So I made the leap into boas

So ive been debating on getting a boa. I finally pulled the trigger and ordered a male columbian rainbow boa from bhb he should be here tuesday kind of excited. Ive done my research and all but was just wondering others peoples experiences with them.

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My experience with them is patience. But other then that they are by far my favorite critters. When they get big just give them their space when they are grown. Their bites hurt. But other then that YAY!!! Gratz on the baby. and Rainbows are beautiful.

Hope that he doesnt get to nippy when he gets older ive read that they do and that they dont about 50/50 from what ive read. My nephew loves to touch and hold my snakes with me present of course.

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I don't have any experience with BOAs, but I have read quite a lot about them and I would say awesome!! :)

I have heard they get nippy later on, but I have also seen and heard that they are super docile and chill if raised properly. It's a big investment though, because that snake is going to get big fast, and then it will be around for 20+ years. Adult BOAs are not easy to get rid of hahaha

But I am with you, when I buy my next house and can customize a room for them, I am totally getting a BOA :)

Good on ya!

Thats why I went with the rainbow boa they dont get much bigger then ball pythons. I really want a red tail boa a local shop has a really pretty looking motley red tail wish I had space to keep a snake that could get up to 12 foot

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Brazilians do get bigger than BPs. Not much more in weight, but they are longer and more slender-bodied. Keep your humidity up. They do well on coco husk or eco earth which holds humidity really well. And they tend to be a bit more arboreal so a climbing branch is a good idea.

Congratulations!! We'll expect pics when you get him! :D



** Also, it is extremely rare for a Colombian boa to exceed 8 feet, let alone reach something like 12. Even the true red tails (BCC) don't get that big. Who told you a boa would get to 12 feet?? Colombians and other BCI, with the exception of some specific localities which are even smaller, usually reach lengths of 6-8 feet with males being on the smaller end of that spectrum. BCC, the "True Red Tailed Boas," such as Surinam and Guyana among others, will reach 7-10 feet with only truly exceptional females approaching the 10ft mark. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

Brazilians do get bigger than BPs. Not much more in weight, but they are longer and more slender-bodied. Keep your humidity up. They do well on coco husk or eco earth which holds humidity really well. And they tend to be a bit more arboreal so a climbing branch is a good idea.

Oh and pics will come as soon as I get him

Congratulations!! We'll expect pics when you get him! :D



** Also, it is extremely rare for a Colombian boa to exceed 8 feet, let alone reach something like 12. Even the true red tails (BCC) don't get that big. Who told you a boa would get to 12 feet?? Colombians and other BCI, with the exception of some specific localities which are even smaller, usually reach lengths of 6-8 feet with males being on the smaller end of that spectrum. BCC, the "True Red Tailed Boas," such as Surinam and Guyana among others, will reach 7-10 feet with only truly exceptional females approaching the 10ft mark. :gj:

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Just different people I talk to thats nice to know that they dont get that big. Im in love with this motley red tail that a local shop has. I a complete newb when it comes to boas so I was just going by what I was hearing. I know Brazilians get a bit bigger the bp but I got a columbian rainbow and from what ive read they dont get much bigger then a bp. Tuesday needs to hurry up and get here

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I have three BRB's, 1.1 adults and 1.0 who is about 18 months old. The adults are both just shy of six feet, and the female is thicker than the male. None of them are at all nippy, though youngsters can be until they get used to being handled. Ours are all curious and much more 'social' than the BP's. The hardest part about keeping them is maintaining that 80% or higher humidity (90% for the very young), so an appropriate enclosure is vital - don't even consider a tank. Also they're less tolerant of high heat, with temperatures over 86*F being deadly long term if they can't move away from it. I keep my hot side at 84*F and the cool side at 75*F and I very rarely see mine on the hot side.

Ive moved away from tanks. Most of my bp are in sterilite containers and I planed on using the same thing for him. I dont mind taking a few bites from him when hes young as long as he tames out when he gets older.only thing I ever was bit by was my nephews leopard gecko and I laughed

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

Brazilians do get bigger than BPs. Not much more in weight, but they are longer and more slender-bodied. Keep your humidity up. They do well on coco husk or eco earth which holds humidity really well. And they tend to be a bit more arboreal so a climbing branch is a good idea.

Congratulations!! We'll expect pics when you get him! :D



** Also, it is extremely rare for a Colombian boa to exceed 8 feet, let alone reach something like 12. Even the true red tails (BCC) don't get that big. Who told you a boa would get to 12 feet?? Colombians and other BCI, with the exception of some specific localities which are even smaller, usually reach lengths of 6-8 feet with males being on the smaller end of that spectrum. BCC, the "True Red Tailed Boas," such as Surinam and Guyana among others, will reach 7-10 feet with only truly exceptional females approaching the 10ft mark. :gj:

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In the past 20 years I have personally seen several bci in the 8'+ range. Not many but a few. I have also seen one extraordinary female bci that was well over 10'. It's doesnt happen often but it can happen. So IMO it should be something that anyone buying a boa should be aware of. Always best to be prepared.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I have three BRB's, 1.1 adults and 1.0 who is about 18 months old. The adults are both just shy of six feet, and the female is thicker than the male. None of them are at all nippy, though youngsters can be until they get used to being handled. Ours are all curious and much more 'social' than the BP's. The hardest part about keeping them is maintaining that 80% or higher humidity (90% for the very young), so an appropriate enclosure is vital - don't even consider a tank. Also they're less tolerant of high heat, with temperatures over 86*F being deadly long term if they can't move away from it. I keep my hot side at 84*F and the cool side at 75*F and I very rarely see mine on the hot side.

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^^^ This. The Brazilians do tend to get larger than the Colombians. :gj:

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Originally Posted by jason_ladouceur

In the past 20 years I have personally seen several bci in the 8'+ range. Not many but a few. I have also seen one extraordinary female bci that was well over 10'. It's doesnt happen often but it can happen. So IMO it should be something that anyone buying a boa should be aware of. Always best to be prepared.

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Oh I know it's possible for BCI to occasionally get HUGE. There are certainly exceptions to every rule. And you are correct that anyone wanting a boa should be aware of the possibilities. But having said that, there are things one can consider to help minimize the chances of having a that boa grows HUGE: Certain localities stay smaller, males tend to be smaller, etc. Actually, Colombian females will readily attain lengths of 8-ish feet so that isn't rare at all. But it IS rare for males and Nicaraguan, Sonoran, or the Insular localities to get anywhere near that mark. And Tarahumara Mountain boas almost never get over 5 feet. All of these are BCI. But your point is well taken! ;)

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

And Tarahumara Mountain boas almost never get over 5 feet.

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I'll have to remember that as I really do like boas, but don't have room for any more 4, 6, or 8 foot long enclosures.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I'll have to remember that as I really do like boas, but don't have room for any more 4, 6, or 8 foot long enclosures.

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They are a harder-to-find locality, and you should be very careful where you purchase one. The TMs most often seen in the pet trade are actually crosses. Look for this particular locality from Vin Russo or Legacy Reptiles. They won't steer you wrong. :gj:

Congrats, I have a baby Colombian rainbow boa :). He isn't nippy at all, I haven't had any problems with him. Great shedder, feeder, etc.

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

I know Brazilians get a bit bigger the bp but I got a columbian rainbow and from what ive read they dont get much bigger then a bp. Tuesday needs to hurry up and get here

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I think that's going to look like the wrong person I just quoted, but anyways...

Crb's are often in the 4-5 foot range, brb's usually 5.5-6.5' although my largest is easily 7.5 and possibly 8 feet long. Handling them as they grow up can make a huge difference with their temperment as adults, they can be a bit cage agressive when small and usually have very strong feeding response...don't feel bad about it if you need to use a hook with it when it's smaller to pick it up out of it's cage with and set it in your hands.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I have three BRB's, 1.1 adults and 1.0 who is about 18 months old. The adults are both just shy of six feet, and the female is thicker than the male. None of them are at all nippy, though youngsters can be until they get used to being handled. Ours are all curious and much more 'social' than the BP's. The hardest part about keeping them is maintaining that 80% or higher humidity (90% for the very young), so an appropriate enclosure is vital - don't even consider a tank. Also they're less tolerant of high heat, with temperatures over 86*F being deadly long term if they can't move away from it. I keep my hot side at 84*F and the cool side at 75*F and I very rarely see mine on the hot side.

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Solid advice for brb's, for crb's though add about 5 degrees to the hotspot. They are also much more tolerant of drier climates, the high humidity is still good but not nearly as critical as it can be with brbs.

my humidity stays around 90 with a daily misting. he is pretty funny when it comes to handling he tries to bite me up until i get him out and then he is puppy dog tame.i also noticed that when i feed him he shows no interest in the fuzzy while its being held by me but when i leave it in the cage and leave the room for a little while the fuzzy is always gone when i come back. i really like him though want to get a normal boa sometime soon

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Originally Posted by rascal_rascal_99

Solid advice for brb's, for crb's though add about 5 degrees to the hotspot. They are also much more tolerant of drier climates, the high humidity is still good but not nearly as critical as it can be with brbs.

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Thank you, I will keep that in mind if I ever end up with one.

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Originally Posted by rascal_rascal_99

I think that's going to look like the wrong person I just quoted, but anyways...

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Yeah, I most certainly did not say that. lol....


I believe this was what you were attempting to quote:

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Originally Posted by bigt0006

Just different people I talk to thats nice to know that they dont get that big. Im in love with this motley red tail that a local shop has. I a complete newb when it comes to boas so I was just going by what I was hearing. I know Brazilians get a bit bigger the bp but I got a columbian rainbow and from what ive read they dont get much bigger then a bp. Tuesday needs to hurry up and get here

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And just for the record, Colombian Rainbows do tend to be a touch smaller than Brazilians, but Rainbows in general are all a fair bit bigger than BPs. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

Yeah, I most certainly did not say that. lol....


I believe this was what you were attempting to quote:




And just for the record, Colombian Rainbows do tend to be a touch smaller than Brazilians, but Rainbows in general are all a fair bit bigger than BPs. :gj:

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Quote function was grabbing way too much and giving me fits and I didn't feel like redoing it at the time...lol.

If we're talking about colombian vs ball pythons it's almost the "what's bigger, a 30 foot garden hose, or a 10 foot sewer pipe. I would consider my colombian rainbows and most of my adult bp's to be very close to comparable in size, other than the 1000ish gram males that stay on the smaller side.