what's best course of action? I don't want to buy a pair, but I do want to have a female. I kinda need a boa around to clean up the rats that get too big eventually because keeping a snake long term is cheaper than keeping rats.

Like I said, you're best bet is to post on the 2 reptile sale sites I listed and also on the 2 FB pages I listed and just wait. Like I mentioned also, you probably aren't going to find many babies now much less people shipping now as its winter and the holidays. When I look to add to my collection, I usually start looking for stuff around May. And i'm sure i'll probably have the same issue as you when/if I decided to start looking for a Iquitos or Pucallpa Peruvian BCC. But then again, as it will be close to my last snake to add for awhile, I am going to be very picky and want the perfect one......or I might save up and get a cow retic or pied tiger retic :D Retics are just awesome. Caesar is so interactive. he is out almost every night just to check out what i'm doing or to just come out and hang out on me lol.

From personal experience with longicauda, I am yet to have a female over 5.5ft. They grow slowly when fed correctly, and rarely get large. They are comparable, in my opinion, to the size of a female Nicaraguan, with the body shape more similar to a constrictor. Given that they belong in different genera (i.e. Nicaraguans are Boa imperator and longicauda are a subspecies of constrictor [i.e. Boa constrictor longicauda]) this is only to be expected. In regards to temperature and humidity, mine have always been comparable to the maintenance of my other boas. Ambient temp of 84oF, hotspot around 90oF, cool end in the mid to high 70s. Feeding was also comparable. So as neonates, feeding every 10 days, subadults stretched to every 14 days for females and 14 to 21 for males. Adults, = every 3 weeks for females and 3 to 4 weeks for males. My females attained adulthood around 5 years of age, and 5.5ft or so. The males were smaller, closer to 3.5 to 4.5ft. Humidity was simply ambient for the room, elevated slightly due to a water bowl in the ambient zone of the cage.

As far as breeders go, I recommend Vin Russo and Phil Goss. There was a guy in California called Steve Muys that also produced excellent longicauda. Note that Vin normally only sells in pairs. Also, remember that the blood lines for longicauda are minimal, therefore buying a pair from Vin, if you plan to breed, really does not impact the genetic integrity of the offspring you may produce.

Warren

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Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa

After reading through Vin Russo's section on BCL in The Complete Boa Constrictor, care seems very similar to most other boas, but he does mention keeping them a little dryer than his other species. I'm assuming 50-60% as it wasn't mentioned directly, but I'm sure they could be kept at the usual 70-80% with little troubles, especially if you don't plan on breeding.

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Not-fer-nothing,i think my favorite part of that chapter is the story of how longicauda got its name :rofl:

I found a source. ^_^ Thanks for all of the help. I kinda wanted them, too, since they are said to be more forgiving of a ball python, don't get too big and might be able to clean up my rat population in the future. Plus the color change is just awesome and the iridescence too.