as pets?

do red tail boas make good pets

yes :sweeet:

it all depends on what you are looking for in a pet. if you want a pet that is cuddly and wants your attention then no. but if you are looking for a relly pretty, low maintance, unique pet than yes. boas do not like to be handled. they are verry tolerant to it. but they dont enjoy it. of all the snake species i would deffinatly go with a boa if that is what you relly want.
matt fisher

They are great pets, but they do have their own little quirks. some people end up getting ones that are pretty nippy, though in my experience they are mostly laid back, except at feeding time.. And you have to remember they get relatively big for a "pet snake"; my friend has a full grown female and I am a relatively small person (5'4, 120 lbs.) and though I am able to handle this snake, it can be pretty tough on my back muscles!
My best advice to you, would be to find someone, or a store, that has a healthy adult female, and handle it, and see how you feel about it. They don't stay small and cute forever (they get big and cute!)

I have a 6'+ female boa (BCI) named Bonnie. She is sweet as pie. I use her for an education program, and I can trust her even with kids. She has never so much even gaped at me. I have owned some not-so-nice ones too. My suggestion is that if you're looking for a pet, look for a pre-owned one where the owner is selling it, and can tell you a great deal about it's temerament and even let you hold it. I am not interested in breeding large snakes like boas, so Bonnie is a much loved pet. BUT BE PREPARED...they get BIG!!!

I love my boa but she has definitely been a problem child. Looking back now, it would have probably been easier had we gotten a bci instead of a bcc, since bcc can have more problems and require more experience. We're learning that the hard way with our bcc...:rolleyes:

But! I love her dearly...and they are great snakes. Between the ball and boa, I'd say our boa is more snugly actually. She'll slither around until she get comfy and then just sit there until I move. =) I swear she falls asleep...

And I'm looking forward to getting another boa, hopefully, in the future; I'd like to get a rosy. :D

Who could not love a face like this:
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...2/000_0565.jpg

Gimme a kiss!
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...2/000_0551.jpg

Awwww!!! Those pictures of Kinky are so cute!! =D

My Boa is pretty liad back, too. I've only had it for a couple weeks, and in the few times I've held it it's never snapped or striked at me. Everytime I out my hand in the cage he likes to follow it. I'll be changing the water and all of a sudden he'll come out of his hide to my hand. They're completely different natured than Ball Pythons.

My boa, Inga is pretty laid back too. She hissed today for the first time - it was a few hours after feeding and she was in her hide. I was on my computer and I happened to look into her enclosure and she hissed at me - the next time I looked over she had moved so her head was hidden. She just didn't want to be bothered or looked at. She's happily digesting her meal and hopefully will be back to her docile self in a couple days!

I'd say they make excellent pets as long as you do your research (as with any exotic type pet) and are ready for a fairly big, very strong snake. Best if you can get one that is sexed reliably as the females outgrow the males generally. Also I would try to either get one from a good breeder or a good rescue so you know you are getting a healthy boa.

Here's a couple of pics of male BCI's. The big one is an over 6 foot male we fostered (he is now with his forever owner...Becky (SatanicIntention). The smaller male is one we recently adopted for our son from another forum member Lynn (LadyWhipple). Just to give you some idea of the size males can get from a not quite a year old one to a full adult male. Both are excellent in temperment though with a larger BCI you need to be aware of that very long strike range and the fact that they are very aggressive eaters (not mean but they LOVE to eat...handfeeding is not a smart thing LOL).

Rauri the big male. Btw not a great way to hold a big snake, just did it for a quick shot to try and show perspective of how big this male really is.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...llBodyShot.jpg

Rauri on the hardwood floor getting some exercise.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...groomMay06.jpg

Severus on a hardcover book for size comparison. He's about 9 or 10 months old right now.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...Sevonbooks.jpg