should i?

i currently have one normal ball python (am getting another one as soon as cage arrives and i get it set up) my question is i want a boa of some kind the thought of getting a boa has been on my brain for awhile now but before i do anything rash i thought i would get some opinions of other boa owner and see if i should still continue to pursue to get one. i have done some research here and their but their is so many kinds that have different husbandry needs its crazy. i would want one that i can fit in a ap-t8 sized cage (taller if it likes to climb) that way i can just stack it on top of my other two that i have. i would like one that i could trust around my 4 yr old son (he loves snakes but still wont hold one yet) i like the red tailed boas but from my understanding is that they get pretty big, i had a dumeril's once but for some reason he would not eat i took him to vet alot and to my local pet store that deals alot with snakes and he force fed him a couple times but after about a 3 months he all of a sudden starting having a seizure(i think) and passed away that kinda scared me to be honest...but anyways any advice is always appreciated thank you

I just have a dumeril's boa, but you could always get a boa constrictor imperator male if you're worried about size.

If being docile and handleable is highest priority though, I'd try dumerils again. Their ease of feeding seems pretty split, they're either pigs that eat everything or are picky with f/t. Looking for an older dum (over a year old) will give you a better chance of no feeding issues, and buying from a reliable breeder or keeper.

You see posts about boa constrictor bites, but almost never see one about dums, even within dumerils communities.

You cant go wrong with a boa. If you want one on the smaller side with decent temper, I would say go for a BI. They are pretty much bulletproof on care and are garbage cans when it comes to food. Also most are really mellow. Both my BI girls are lounge snakes except Vicky has been striking at things she thinks is food recently. I think she might be going through a growth spurt and wants more than normal food lol. Get a male is you want smaller sizes. females get bigger. I also got a 2 month old baby dumerils who is the sweetest snake ever. She rivals my boas on mellowness. She is content to literally just sit on me and she eats like a pig. If you buy a dumerils again, make sure it is eating good before you buy it as I have heard babies can be a pain to get started eating sometimes. All of them can fit in a T8 but I would go with a T10 as its the same footprint but more height. Here's my 6-7' 4 year old girl in a T10 for examplehttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...015fca_z_d.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...b60bfa_z_d.jpg As you can see, she fits in there fine.

BC which are the true red tail boas get a lot bigger and have a more narrowed husbandry requirement but they are really pretty too. You can also check out BI morphs which come in pretty much all colors and patterns and all prices lol.

Regarding boas, some ideas of what exactly you're looking for, and a price range would make it a lot easier for us to suggest some different ones.

Now about the trusting with your 4 y.o. son, anything with teeth can bite, and no matter how tame you think something is, there's always a possibility of something going sideways. For this reason you always need to be around to supervise your son if he's holding a snake.

I have a male Hog Island boa that is a great snake - pretty laid back, easy to handle and eats like a trooper. Never had him strike me or even attempt to but he hissed at me when I first got him until I straightened him out (repetitious handling). He is now over four feet long and weighs 1.5 kg. Loves to be out exploring but mainly hangs out on our dining room chairs (his enclosure is in this room and occasionally I forget to close it up when cleaning and have found him out on the chairs and on the table yesterday). Part of the problem that I have seen with people and snakes is that they come approach them headfirst - snakes don't like that. All of my snakes have no issues with handling but still don't like to have a hand or other body part abruptly show up in their line of vision. If I handle them along their sides, holding them firmly and supporting their bodies with both hands they are completely comfortable.

Great!
It sounds like you are a settled adult and have an established home situation. Boa Constrictors are wonderful. They are as entertaining as almost any other boa or python and will utilize height and ground spaces.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_3585.jpg

We all have different likes/interests so deciding can be made easier by doing the research you are now.
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_3333.jpg

VERY FEW boas male or female get huge. Any 8 foot BC (boa constrictor) is on the bigger and of the scale.

I consider my male rather large at 6.5 - 7 feet. He is completely handleable and a joy to keep.

This is not a morph. He is a Barranquilla, Colombia, locality boa. He was produced by Gus Rentfro who is considered a world authority on boa constrictors. I purchased this one from Legacy Reptiles.

Take a look at the colors after a fresh shed and in natural lighting!
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_3273.jpg


There are several subspecies and smaller locals to choose from.

I like my boas a bit larger but not overly huge.

The display a nice mix of terrestrial and semi arboreal behaviors when set up and fed properly.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_3181.jpg


Start here, buy it and enjoy the read. I'd look this over and focus on something you really want.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Boa-.../dp/0978897927

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gio

Great!
It sounds like you are a settled adult and have an established home situation. Boa Constrictors are wonderful. They are as entertaining as almost any other boa or python and will utilize height and ground spaces.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_3585.jpg

We all have different likes/interests so deciding can be made easier by doing the research you are now.
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_3333.jpg

VERY FEW boas male or female get huge. Any 8 foot BC (boa constrictor) is on the bigger and of the scale.

I consider my male rather large at 6.5 - 7 feet. He is completely handleable and a joy to keep.

This is not a morph. He is a Barranquilla, Colombia, locality boa. He was produced by Gus Rentfro who is considered a world authority on boa constrictors. I purchased this one from Legacy Reptiles.

Take a look at the colors after a fresh shed and in natural lighting!
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_3273.jpg


There are several subspecies and smaller locals to choose from.

I like my boas a bit larger but not overly huge.

The display a nice mix of terrestrial and semi arboreal behaviors when set up and fed properly.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_3181.jpg


Start here, buy it and enjoy the read. I'd look this over and focus on something you really want.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Boa-.../dp/0978897927

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Holy moly. That might've just sold me on getting a Boa! Absolutely remarkable snake!


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If you would like an easy step up in your snake handling, display animal, and all around fun, a Boa is a great choice.

No reason to repeat what others have said, but you will not regret it. Afterall, a snake with a mustache has just got to be fun!

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...10e481ff88.png
Elenore

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...a931698d6f.png


http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...27a4a0eb53.jpg
Punch


Boas Rock!

Here are a few other places to check things out.

Author of the book, boa expert and friend of Gus Rentfro
http://www.cuttingedgeherp.com

Great quality animals with some nice locality stuff.
https://www.facebook.com/BoaConstrictorDesignerboa/

Locality oriented and has Rentfro (Rio Bravo) stock.
http://www.tcreptile.com/page1.php

Great guy! One of the nicest people in the boa bizz.
http://www.mccarthyboas.com/home.html

Where I bought my boa.
https://www.facebook.com/legacyreptileslocalityboas

Wow... Boas in generally are just beautiful I love the fact that (on some of them) the color is not the same all the way down the snake like the red tail and that beautiful barranquilla that gio posted pics of I will deffenitly do alot of research and reading up on them...to me (and I'm not dissing bp's at all) but to me it just seems like the boa is just more Idk how to word this but mean looking I guess you could say but I wanna give many thanks to all of you guys for the great pics and links.... Thank you

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http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...35bac6d674.jpg

I looked up legacy reptiles and the first thing I see is this and my jaw literally dropped can anybody here maybe give me some information on maybe what kind this is so I could do some research and find out what size tank I need and all that good stuff cuz if she is absolutely beautiful in my own opinion l..... Thank you

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That's definitely a pretty pick.. and definitely "meaner" looking than the BP's lol


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by erebus45

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...35bac6d674.jpg

I looked up legacy reptiles and the first thing I see is this and my jaw literally dropped can anybody here maybe give me some information on maybe what kind this is so I could do some research and find out what size tank I need and all that good stuff cuz if she is absolutely beautiful in my own opinion l..... Thank you

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That is simply stunning !!

What kind of Boa is it !?!

I'd get it if I was in the US , for sure !!


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

That is simply stunning !!

What kind of Boa is it !?!

I'd get it if I was in the US , for sure !!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

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idk i seen it on their facebook cover photo and was wandering that myself i seen it and the first thing i said was iv got to have it

does "bi" stand for "boa c. imperator"?

ok, a couple of questions here: i am going to get a boa thats for sure i THINK am going to get a columbian red tail i think they look awesome and from what i am reading they have been cative breed for along time so that means they are more docile (right?) ok but for the questions

1. t10?
2. can i use aspen for bedding?
3. can i use a radient heat panel from reptile basics for heat?
4. what is a good dealer to get the snake from? i live in oklahoma, us
5. will i ever have to feed anything other than rats his whole life because of size? (im going to get a male)

Any help is very appreciated. thank you

That is a BC (was BCc) - a 'true' red tail boa, looks to be shield, I would guess Guyana but maybe Surinam (both are covered under 'shield basin' BC)
They tend to get larger than their BI (was BCi) cousins and tend to be a little more demanding in husbandry (more prone to regurg if overfed).
In a rush so going to type fast:

For any type of red-tail boa (BC/BI) -
t10 - sorry I don't know. I keep babies and juvis in tubs (shoebox then sweater), I keep adults generally in 4x2x2 caging.
yes you can use Aspen
Yes you can use radiant heat panels for boas
Depends on what type of boa you want and what different breeders have available. There are lots of variable. Sorry I don't know any specific breeders in your area. I suggest checking any out first on the inquiry forum here and on the Board of Inquiry (BOI) on faunaclassifieds
No, you can use rats for the entire lifetime of any boa.

I hope this helps!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by erebus45

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...35bac6d674.jpg

I looked up legacy reptiles and the first thing I see is this and my jaw literally dropped can anybody here maybe give me some information on maybe what kind this is so I could do some research and find out what size tank I need and all that good stuff cuz if she is absolutely beautiful in my own opinion l..... Thank you

Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk

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That's a BC or the old name BCC. That's a true redtail, looks like a suriname to me. They get decently big. If I had to guess I would say plan for 9-10' but depending on male or female it could be smaller or it could be larger. BC have a tighter requirement for husbandry and need to be fed smaller prey on a less frequent interval. They are awesome but less forgiving on mistakes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

That is a BC (was BCc) - a 'true' red tail boa, looks to be shield, I would guess Guyana but maybe Surinam (both are covered under 'shield basin' BC)
They tend to get larger than their BI (was BCi) cousins and tend to be a little more demanding in husbandry (more prone to regurg if overfed).
In a rush so going to type fast:

For any type of red-tail boa (BC/BI) -
t10 - sorry I don't know. I keep babies and juvis in tubs (shoebox then sweater), I keep adults generally in 4x2x2 caging.
yes you can use Aspen
Yes you can use radiant heat panels for boas
Depends on what type of boa you want and what different breeders have available. There are lots of variable. Sorry I don't know any specific breeders in your area. I suggest checking any out first on the inquiry forum here and on the Board of Inquiry (BOI) on faunaclassifieds
No, you can use rats for the entire lifetime of any boa.

I hope this helps!

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yes that helped alot thank you very much

Quote:

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Originally Posted by erebus45

ok, a couple of questions here: i am going to get a boa thats for sure i THINK am going to get a columbian red tail i think they look awesome and from what i am reading they have been cative breed for along time so that means they are more docile (right?) ok but for the questions

1. t10?
2. can i use aspen for bedding?
3. can i use a radient heat panel from reptile basics for heat?
4. what is a good dealer to get the snake from? i live in oklahoma, us
5. will i ever have to feed anything other than rats his whole life because of size? (im going to get a male)

Any help is very appreciated. thank you

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1. Its the size designation that Animal Plastics gives to cages. A T10 is a terrestrial cage 48x24x15. T10 or T13 would work fine unless you go for something like a BC or if you end up with a large female, then you might need something like a T25.
2. Yes. I use aspen for all my snakes and it works fine. just be sure you get the shredded stuff and not the chipped or shaved stuff like for rodents. The shredded packs down better. I personally buy the 7 cu ft bails of American Excelsior aspen.
3. Yes. It is your choice between flexwatt or RHPs. I use both. RHPs are good if your room temps get kind of cold in the winter. Flexwatt is good if your room temps stay 75F+.
4. That's a loaded question as there are lots of good breeders out there. If you are looking for locality stuff, I would recommend Legacy reptiles or Cutting Edge Herps. For morph BIs, there are tons. Check out FaunaClassifieds.com and Kingsnake.com as well as join The FB group Boa Constrictor Keepers.
5. For a male, you can keep him on rats or small rabbits if you want. My big girl is 6-7' right now and she eats large rats and small rabbits. I just vary it up.

Oh also forgot, no matter what heat source you use, you MUST get a quality t-stat to run it. Don't guess on temps. I recommend Herpstats but a lot of people also like Vivarium Electronics. In a pinch you can also use Jump Start ones. I have 4 Herpstats and 3 Jump Starts for back ups.

Guy I know reckons it's a Belem locale B.c.c ....


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well i messaged them and asked and they said it is a belem brazilian.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

1. Its the size designation that Animal Plastics gives to cages. A T10 is a terrestrial cage 48x24x15. T10 or T13 would work fine unless you go for something like a BC or if you end up with a large female, then you might need something like a T25.
2. Yes. I use aspen for all my snakes and it works fine. just be sure you get the shredded stuff and not the chipped or shaved stuff like for rodents. The shredded packs down better. I personally buy the 7 cu ft bails of American Excelsior aspen.
3. Yes. It is your choice between flexwatt or RHPs. I use both. RHPs are good if your room temps get kind of cold in the winter. Flexwatt is good if your room temps stay 75F+.
4. That's a loaded question as there are lots of good breeders out there. If you are looking for locality stuff, I would recommend Legacy reptiles or Cutting Edge Herps. For morph BIs, there are tons. Check out FaunaClassifieds.com and Kingsnake.com as well as join The FB group Boa Constrictor Keepers.
5. For a male, you can keep him on rats or small rabbits if you want. My big girl is 6-7' right now and she eats large rats and small rabbits. I just vary it up.

Oh also forgot, no matter what heat source you use, you MUST get a quality t-stat to run it. Don't guess on temps. I recommend Herpstats but a lot of people also like Vivarium Electronics. In a pinch you can also use Jump Start ones. I have 4 Herpstats and 3 Jump Starts for back ups.

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So I CAN use a jump start for a rhb I already have one t8 set up with a 80 watt rhb hooked into a ve-200 and that's what ima gunna set my next cage up with too but just for like pinches I can use the jump start t-stat?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by erebus45

So I CAN use a jump start for a rhb I already have one t8 set up with a 80 watt rhb hooked into a ve-200 and that's what ima gunna set my next cage up with too but just for like pinches I can use the jump start t-stat?

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Yes you can. Just remember, an off/on T-stat of any kind is going to have a wider swing in temps than a proportional or dimming style t-stat. With that said, it will work fine.

Yes,

The Brazilian boas have a unique look to the saddles and pattern that is different form the other BCC. However all of the true reds can have variation and there are some stumpers out there. I replied last night but I've been having some computer issues and the post didn't stick here I guess.

If you go with a Colombian, non morph I'd recommend a locality like mine if you want something interesting. These share BCC and BCI traits and they were almost called BCC by the breeder but he felt they didn't meet all of the BCC parameters. Legacy Reptiles works with the very same lines that my guy came from.

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_3172.jpg

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...IMG_3329_1.jpg

These 3 different pictures show how the pattern and coloring look different depending on lighting and background.
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_3337.jpg


As for caging, I tend to like bigger cages for boas. They are active if not over fed. They will climb and I don't like caging that is less than 18" for them. It is personal preference and not a rule. However if you want to see a lot more of their natural behaviors, give them space.


This particular cage is 48" wide, 30" deep and 20" tall. I wish I went 24" tall. I use radiant heat panels for all of my cages and they all look similar to this one. It is a Pro-Line cage from Constrictors NW.
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_2658.jpg

Larger caging with some ceiling allows you to watch things like this.
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_2596.jpg

This guy is perched just about every night.
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/IMG_2591.jpg