Tarahumara newcomers

My newest arrivals, a beautiful pair of Tarahumara Mountain Boas from Michael Beach, have been doing great so far. I'm enjoying the fact that they spend so much time out in the open, and after they settled in, I started handling them as of a few days ago. Frida the female has been very calm while Paco the male has been a hissy little drama queen! He's all bluff, though, and both have been very nice to handle. https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...6f0675ae57.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...4bde9a90b7.jpg

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Beautiful boas!! Congrats!

Great new pic ups, nice smile for the camera too

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The baby Tarahumaras are still very hissy when I first pick them up, which is actually pretty funny in such little snakes (come on, you two - do you really think you're scaring me?). But as soon as they are out of their enclosures, they settle down quickly. It's just so fascinating to me to experience the temperament differences between the various species I keep - these little boas are very slow-moving, and it doesn't take long for them to apparently decide that I'm a nice warm branch, and become content to just coil up around my hand and quietly observe the world. Here's Paco, the little male. I never get tired of that beautiful Tarahumara headstamp.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...paco_thumb.jpg

Beautiful pair, congrats! I've been thinking of getting a Tarahumara boa sometime later down the line, love seeing pics from people who keep them.

They are beautiful!!!!

Congratulations! I have been looking at those. Again congratulations! Can’t wait to see all of the pictures.


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Thanks, all! I wanted a Boa, but I am a small woman and would rather not need to ask others to help keep an eye on things when I'm cleaning or feeding - so the bigger snakes aren't a great option. Thankfully there's a wonderful variety of Boas in sizes that are reasonable for handling! I seem to have a thing for some of the dwarf species (I also have Antaresia pythons), and when I saw the Tarahumara I was just smitten with them - my photos don't do justice to the soft pinks and silvery grey colors. I did more research and talked with a couple of breeders about their husbandry and temperament, and when I learned they are the smallest of the Boas, I was sold.

The mountain regions where they originated have shaped husbandry requirements that aren't demanding. And being Boas, they certainly aren't picky eaters, lol. Even though, as I mentioned, they are still a little nervous and hissy when I initially pick them up, they're calm and confident little guys who are usually lounging on their cork rounds rather than in their hides, and they're just wonderful to handle.

They'll be in quarantine tubs for a couple more months, and since Boas seem to grow slowly and the tubs have plenty of room for their cork rounds, clutter, and hides, they may well just stay in those tubs (Sterilite 24x18x7) for quite awhile. I'll eventually shift them into 3' PVC enclosures and if they get big enough to need it, ultimately 4' PVC. We'll see. In the meantime I'll update with photos and any interesting tidbits about how things are going with them.

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Originally Posted by Caitlin

Thanks, all! I wanted a Boa, but I am a small woman and would rather not need to ask others to help keep an eye on things when I'm cleaning or feeding - so the bigger snakes aren't a great option. Thankfully there's a wonderful variety of Boas in sizes that are reasonable for handling! I seem to have a thing for some of the dwarf species (I also have Antaresia pythons), and when I saw the Tarahumara I was just smitten with them - my photos don't do justice to the soft pinks and silvery grey colors. I did more research and talked with a couple of breeders about their husbandry and temperament, and when I learned they are the smallest of the Boas, I was sold.

The mountain regions where they originated have shaped husbandry requirements that aren't demanding. And being Boas, they certainly aren't picky eaters, lol. Even though, as I mentioned, they are still a little nervous and hissy when I initially pick them up, they're calm and confident little guys who are usually lounging on their cork rounds rather than in their hides, and they're just wonderful to handle.

They'll be in quarantine tubs for a couple more months, and since Boas seem to grow slowly and the tubs have plenty of room for their cork rounds, clutter, and hides, they may well just stay in those tubs (Sterilite 24x18x7) for quite awhile. I'll eventually shift them into 3' PVC enclosures and if they get big enough to need it, ultimately 4' PVC. We'll see. In the meantime I'll update with photos and any interesting tidbits about how things are going with them.

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They really are great small boas, have you seen the youtube channel "Brian's boas" he mostly has locality boas and did a whole video on these, I find him pretty good and quite informative

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Yes, I subscribe to the Brian's Boas channel! He only recently started making those videos, but I think he's doing a huge service to the hobby because his information is so good. And I may have watched the Tarahumara video more than once...

Awesome - I love the look & size of Tarahumara Boas. I am actually considering getting a pair in the future.

Just a quick update photo of the lovely Freda as she checks out the camera earlier today. Both babies are still hissy little asses when I first pick them up, but always settle down almost immediately. Once settled, they are just a delight to handle - slow, gentle, and not shy. I have a feeling these two are going to grow into fantastic snakes in the "nice to hang out with" category, which I do enjoy.
[IMG]https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...may_2020_3.jpg[/IMG]

Great new pick up, look forward to seeing the progression

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Here's Paco, the male of this pair. He and Freda just turned 9 months old. He was still hissy in his enclosure but a real pleasure to handle once he was out. After hanging out on this perch for awhile as I did enclosure cleaning, I extended my hand to him and he climbed up my arm without hesitation. I'm just really enjoying these little Boas.

[IMG]https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../paco_june.jpg[/IMG]

Very nice indeed, really glad he's settling for you

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Originally Posted by Caitlin

Here's Paco, the male of this pair....After hanging out on this perch for awhile as I did enclosure cleaning, I extended my hand to him and he climbed up my arm without hesitation. I'm just really enjoying these little Boas...

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That's so cute when snakes do that. :D What's not to love?

That's great! Glad he's warming up to you.

I got my male from Mike Beach also so this is the brother of yours lol. Mines not hissy and real sweet but hides a lot only keeping its head sticking out of the cave entrance. https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/SkPLgp7.jpg

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Originally Posted by ctenosaura

I got my male from Mike Beach also so this is the brother of yours lol. Mines not hissy and real sweet but hides a lot only keeping its head sticking out of the cave entrance.

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Mine does the same thing in her upgraded enclosure (4x2x2). Whenever I put her back in the enclosure, she immediately climbs back to her hide up on the shelf on the cool side. She has 4 hides to choose from, 2 types of substrate, and various types of cover - but all she wants to do is go back to the same hide and sit there with her head sticking out. Rarely, she'll perch for a bit with her head looking down, but she's shown 0 interest in exploring her new mansion. She's eating fine, no longer hisses, and is calm as can be when held. I'm wondering if they ever get very curious or active.

Do those of you with older Tarahumaras find that they hide a lot? Curious if this is something they grow out of or do they stay mostly inactive?

I missed the photo of Paco and Freda's brother! We are snake family now!

At just over a year old, these little ones are very calm and sweet now. I'm very glad to have them. I suspect that the lack of exploration may be due to enclosure size; when mine were in their baby tubs they were out and about a lot more.