Pictures of full grown male boas

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Billy29

Yeah I'm looking. The Surinams are the prettiest to me but the males do get kind of big. I'm trying to stay in the 6 foot range full grown. I still haven't ruled out the rainbow boa either.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

The difference between 6 and 7 feet is not much. A male Pokigron Suriname would be just fine for you. Most recommend feeding them mice through the first year to avoid any regurgitation issues.

If you go to the Cutting Edge Herp website, you can read up on locality BCs. Vin Russo explain size pretty well, and there are some options there to check out. Belem, Brazil BCC is another "true red tail" to look at.

Thanks, you have been so much help.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As a side note it is always funny how what we think of as "big" changes with how long we are in the reptile world, or what species you work with. When I was a kid I thought a full grown corn snake was large. Then when I started breeding, a full grown female BCI felt huge. Now anything less of a 10 foot burm feels small. Point is, if you are dedicated to working with these animals, and want to interact with them, you will get used to it. If fed appropriately, even suriname red tail females will grow much slower than what you think. They aren't like retics, burms or any giant species. Essentially they grow along with your increased abilities to handle them.

I'm inquiring about a pokigron Surinam as we speak. I know it's all relative. I am comfortable with having a chunky female ball python around and a male boa just might not be that much bigger of a snake and just a little longer.

Just don't want a 30 to 50 lb slug that is eying my dog and cat lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I understand your hesitation. And it's smart to consider all aspects of owning a large reptile. keep in mind that the Internet tends to consolidate polarized examples of most things. For every picture of an over fed female bcc that looks like a giant, there are 10,000 healthy sized and properly grown snakes. My breeder BCI males spend the vast majority of their life in a 41 qt sterilite tub. That's not very big at all.

Yeah I think I'm being paranoid of it getting too big.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well its normal to be a little hesitant, and its always good to do your research and make sure that you are ready for a boa. But honestly, yes you are being paranoid, but a lot of people are with their first large reptile. I think you will be shocked at how 'slow' these guys actually grow. With so much media hype about burmese pythons in the everglades, and the Lacey act, it definitely can be a bit overwhelming before you get the snake. Make sure to purchase your animal from a knowledgable and reputable breeder who stands behind their animals, both temperament and health wise. Research enclosure types and get the best possible for your budget. There are many different options, depending on how much you want to spend. You do not have to spend a ridiculous amount of money to provide a proper enclosure.

With regards to your dogs safety, I think that the boa will be vastly more afraid of the dogs, than the other way around. Just be smart, and make sure to be vigilant if the snake is out of the enclosure while the dogs are in the room. I have two labs that sit and watch my boas while they are out.

Boas make wonderful pets when cared for properly. If fed and handled consistently they have the potential to be incredibly tame, with generally gentle dispositions. Of course there are the bad apples that have issues with aggression, but 'most of the time' that is the result of improper handling and husbandry at a young age. Pick a boa and enjoy the process of watching him grow. Guaranteed you won't regret it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JoshSloane

As a side note it is always funny how what we think of as "big" changes with how long we are in the reptile world, or what species you work with. When I was a kid I thought a full grown corn snake was large. Then when I started breeding, a full grown female BCI felt huge. Now anything less of a 10 foot burm feels small. Point is, if you are dedicated to working with these animals, and want to interact with them, you will get used to it. If fed appropriately, even suriname red tail females will grow much slower than what you think. They aren't like retics, burms or any giant species. Essentially they grow along with your increased abilities to handle them.

---

Right on Josh!

I think if I could do everything all over again, I'd have gone with a female version of what I have now or a Peruvian BCC, and then do the same coastal carpet and probably a male dwarf retic or a female SD.

I started off thinking 6 feet was HUGE, now I'm hoping my coastal breaks 10 feet and my boa hits 7.

If I could place my son's royal and get a Suri female or a SD retic, I'd do it but he is not going to dump his royal.

Billy I'm almost in the same boat you are, so thank you for making this thread and thank everyone else for providing so much great insight.

I mean I'm only just about to get my first BP, and afterward maybe I'll get a corn snake, but I've always been fascinated by how beautiful the boas are, so much so that I've contemplated getting one in a few years once I have gained enough experience. The size of BCC's has always intimidated me though, and I've been apprehensive about eventually getting a true BCC to the point of maybe considering only a BCI male. However this thread is really informative and made me feel better about them overall, so hopefully in a few years I too can appreciate the wonders that are boas. They are truly beautiful snakes and I've heard they have much more developed personalities than BPs. I hope one day I can have one of my own!

Don't think you are settling with the BP, mine is awesome and you can't beat some of the color morphs. They also can be quite impressive because they are a thicker bodied snake. My ball python is the friendliest snake I ever had and he is very inquisitive when I take him out. I consider him the perfect pet snake.

The more I read the more I'm thinking of getting the Pokigron Surinam or the North Brazilian. North Brazilian stays smaller but I'm thinking the Surinam with normal feeding won't be a monster. We will see, I'm getting a male either way.

Tomorrow I'm building a 32 quart five tub rack. I can get melamine boards that are the perfect size and can build this rack for under 75 dollars. So that means a couple more ball pythons and a baby boa. Once the boa grows out of the tub I will buy a proper cage for him.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk