Convinced to get a Boa.

My friend's sister is currently training to be a vet, and recently started working at an exotic animal store. So today as promiced she said she'd show us around. Turns out the owner has the largest collection of snakes and lizards in the UK(even though he's American) so it was pretty impressive. On display were the usuals, boas, pythons, corns, hognose etc, but he also had a seperate room behind a glass screen with his 'hot snakes'. There was a green manba, egyptian cobra, puff adder and western diamond back rattle snake just to name a few, although there were too many to remember. He had many many more snakes in the back of the store but the owner was busy so I've
bin invited back next week to see the whole of his collection. The owner was very knowledgable and VERY passionate about his snakes(and had worked with Steve Irwin on many occasions) and apparently is very picky with who he sells them to, which is a good thing.

I told him I was interested in getting a ball python in the near future and that I had done my research about them on here and was confident I knew what was required, however for some reason he didn't seem to keen on ball pythons. Many things he said about them contradicted what I've read on here, especially about their temperment, however due to his large collection and outright experience with snakes, I didn't argue. He strongly recommend boas to me, and said that a Hog Island boa would make a great pet. He then disappeared out the back and returned with a gorgeous 5ft female which I handled for a bit, and was a lovely snake. When I go back there I'll be sure to take a camara and get lots of pictures.

Ed.

You might want to ask a moderator to move this to the boa section ;) .

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Originally Posted by joepythons

You might want to ask a moderator to move this to the boa section ;) .

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Done. ;)

(For the record, I think if you love BP's, you should still aim to get one. Personally, I'd be thrilled to get both! :P )

Having owned both boas (including a hog island) and balls, I will say both make excellent captive snakes. Hog islands are pretty high strung, and ball pythons can be pretty shy, but I'd say BPs are calmer. Colombian red tails are very calm snakes usually, but they can also top 9' and 40 lbs.

Get what YOU want.. not what someone else thinks you should.

When I first joined this site I did have my heart set on a BP, but since browsing the forum I did develop a soft spot for RTB's but was put off by their size. However the Hog Island I held today was great, and actually looked more like a RTB( I was assured it wasn't), which was a bonus.

PS Sorry this was posted in the wrong section:stupidme:

Ed

yeah man there's nothing saying you can't get both. I've got a few ball pythons..lovem...but i'd love to get a red tail too. As Judy said, get what you want.

do your homework on each one and figure out what is best for your life style. if you can't handle a 9 foot snake in a few years, go with a bp..but if it's no big deal and you want a bigger snake, get a boa. I'm sure they're both excellent pets and noone here will tell you not to do it.

Keep in mind that when one person spends time around one particular type of animal (ie, me around ball pythons), they get to know that animal, what their needs are, what they're like, etc. etc. etc., and then when someone else says "hey, do you like ball pythons or boa's better?" of course, it's going to be a one sided story because i only have experiance with ball pythons.

Hog islands in the species sense ARE red tailed boas, even if the color of their tail isn't actually red. Both hog island and colombian red tails are boa constrictor imperator. Female hog islands can top 7' sometimes as well.

I would get a male anyway as they grow to about 5-6 feet? Anyway, I haven't had any snakes for about a 8months so it'll be good to get back into it all whatever I choose :), and at the moment I am thinking of the Hog Island. Only thing against them is the price compared to a normal BP. The owner said he only gets a few BP's a year, bred at London Zoo. But he was expecting to breed his Hog Island and was expecting for around March, however he's asking around the $400 mark.

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Originally Posted by famoussas

I would get a male anyway as they grow to about 5-6 feet? Anyway, I haven't had any snakes for about a 8months so it'll be good to get back into it all whatever I choose :), and at the moment I am thinking of the Hog Island. Only thing against them is the price compared to a normal BP. The owner said he only gets a few BP's a year, bred at London Zoo. But he was expecting to breed his Hog Island and was expecting for around March, however he's asking around the $400 mark.

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Lol, maybe that's why he wanted you to hold the Hogg :) I'm not saying the guy isn't passionate about his snakes, but he's also an excellent salesman: you went in wanting a $40-50 snake and walked out wanting a $400 snake. Kinda like at reptile shows... you'll be looking at something, kinda thinking you want it, but not really sure, but, as soon as that vendor gets it out and lets you play with it... you want it NOW! Great sales technique ;)

Surprisingly, a lot of reptile-keepers I talk to, dislike BPs. They complain about their finicky appetites; their shyness; etc. I think it is BS; if you're a true owner, not merely a dolt who wants a snake for novelty, you have the patience to wait out a fasting snake; care for them through thick and thin, etc.
Personally, having a few BPs and one RTB, I would hesitate to recommend a boa to a beginning keeper. They just get really big, comparatively, fast. They need a lot of attention and are just different than BPs in many subtle ways; much mroe likely in my experience to strike-out, thinking you're food, though I know Bps can do that too; but I'd recommend getting a BP first, to get experience handling and keeping boids, before getting a boa. And an awesome idea, would be to get a larger, maybe unwanted boa later on, instead of supporting the pet trade by buying a smaller one; there are so many unwanted ones on a lot of reptile- rescue sites.
But, if you're set on wanting a boa, not really a BP, I would not suggest getting one merely as a stepping stone; maybe a smaller boa would do.

I guess I'll throw this out there.. she's my 6' hog island. I don't know how big the hoggie was that you saw, but this gives you an idea.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/divahold.jpg

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Originally Posted by ladywhipple02

Lol, maybe that's why he wanted you to hold the Hogg :) I'm not saying the guy isn't passionate about his snakes, but he's also an excellent salesman: you went in wanting a $40-50 snake and walked out wanting a $400 snake. Kinda like at reptile shows... you'll be looking at something, kinda thinking you want it, but not really sure, but, as soon as that vendor gets it out and lets you play with it... you want it NOW! Great sales technique ;)

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Lol. I understand your point. I re-read my post and realised I made a mistake. My friends sister brought the snake out for me to see, merely because we had bin talking about it and I was interested to see it. As the owner said, there are thousands of snakes to choose from and if I wanted a ball python he would be more than happy to get me one, he just thought I might be interested in boas. And from what I've heard and seen, he must keep more snakes than he sells - his pre sales customer interogation was quite intense lol..

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

But, if you're set on wanting a boa, not really a BP, I would not suggest getting one merely as a stepping stone; maybe a smaller boa would do.

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Fair point, but I was under the impression that a male Hog Island Boa would grow no larger than a BP? I have owned snakes before by the way, so this isn't really a stepping stone:)

And Shelby - The snake I handled was a 5ft female.

Thanks for your feedback guys.

Ed

A Hoggie male will definatley get bigger than a BP... unless you've got some giant of a ball.

Well I have never owned a BP so you will obviously be more knowledgable, but I thought that a a female BP averaged 4-5 foot, and a male Hog Island would also average 4-5 foot?

I'm not saying they can't get that big... but a five foot female BP is very rare (and much sought after in the breeding world ;) )

Oh ok. Well could someone confirm that a male Hog Island will rarely exceed 5 feet? As the female I handled was easily managble. Or maybe I'm completely wrong with regards to their size.

It's hard to explain without pics, because the body make-up of the two snakes is so different. Nine times out of ten, the boa's going to win out on size... even if it's a Hoggie... the four to five foot female balls are rare and much sought after while the five to six foot Hoggie's are NOT rare.


Here, this is the best comparison I could do. Kinky (RTB) is six feet (she will stay six feet because of her condition) and Mercedes (BP) is a big girl at almost three and a half feet give or take a few inches:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...2/000_0785.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...2/000_0784.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...2/000_0782.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...2/000_0779.jpg

The difference in the girths, the difference in the size of the heads, all that... this is equal to what you will see in an adult female BP versus an adult male Hoggie.

I'm not trying to talk you out of getting a Hoggie, seriously. If you want one, and you've done your research, and you think you can handle it, then go for it, by all means. I LOVE my boa. I'm just trying to get the size thing worked out for you.

And enjoy the pics ;)

Wow, if you just took those pictures, thats really kind of you, if not, thanks very much anyways!



Ok, but a Hog Island does not have the girth of an RTB. Although I understand the point you are trying to make, a Hog Island will grow bigger than a BP, in most cases anyways.


This isn't a decision I'll be making for a while, but I like to do my homework, as I have done on BP's over the past few weeks, but boas have always caught my eye, and I was interested in the Hog Island because they're dont grow as big as RTB's. Perhaps some hands on experience with a BP could help me make my mind. Shame that herp shops aren't as easy to come by in the UK as they are in the US!

Thanks for your help.

I've seen male hog islands over 6'.. they really have a big range in size.

Bearing in mind that my previous snake experience is owning a Hognose and 4ft Corn Snake, I guess most people would strongly recomend A BP over the Hog Island. The only thing putting me off the boa is the potential size, and it would be stupid and irresponsible of me to hope that my male Hog Island wouldn't exceed 5 feet, which by the sound of things is unlikely. Decisions decisions.

A hogg girth and an RTB girth will be comparable... they're both in the same family, BCI. They have the same body make-up... so, if a Hogg gets to six foot, he'll be just as big around as Kinky (maybe bigger... with her kinks, I don't know).

You're welcome for the pics... I snapped them really quick for this thread. No biggie, gave me a chance to clean their cages really quick, too, lol. And they're both sweeties, they don't mind.

I tell you something: if you're intimidated by the size of a boa, but really want one, buy a baby. Babies are tiny and easily manageable. But it also gives you time to grow with the snake; you learn his temperaments, when to leave him alone and when it's all right to hold him. In this way, when he's an adult, to you, he's still just a big ol' baby.

With your previous experience I don't see you having any problem with a hog island.. especially if you buy a baby as suggested.

Just make sure you have room for a 4'x2' cage if the need arises.

Ok, thanks very much for your input, I'll keep you informed.

Ed

How about a Caulker Cay Boa? They are smaller than Hoggs.........

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Originally Posted by ladywhipple02

A hogg girth and an RTB girth will be comparable... they're both in the same family, BCI. They have the same body make-up... so, if a Hogg gets to six foot, he'll be just as big around as Kinky (maybe bigger... with her kinks, I don't know).

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I have to disagree with some things in this thread. First off, I don't find Hog Island Boas to be any more high strung than any other snake and certainly way less high strung than most BPs. Hogs make excellent pet snakes. They are inquisitive, outgoing and love to be out of their enclosures. Hogs won't get nearly as big around as a Colombian. My Hoggie is prob around 4.5 feet and is about 1/4 of the girth of my 8.5 ft Colombian. Hogs stay much smaller in both length and weight/girth than Colombians. That all said, go with what you want. You can't lose either way!

Well, I don't know about your handsome Rob, but my Diva is very high strung. I've heard the same from other hog island keepers as well. She's not shy, and she's not aggressive, but she will certainly hiss at you and if she thinks you're going to touch her head you might get a tag.

Still, maintenance wise she's very easy, and I love her. They are great snakes.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

I have to disagree with some things in this thread. First off, I don't find Hog Island Boas to be any more high strung than any other snake and certainly way less high strung than most BPs. Hogs make excellent pet snakes. They are inquisitive, outgoing and love to be out of their enclosures. Hogs won't get nearly as big around as a Colombian. My Hoggie is prob around 4.5 feet and is about 1/4 of the girth of my 8.5 ft Colombian. Hogs stay much smaller in both length and weight/girth than Colombians. That all said, go with what you want. You can't lose either way!

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This is pretty much what I was told by the guy in the shop, but I guess every snake is different.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

I have to disagree with some things in this thread. First off, I don't find Hog Island Boas to be any more high strung than any other snake and certainly way less high strung than most BPs. Hogs make excellent pet snakes. They are inquisitive, outgoing and love to be out of their enclosures. Hogs won't get nearly as big around as a Colombian. My Hoggie is prob around 4.5 feet and is about 1/4 of the girth of my 8.5 ft Colombian. Hogs stay much smaller in both length and weight/girth than Colombians. That all said, go with what you want. You can't lose either way!

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I agree with what he said to the T.