Boas???

Ok I have a couple balls already. But I would like to get into a bigger snake. I feel like theres alot of boas out there, and I am just not sure what to be reading on. I will not be jumping right into this, I just want some direction to research.

I kind of know what I am looking for. If boas are the same as balls with the size difference between sexes, then I am looking for a male, cause I dont want the largest boa possible, just something to step up to.

Also what are the major differences between columbian red tail, etc etc besides geographical location? Is it sizes, colors, prices???

Just an FYI, I am not referring to sand boas, tree boas, or BRB/CRB.

Thank you for any help.

A dumeril's boa might be something for you to consider in that case, (I don't have one but have lately been checking boa's out myself), they "can" grow to about 8.5 feet but as far as I know that's not common I've heard that they usually grow to around/near to 6 feet, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boa_dumerili (there's a page on them for you).

There are many types of boas out there. Some are larger than others. There are dwarf boas, which are located at the top of their range; Colombian boas, which are located in the middle of their range; and BCCs which are located at the bottom of their range. They generally get larger the further South they are located. If you want something manageable, you should look into either dwarf boas or a male Colombian. There is a pretty large price range for morphs, but normals of all types are pretty low. For research, you can’t beat: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Boa-C...0188689&sr=8-1. It is pretty expensive, but exhaustive.

Like the above poster said, I'd start with a northern locality. I've heard Nicaraguan and Hogg Islands are pretty popular, but I think Tarahumara Mountain boas are the smallest. Gorgeous animals but kind of difficult to find.

As for the size difference (assuming we're talking about the more Southern localities), I've heard males grow to about 8 ft and females to 9. I think the record is somewhere around 12 ft, but I think she was powerfed too.

Seeing as I haven't had a boa yet myself, I wouldn't quote me on any of that, but I've been researching for a few months now.

If I had to choose boas which i have dealt with many kinds i would go hands down a HOG ISLAND BOA (HOGG ILSE BOA). My hog has beautiful oranges and is super light and has the best appetite out of all my snakes has never refused a meal, and is also probably my most tame snake I have as well. I have had Normal RTBs and love them as well and I plan on expanding my RTB collection but if I had to choose just one boa the HOG takes my pick. They dont get to big have great appetites and the right amount of handling are sweet hearts.

The other posts have summed it up nicely, the differences between the locality names (say Columbian vs. Nicaraguan) is generally just the locality, but you'll also get little differences in the phenotypes (the "look") that can help you identify, and in the example I used, size sometimes (Nicaraguans tend to stay smaller than Columbians). They are still the same species (BCI - boa constructor imperator).

When you start to look at boas you need to know that they tend to be a lot more active than balls and that can be taken as them being more bitey, which is hardly ever true. People say that Nicaraguan boas are pretty snappy boas, but I have a baby Nicaraguan and she has never so much as hissed at me. I've even handled other nics that were puppy tame.

Okay, I'm starting to rant lol. Just don't be deterred by the activity level, boas are great and they have so many different localities that you can choose from for their little quirks that you're bound to find a snake you'll love.

Yup, there are smaller ones, as mentioned..

Remember that there is a HUGE personality difference between boas and balls.. Which is why most keepers usually focus on one or the other..

I have mostly bps.. but i do have a few BCI .. They are great, but are SOOooo curious.. my husband is NOT a fan of the boas.. They make him nervous, because whenever you walk into the room, they sit up and look at you.. lol

Oh no, I am aware of the different personalities. As for the locality of these boas, what causes the size difference?

I have come to the conclusion that I want a male due to the size difference, but I would say I am looking for something around the 6-7ft range. Anything yall could recommend?

thank you

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CINCYBall

Oh no, I am aware of the different personalities. As for the locality of these boas, what causes the size difference?

I have come to the conclusion that I want a male due to the size difference, but I would say I am looking for something around the 6-7ft range. Anything yall could recommend?

thank you

---

that's a good question, I don't know what causes the size difference for sure, but I'd guess it would have to do with camouflage being easier for smaller snakes in the northern regions where most of the dwarfs come from.

Around the 6-7 ft mark you could go for a male Columbia, as you said, or you could go for a female Nicaraguan or Hogg Island boa (or any of the other Central American boas) as they are some of the "dwarf" boas. The females rarely if ever exceed 7 feet. They also tend to have a bit of a lighter build than the Columbian boas, less chunk.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alexandra V

that's a good question, I don't know what causes the size difference for sure, but I'd guess it would have to do with camouflage being easier for smaller snakes in the northern regions where most of the dwarfs come from.

Around the 6-7 ft mark you could go for a male Columbia, as you said, or you could go for a female Nicaraguan or Hogg Island boa (or any of the other Central American boas) as they are some of the "dwarf" boas. The females rarely if ever exceed 7 feet. They also tend to have a bit of a lighter build than the Columbian boas, less chunk.

---

So im looking at male columbians, nicaraguan, or hogg island boas?

Also, what are the differences between BCI and BCC?

And one more and I am done.

I've been searching around, wether it be on the internet or youtube, about IBD. This is quite a frightening illness for snakes. How does this happen?

I read somewhere that it is passed from a mite from an infected snake. I saw videos on youtube where boas and balls are affected, but mainly boas for some reason. And that balls are affected more quickly, while boas can carry it for much longer, but still end up passing away from it. How can i prevent this? Cause to be quite frank, this has made me a little uneasy about getting one.

I plan to eventually keep all my snakes on the same free standing steel shelf that I got from Lowes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CINCYBall

So im looking at male columbians, nicaraguan, or hogg island boas?

Also, what are the differences between BCI and BCC?

And one more and I am done.

I've been searching around, wether it be on the internet or youtube, about IBD. This is quite a frightening illness for snakes. How does this happen?

I read somewhere that it is passed from a mite from an infected snake. I saw videos on youtube where boas and balls are affected, but mainly boas for some reason. And that balls are affected more quickly, while boas can carry it for much longer, but still end up passing away from it. How can i prevent this? Cause to be quite frank, this has made me a little uneasy about getting one.

I plan to eventually keep all my snakes on the same free standing steel shelf that I got from Lowes.

---

if you want to stay within the 6 - 7 foot range, yes. BCI and BCC are two different species, but Im by no means an expert on BCC. The easiest way to tell them apart visually is by the dorsal saddles, which are a different shape, but BCC are much less common than BCIs.

As for IBD, what you learned is true, the disease can be passed on between boas and pythons via bodily fluids/matter (mites that go between snakes, or contact with excrement from the infected snake, recycled feeders that have already been struck at, etc.)
There's no real way of preventing it from getting worse. Unfortunately if a snake has it there is no cure. You can just prevent it from spreading to the rest of your collection by following good hygeine procedures and quarantining any new snakes for a minimum of 3 months so you can watch for symptoms.

Boas tend to be able to carry the disease asymptomatically for quite some time, but usually an animal will become symptomatic within a few months. IBD is something you risk when bringing any new snake of any species into a collection. You hear about it a lot, but for all the hype it isnt as common as you might think. To minimize your chances of getting an infected animal all you can do is get it from a good place who you know follows proper quarantine and hygeine procedures, and make sure to follow them yourself. There isnt much else we can do at this point in time, but maybe some day we will know more about the disease and prevention/treatment.

After you feel satisfied with your quarantine, you can go ahead and put them in the same rack if you feel comfirtable doing so. The way I like to think about IBD is "if you hear hooves in the parking lot, it doesnt mean you'll see zebras". Yes, it can happen, but it doesnt necessarily happen all the time.

Thank you very much for all the help

Red Tail Boas are classified as follows:

Boa Constrictor Constrictor (BCC)- These are the "true red tails." These are generally the largest in size and maintain their red tails into adulthood. They come from:
Peru
Brazil
Venezuela
Suriname
Guyana

Boa Constrictor Imperator (BCI)- This is the largest group of boa constrictors. They include the boas from Central America:
Colombia
Panama
Costa Rica
Nicaraqua
Mexico: Tamaulipas, Tarahumara
and the insular islands:
Hogg Island
Caulker Cay
Crawl Cay
Corn Island

Boa Constrictor Amarali (BCA)- Bolivian boa constrictors

Boa Constrictor Longicauda (BCL)- These come from the Tumbes region of Peru. They are also known as the Peruvian Long-tail Boa, as they have a higher scale count from their vent to tail tip, than the Peruvian BCC.

Boa Constrictor Occidentalis (BCO)- Argentine boa constrictors.

Boa Constrictor Sabogae (BCS)- Pearl Island boa constrictors.

As well as, some of the lesser known sub-species:

Boa Constrictor Nebulosa- Dominican Republic, Lesser Antilles
Boa Constrictor Orophias- St. Lucia
Boa Constrictor Melanogaster- Ecuador Black Belly

It is best to research each of these, as they have different sizes, colorings, and growth rates. Here are a few websites to help you get started, where the different sub-species of Boa Constrictor are discussed and described:

http://www.boa-constrictors.com/com/com.html

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

http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/index.htm

Physical Differences:

-Saddle Shape: Generally the BCI saddles will have a rounder apearance, looking something like this: ( ) ( ) ( ), whereas the BCC saddles generally have an apex in the saddles, much like this: { } { } { }. While this is a good marker, it is not always reliable.

-Head Shape: The head shape between BCC and BCI may be hard to detect in neonates, but from about 1 year in age, the differences become more apparent. The BCC generally have less pronounced jaw muscles, giving the head a more slender, longer, or uniformly tapered appearance, with a more pointed shaped nose. Also, the size of the head will appear larger in relation to the size of the body in the neck area. The BCI generally has more pronounced jaw muscles and a more blunt or broader looking nose, giving the head a shorter appearance. Also the BCI head will appear smaller in relation to the size of the body in the neck area.

-Scale Count: Scale count is another indicator of Boa type, however, since alot of the numbers overlap, it should not be relied on solely. Scale count + Head shape is the most accurate method of determining the type of Boa that you have. If you are looking for a specific locale of BCC or BCI, the easiest way to ensure that you are getting what you want is to buy from a reputable breeder who will guarantee the genetics.
Here is a chart that was posted on another forum with some basic scale and saddle counts. I left the authors name in the post so that he can recieve credit:

Quote:

---

Here are the scale counts for you.

BCC
scale counts - 75 to 95 dorsal rows.
227 to 250 ventrals.
49 to 62 subcaudals.
Average 15 to 21 saddles.

BCI
scale counts - 56 to 79 dorsal rows.
225 to 253 ventrals.
47 to 65 subcaudals.
Average 22 to 30 saddles.

BCA ( Amaral Boa)
scale counts - 71 to 79 dorsal rows.
226 to 237 ventrals.
43 to 52 subcaudals.
Average 22 saddles.

BCL (Longicauada)
scale counts - 60 to 76 dorsal rows.
243 to 247 ventrals.
50 to 67 subcaudals.
Average 19 to 21 saddles.

BCO (Occidentalis)
scale counts - 65 to 87 dorsal rows.
242 to 251 ventrals.
45 subcaudals.
Average 22 to 30 saddles.


Take care
Tom

---

For those who are doing research or looking for care info, the following links are to the different sections of "The Ultimate Boa Constrictor Care Guide" by Clay English:

http://www.redtailboas.com/f110/part...ew-line-40589/
http://www.redtailboas.com/f110/part...-online-40590/
http://www.redtailboas.com/f110/part...-online-40591/
http://www.redtailboas.com/f110/emer...-online-40594/
http://www.redtailboas.com/f110/feed...ew-line-40593/
http://www.redtailboas.com/f110/inst...-online-40592/

You can also download the entire guide in PDF format free by going to this link and registering:

http://www.redtailboas.com/f110/down...ion-3-a-31312/

Also, here is a fairly in-depth article by Gus Rentfro, Rio Bravo Reptiles, on Boa Constrictor care:

http://www.redtailboa.net/forums/sna...tail-boas.html

Hopefully, all of these links and info will help those doing research, or the keeper who is just looking for some additional resources and info...

-Vypyrz-

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CINCYBall

So im looking at male columbians, nicaraguan, or hogg island boas?

Also, what are the differences between BCI and BCC?

And one more and I am done.

I've been searching around, wether it be on the internet or youtube, about IBD. This is quite a frightening illness for snakes. How does this happen?

I read somewhere that it is passed from a mite from an infected snake. I saw videos on youtube where boas and balls are affected, but mainly boas for some reason. And that balls are affected more quickly, while boas can carry it for much longer, but still end up passing away from it. How can i prevent this? Cause to be quite frank, this has made me a little uneasy about getting one.

I plan to eventually keep all my snakes on the same free standing steel shelf that I got from Lowes.

---

There is a pretty big difference between BCC and BCI. BCC is, from what I have read, a little harder to care for. You have to be very careful not to overfeed them. They are not as forgiving as BCI. Also, they grow quite a bit larger than BCIs. BCIs has a very long range all the way from Mexico to Colombia. If I were you, I would go with a male Colombian. They would most certianly be in your range, and they are great boas. Most are very docile, and easy to handle. I personally love the morphs. My favorite base morph is the salmon.

Concerning the IBD. You should only buy from a reputable breeder to decrease your chances of getting a boa with IBD. I personally keep my boas in pythons in the same room. If my boas were to have IBD, all of my pythons would be dead. Therefore, I know for certain that none of my boas are IBD carriers. I also do not add stock very often.

Here is a pic of my adult salmon:

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/000_0024.jpg

And a pic of one of his offspring, a sunglow:

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/IMG_1207.jpg