Smaller sized boas?

Hm. So I hear so much about boas and how people love them. I adore the RTBs in Pet Supermarket whenever I go there, but I know they get way too big for me. I don't need and don't want something that can eat rabbits that are bigger than my dogs. :rolleyes:

So here's a question that should benefit me and anyone who sees this thread. What are some smaller boa species? I know of the following:

Kenyan Sand Boas - 1ft for males, 2-3ft for females
Rosy Boas - 1-2ft for males, 2-3ft for females
Rubber Boas - About the same as Rosy/Sands (can't find much about these guys)
Hog Island Boas - about 5ft max, amirite?
Hog Island x BCI hybrid - about a foot or two more?

There are quite a few "dwarf" boas out there, although they are more rare than "non-dwarf" boas. Most dwarf boas stay under five feet, and not nearly as thick as Colombian (common) boas. Here is a list of some of them: Nicaraguan (Nic) boas, Panamanian boas, Tamaulipas boas, Tarahumara Mountain boas, Sonora Desert boas, Costa Rican boas, Corn Island boas, Sabogae "Pearl Islands" boas, Honduran Fire Belly boas, Caulkers Cay boas, Crawl Cay boas, Hog Island boas, Blood boas, and Leopard boas.

If you want a nice calm boa that stays small and has pretty simple husbandry requirements, then I would go with the rosy. They are really awesome animals. I have never met one that wasn't as friendly as can be. And they have the different localities and morphs.

I'm actually looking for some rubber boas but they are near impossible to get ahold of. And the ones I do find usually haven't eaten yet, look like threads and are still $100 :( If I ever do get my hands on a pair, I'll be breeding those suckers lol

My friend has a few nicaraguan boas that stay around 6ft also.

Rosies, sands, and rubber boas (rubbers are native here! :D ) are on the list to get, but are just soooo small unless they're adult females. The first two are also impossibly expensive for their small size and productive breeding, though I'm sure they're worth it.

Nics are catching my attention, but I can't find any information on how to care for them! And I refuse to use care sheets for other animals for them. JUST because a snake is a boa doesn't mean you can use any ol' boa sheet like my forums I've found via Google say. They also seem a bit hard to find, but nothing lurking on Fauna can't fix.

Dumerils are also on my mind, but I can't remember why...

The Sonoran and other Mexican strains are supposed to be smaller. I've sometimes heard them referred to as "dwarfs". But I don't know what's the most reliable source for them--pure "Sonorans" are supposedly unusual, and when I did some research, I read that most snakes advertised as such have been mixed with Columbian or Central American boas?

But I think I saw TSK selling some a few years ago.

Have you considered rainbow boas?

If I remember correctly, I read that they're feisty, and I'm unsure if I want an arboreal species. Unless I got that wrong too. :rolleyes:

I'll look up Sonoran and Mexican boas, but I'm unsure about them as well, if they're hybrids or it's hard to get a pure one. Same thing with the Nics. :(


EDIT: Okay, Mexican/Central American boas are still a bit too big, but Sonorans are looking good... "Two of my oldest specimens are 13 years old, the males only 4 foot in length and the female 5.5 feet" from here.


Lemme look up rainbows as well. Those have always look good to me.

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Originally Posted by Shenzi Sixaxis

If I remember correctly, I read that they're feisty, and I'm unsure if I want an arboreal species. Unless I got that wrong too. :rolleyes:

I'll look up Sonoran and Mexican boas, but I'm unsure about them as well, if they're hybrids or it's hard to get a pure one. Same thing with the Nics. :(


EDIT: Okay, Mexican/Central American boas are still a bit too big, but Sonorans are looking good... "Two of my oldest specimens are 13 years old, the males only 4 foot in length and the female 5.5 feet" from here.


Lemme look up rainbows as well. Those have always look good to me.

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If you want a pure bred, or non-hybridized boa, then I would suggest Vin Russo or Gus Rentfro. Their websites contain alot of info on the various locality and dwarf boas. You have to contact them via e-mail or phone to check availability and prices.

Vin Russo:
http://www.cuttingedgeherp.com/contactinformation/

Gus Rentfro:
http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/

From what I read, the Tarahumara is the smallest of the BCI's, with the Sonorans just a little bigger...

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If you want a pure bred, or non-hybridized boa, then I would suggest Vin Russo or Gus Rentfro. Their websites contain alot of info on the various locality and dwarf boas. You have to contact them via e-mail or phone to check availability and prices.

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I don't know Gus (though I'm sure he's a great guy) but I've bought from Vin Russo before as has my friend and he's awesome! Our snakes are just gorgeous, healthy animals and he really knows his stuff when it comes to boas!

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

If you want a pure bred, or non-hybridized boa, then I would suggest Vin Russo or Gus Rentfro. Their websites contain alot of info on the various locality and dwarf boas. You have to contact them via e-mail or phone to check availability and prices.

Vin Russo:
http://www.cuttingedgeherp.com/contactinformation/

Gus Rentfro:
http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/

From what I read, the Tarahumara is the smallest of the BCI's, with the Sonorans just a little bigger...

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Bookmarking those. Thanks!

And looking at the bottom of the first link made me stop and think, "You know... books are helpful." So I'm gonna try getting a few books later today if my mom feels like it (colonoscopy in just a few hours XD), since she's been reading a lot lately and got a gift card for her birthday. :D

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Originally Posted by Shenzi Sixaxis

Bookmarking those. Thanks!

And looking at the bottom of the first link made me stop and think, "You know... books are helpful." So I'm gonna try getting a few books later today if my mom feels like it (colonoscopy in just a few hours XD), since she's been reading a lot lately and got a gift card for her birthday. :D

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The best boa book out there: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Boa-C...5153237&sr=8-1.

I've been looking at Tarahumaras as well. I really like them a lot, and as for care, I'm pretty sure it's the same care requirements as a regular BCC or BCI considering they're just different localities of the same two subspecies. The only major difference is the enclosure size.

Then again, I could be wrong. I haven't found very much info on Tarahumaras specifically.

They are gorgeous lil animals, though.
http://www.boa-constrictors.com/Bild...umaraBaby1.jpg

Oh jeeze, another expensive book! :laugh: That's going on a Christmas list as well.

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Originally Posted by SpartaDog

I've been looking at Tarahumaras as well. I really like them a lot, and as for care, I'm pretty sure it's the same care requirements as a regular BCC or BCI considering they're just different localities of the same two subspecies. The only major difference is the enclosure size.

Then again, I could be wrong. I haven't found very much info on Tarahumaras specifically.

They are gorgeous lil animals, though.
http://www.boa-constrictors.com/Bild...umaraBaby1.jpg

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Definitely agreed. Now if only many people sold them. xD

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Originally Posted by Shenzi Sixaxis

Oh jeeze, another expensive book! :laugh: That's going on a Christmas list as well.

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Yea it is expensive, but well worth it. It is very extensive, and has excellent info.

I can recommend South Brazilian Boa Constrictor Amarali (BCA). I got mine from Barry Miller and he's pretty much fully grown at 5 feet and much smaller girth than my BP. Looks like a miniature BCC and temperment is great also.
A little pricier than a BCI and requires careful feeding to avoid regurge.
http://www.millerreptiles.com/Southb...ns/Sobraz.html

here's mine at a couple of years old.
http://i.ugtz.com/albums/Snakes/IMG_1125.sized.jpg

Candoia Boas of the South Pacific stay small. As far as BCI's go, Tahamaras AND Cay Caulkers are the smallest. The male Caulkers stay especially small and slender, with good muscle tone. I can attest that they make great pets. The Brazilian Amaralis (BCA) may be reasonably short, but they are thick (and some say nippy)!

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Originally Posted by brian abrams

Candoia Boas of the South Pacific stay small. As far as BCI's go, Tahamaras AND Cay Caulkers are the smallest. The male Caulkers stay especially small and slender, with good muscle tone. I can attest that they make great pets. The Brazilian Amaralis (BCA) may be reasonably short, but they are thick (and some say nippy)!

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candoia are very cool, but good luck finding a cb.There out there but very few.

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Originally Posted by fishmommy

I can recommend South Brazilian Boa Constrictor Amarali (BCA). I got mine from Barry Miller and he's pretty much fully grown at 5 feet and much smaller girth than my BP. Looks like a miniature BCC and temperment is great also.
A little pricier than a BCI and requires careful feeding to avoid regurge.
http://www.millerreptiles.com/Southb...ns/Sobraz.html

here's mine at a couple of years old.
http://i.ugtz.com/albums/Snakes/IMG_1125.sized.jpg

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wow he is awsome, i want one where did you get him.

Dumerils?