Question on Boas

So i had Ball pythons before and what not and they're awesome and all even though they hardly seem active haha. I got my own place now and was thinking of starting over and was thinking of getting back into snakes and i had to get rid of my balls because of my parents -_- but I'm debating between balls or boa. I think I'm leaning more towards a boa though but my question is, what type of boas fall under the category for BCI or whatever. I ask because if i get a boa, I don't want a monster that's like 9ft plus. I was reading that that there's a size difference between a true red tail boa and a columbian red tail or whatever and I honestly don't know too much about all the boa sub-species or morphs and their sizes, I will say even though they're a little pricey for me right now, the sunglow morph is pretty dam amazing, i also love the anery just because its black, grey and white. Anyways figured i'd ask you guys, thanks in advance!

BOAS!!! Just get some custom stackable enclosures made and u will be straight!! Granted, racks take up less floor space, but I feel like I wish I started with boas. They have great personalities, and not everyone and their mommas own certain localities or even some species!!!

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BCC boas are the "true red tails" such as Peruvians, Guyanas, Surinames, etc

BCI boas are Colombians, Central American types, Hog Islands, and other Mexican and dwarf boas, etc

BCCs will get larger than the BCIs, though some Colombian females can get up there in size.

You also have BCA, BCOs, and BCLs but I recommend a BCI for a boa beginner.

I would look into a Colombian male, as males usually get smaller than the girls and I don't think I've seen a male BCI in the 9' range personally. My male jungle is about 6' right now and manageable. You've probably seen anery and sunglow Colombians though Central Americans can come in those morphs too.

Male Colombians will need at least a 4' long cage, with females and extra big males needing a 6'

Rio Bravo has wonderful info on all things boa: http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/index.htm

I have to say my BCL is a breeze to care for now that I am more confident. Information is sparse but Eventstar pointed me in the right direction.

Size bonus male and female average out at 7 feet as an adult.
Personal plus, they darken with age, I love snakes that change through their life cycle.
Care bonus, these beauties thrive at lower temps so are gentler on your electricity bill.

Other options would be Dumeril's, Rosy, Madagascar Ground Boa(male unless 8 feet and a possible 10 is okay with you), New Guinea/Fiji and related boas, Haitian Ground Boa's stay very small (usually under 3 feet and there is an older gentleman in Florida breeding these. I've been into the barley sandwiches after a very hot day at work so his name escapes me at the moment), and likely quite a few others I am forgetting along with the smaller locality BCI's.

Thank you all for the information so far. :) There's an expo either this saturday or the next one, i might have to take a look at some boas while im there.

Daybreaker hit the nail on the head, so all I will say is, GET A BOA!!!

LoL.... You won't be sorry! But as I just told someone else here, be warned - boas are addictive and bet you can't have just one! :gj:

My first constrictor was a normal ball python, I quickly purchased a female Colombian BCI, then a EBV RG hypo pastel male, and just recently an Anery female BCI and a hypo male BCI.

So no you can have just one.


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Colombian B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 EBV Red Group Pastel Hypo Jungle B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 Hypo Colombian B.C.I 2011
0.1.0 Anery Colombian B.C.I 2010

go with a boa! i've recently sold my entire ball collection so I could re-start my boa addiction. Also if size is an issue everyone is right get a bci! however we can narrow it down even further get a central american bci or some of the island locality bci's. most people consider them to be a dwarf boa and most dont get over 7 feet. I love a good central american!

Take a look at hog island boas-- they are an island locality of the central american boas everyone mentioned. They don't get much larger than a BP (4-6') but have all the personality of a boa :).

Also, I hear dumerils boas are also great, but you might want to get a male.

i was actually looking at hog islands. They dont seem too bad at all

I love boas! I went with a dumerils boa because I love how they look and they get big but not huge

I say go both ways; get boas and balls. :-)

In terms of not being able to have just one and being addictive- I don't have 1 YET but my wish list when I do jump to boas is already 3-4 snakes deep. Just sayin'. :-)

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

But as I just told someone else here, be warned - boas are addictive and bet you can't have just one! :gj:

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Ya you just told me that yesterday lol!!:D:D

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Originally Posted by Ronin

Ya you just told me that yesterday lol!!:D:D

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That was you?!? Aaarrrggghhh!! :rofl:

You get crawl Cray (sp?) they're like mini boas lol don't think they grow more than 4ft. I've got a BCI and she's 4.5 ft at 2 y/o so could be a big girl lol

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Ok so i'm curious, as I have been trying to browse around kingsnake classifieds and fauna just for an idea on pricing. What are some lower end morphs that arn't too expensive for some of these different kinds of boas?

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Originally Posted by nok1888

You get crawl Cray (sp?) they're like mini boas lol don't think they grow more than 4ft. I've got a BCI and she's 4.5 ft at 2 y/o so could be a big girl lol

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Same boat, I've got a 2yo male at 4.5ft and a female that's 3yo and already 7ft. I'm gonna have my hands full lol


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Colombian B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 EBV Red Group Pastel Hypo Jungle B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 Hypo Colombian B.C.I 2011
0.1.0 Anery Colombian B.C.I 2010

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Originally Posted by Knytemare

Ok so i'm curious, as I have been trying to browse around kingsnake classifieds and fauna just for an idea on pricing. What are some lower end morphs that arn't too expensive for some of these different kinds of boas?

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as for a low end morph youre looking at hypos being about the cheapest at $80-$100. then anerys in the $125-$175 range then a combo of the 2 which is a ghost and the start at about $250ish on average.

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Originally Posted by Knytemare

Ok so i'm curious, as I have been trying to browse around kingsnake classifieds and fauna just for an idea on pricing. What are some lower end morphs that arn't too expensive for some of these different kinds of boas?

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Originally Posted by H.o.F.R

as for a low end morph youre looking at hypos being about the cheapest at $80-$100. then anerys in the $125-$175 range then a combo of the 2 which is a ghost and the start at about $250ish on average.

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That's about right. You can also find some lower expression jungles for around $200. Albinos aren't generally too bad anymore and average around $250 as well.

One thing to keep in mind is location and quality. Around here, I'd put H.o.F.R.'s pricing a bit low. I'm still seeing hypos for 100-120 and ghosts are around 300. And a better quality hypo is going to cost more. If you're interested in breeding, stick with the BEST quality morphs you can possibly find. I paid 220 for my hypo dh ghost female because she was spectacular and I felt she was an investment quality animal. I am always willing to pay more for a better animal. If you just want a pet, than this is obviously not nearly so important.

Also, don't underestimate the merits of a "normal". There are some outstanding normals out there that are every bit as beautiful, or more, as their morph cousins. And pure locality boas are very rewarding too. You can get a Barranquilla Colombian, Peters Type B Colombian, Nicaraguan, or Central American for around 80-160 depending on the specific locality. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

That's about right. You can also find some lower expression jungles for around $200. Albinos aren't generally too bad anymore and average around $250 as well.

One thing to keep in mind is location and quality. Around here, I'd put H.o.F.R.'s pricing a bit low. I'm still seeing hypos for 100-120 and ghosts are around 300. And a better quality hypo is going to cost more. If you're interested in breeding, stick with the BEST quality morphs you can possibly find. I paid 220 for my hypo dh ghost female because she was spectacular and I felt she was an investment quality animal. I am always willing to pay more for a better animal. If you just want a pet, than this is obviously not nearly so important.

Also, don't underestimate the merits of a "normal". There are some outstanding normals out there that are every bit as beautiful, or more, as their morph cousins. And pure locality boas are very rewarding too. You can get a Barranquilla Colombian, Peters Type B Colombian, Nicaraguan, or Central American for around 80-160 depending on the specific locality. :gj:

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Ill keep checking around, and im starying to grow more onto the normal culombian red tails. Ill see what they have at this expo im going to next month and see what they have, heh btw. You live in michigan too, thats awessome haha.

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Originally Posted by Knytemare

Ill keep checking around, and im starying to grow more onto the normal culombian red tails. Ill see what they have at this expo im going to next month and see what they have, heh btw. You live in michigan too, thats awessome haha.

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Are you going to the Lansing expo on September 8th?? I am hoping it will be better than the Taylor show. There's getting to be a lot more other animals and less reptiles at Taylor and I've heard there's a lot of difficulties between the vendors and the guy who runs it. And Lansing is a LOT closer to me as well. I hope it turns out to be a really good show! :gj:

I have only been to 1 expo out here and i think it was the Taylor one but im not sure, and idk about the Lansing one. It's 2 hours away haha

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Originally Posted by Knytemare

Ill keep checking around, and im starying to grow more onto the normal culombian red tails. Ill see what they have at this expo im going to next month and see what they have, heh btw. You live in michigan too, thats awessome haha.

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Ooooh! I get to be the killjoy this time lol!

Don't get too interested in the Colombian Red Tails, they don't exist. You can get a Colombian BCI or you can get a BCC Red Tail, but not both.

Sorry had my bubble burst too when I got into boas lol.


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Colombian B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 EBV Red Group Pastel Hypo Jungle B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 Hypo Colombian B.C.I 2011
0.1.0 Anery Colombian B.C.I 2010

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Originally Posted by Expensive hobby

Ooooh! I get to be the killjoy this time lol!

Don't get too interested in the Colombian Red Tails, they don't exist. You can get a Colombian BCI or you can get a BCC Red Tail, but not both.

Sorry had my bubble burst too when I got into boas lol.


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Colombian B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 EBV Red Group Pastel Hypo Jungle B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 Hypo Colombian B.C.I 2011
0.1.0 Anery Colombian B.C.I 2010

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This is true. Refer to Daybreaker's post for a detailed recap on the different localities and their corresponding classifications.