Red Tailed Boas Help!!

Any help is greatly appreciated...

I have been searching for information for a few days now and still in need of help.

I currently have a Ball Python and love the little guy, but for some time I have been trying to get another snake. I orinially wanted another Ball Python, but their prices right now are much to high for me, so I have decided to turn to the world of Boas which really intrigue me.

I am looking for a Red tailed boa that will stay between 5'-8'. The only one I can seem to find is the Nicaraguan which is amazing to me, but I have a hard time finding info about them. I want to know what kind of morphs (Hypo and Super Hypo are all I have found) they have and where can I get them (high quality breeders preferred)?

If there are any other RTB that stay in that size range fully grown, please let me know.

Boa Constrictor Amarali is another that can stay on the small side.

They are a little more demanding of husbandry while young, but they have Suri looks in a small package!

I recommend the book 'Complete Boa Constrictor' which discusses various locality boas and species, and I would also recommend the website for Rio Bravo Reptiles for researching localities.

My Amarali came from Barry Miller, who is a wonderful resource over the phone if you have any questions about BCAs, and of course a great source of quality captive bred BCAs.
He usually has lots of pics on his site as well, but less husbandry info than Rio Bravo.

Good Luck!

Fishmommy provided excellent resources for you to check out :gj: I will add that jimisnakes.com also has some locality and type info!

I would add that there are tons of boas that fall into the length limitations you have given--like, mostly all of them and especially the males of all of the types!!

I would stick with Bci's though since you're just getting into boas. Their husbandry needs are a bit more forgiving than those of Bcc's.

My suggestion would be a male BCI.

This way, you can get a feel for the species, their care, and attitude. After understanding the boas for a while, then you could branch out into the more care specific Locales, like dwarfs.

Just my :twocents:

Another good thing about a boa compared to a BP IMO is that a normal BCI is a great looking animal on its own. So you can stay away from the morphs to get a nice colorful snake

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Originally Posted by starmom

I would add that there are tons of boas that fall into the length limitations you have given--like, mostly all of them and especially the males of all of the types!!

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Really from what I can find only a few red tails were in that range, but hey the more the merrier.

Thanx fishymommy this helps...now trying to get more info on the morphs or color variations...I like the snakes that are white with red..kinda like these off of Rio Bravo

Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4

Now those types from the ones I have found can become really big (10'+ which is too big for me right now)

So info on species of that color that meet size requirement would be great! I just really fancy really RTBs.

There is really good input in the posts above, and I think that your still asking the same question.

Yes most of the pics that you posted of the snakes that you like, will get fairly large, much larger than a BCI (your common petstore RTB)

Like someone pointed out, they vary quite a bit in color, of just "normals".

I would look for maybe a very clean Columbian, so that the contrast is still to your likeing. Just remember that baby boas, have much different color than the adults do.

Check out this site: http://www.boastore.com/index.html

The owner is Sharon Moore and she is a very well respected breeder of boas. She has amazing Bci's that are very clean and very beautiful.

I have one of her females. Here's a picture of her taken several months ago:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...00/boagirl.jpg

here's my Amarali, who shouldn't get much over 5 feet, if he even gets to 5...

http://i.ugtz.com/albums/Snakes/IMG_5341.sized.jpg

Barry Miller makes 'em nice and clean.
The tail, obviously, is smaller than with BCI/BCC but it's still hottttt.

Very Hot!!!!

wow the reds on that girl are insane!

BCA won't have crazy glowing bright reds like that....brick red, cherry red on a good day...but not fluorescent red like that!

Most central american locales stay fairly small (especially a male)

I myself have a generic "central american boa" which is supposed to be a male but I have never had it officially sexed. Even if it turns out to be a female I am not too worried since even female central americans wont get much bigger than 6 feet (usually) :P

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Originally Posted by mricyfire

Pic 1
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Every one of those are very different from the other. I see Bolivians, Peruvians, Surinames and they are all intermediate boas and are not a first time Boa.

My opinion is to either get a Central American (male or female) or get a male Colombian for a first time boa.

I really appreciate the advice and the sites...i just got back from a pet store to see some boas first hand...have to say looking at a Colombian male...they say it should be 5-6' max and that is what I am looking for.

So I have a cage already to house a baby boa..so now just looking for prices.

The pet stores have them for $125-175 online I have seen $250-350, around what shouldI be paying for just a normal Colombian?

@Jimi; I know there were different snakes just trying to show the color I was looking for.

So.... you get what you pay for.

I have always gone through breeders and will always go through breeders. Breeders have healthy stock (the known and respected breeders), they have cared for their snakes very well, and they are there for you after the sale.

I urge you to not support pet stores but instead support the breeders who work very hard to provide healthy animals so as to make your initial foray into boas a positive one.

Jimi has amazing snakes and my favorite boa is the one I purchased from him. No kidding. She is an amazing example of what a boa ought to be.

Pay more- get more. Pay less (pet store) and you run the risk of paying a lot more in vet bills and hassles...

Just my 2 cents.

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Originally Posted by starmom

I urge you to not support pet stores but instead support the breeders who work very hard to provide healthy animals so as to make your initial foray into boas a positive one.

Jimi has amazing snakes and my favorite boa is the one I purchased from him. No kidding. She is an amazing example of what a boa ought to be.

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I understand that you LOVE Jimi, so do I. Hes a great guy, and I can actually call him a friend, not just "a guy I get snakes from". With that being said, I think its a little harsh to say, DONT SUPPORT PET STORES, THEY DONT STRIVE TO PROVIDE HEALTHY ANIMALS.

I know several pet stores that are extremely taken care of with exceptional service, and care for the animals.

YES these places are not petco/petsmart. But to say that kind of things, I think is a little blatant.

Of course I would push you to buy from Jimi as well, but If this is a pet store that you trust and know, dont let people talk you out of it.

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Originally Posted by Patrick Long

I understand that you LOVE Jimi, so do I.

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Who doesn't love me? :rolleyes: I'm the cat's meow! lol

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Originally Posted by mricyfire

I orinially wanted another Ball Python, but their prices right now are much to high for me, so I have decided to turn to the world of Boas which really intrigue me.

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I guess I'm confused on this point. If ball pythons are too expensive, then how can you afford locality boas or even morph locality boas?

Unless you meant you wanted a morph ball...

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Originally Posted by cassandra

I guess I'm confused on this point. If ball pythons are too expensive, then how can you afford locality boas or even morph locality boas?

Unless you meant you wanted a morph ball...

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The ball python I wanted to buy Fire ball python an that was about $1000, from surfing the web I have found many cool boa morphs for well under $500 and to me that is much cheaper...the colombian boas and Nics I have seen for $350 or less so that is how I can afford...not saying they are cheap but they are much less then $1000 (which many bps are more than that)

And I would appreciate if your not going to help me, please don't post in this thread. Thanx for everyone that has helped thus far in making my decision.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Patrick Long

I understand that you LOVE Jimi, so do I. Hes a great guy, and I can actually call him a friend, not just "a guy I get snakes from". With that being said, I think its a little harsh to say, DONT SUPPORT PET STORES, THEY DONT STRIVE TO PROVIDE HEALTHY ANIMALS.

I know several pet stores that are extremely taken care of with exceptional service, and care for the animals.

YES these places are not petco/petsmart. But to say that kind of things, I think is a little blatant.

Of course I would push you to buy from Jimi as well, but If this is a pet store that you trust and know, dont let people talk you out of it.

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Yep, you're right Pat. I spoke with way too much generality and not enough clarity. I had Petco and Petsmart on the brain but never specifically stated that.

I agree that there are good specialty stores out there (somewhere) and those are not to be lumped in with the crummy ones.

Thanks for calling me on my sloppiness :)

Well I purchased a pastel RTB :)

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/21628...92231506lKnmdl

Will post pics when he arrives...and thanx again Jimi!

What a beautiful choice!!
You really can't go wrong with one of Jimi's snakes....
I can't wait to see more pictures once he's arrived :D

awesome! congrats!

boas are such sweet pets, and the colors on that one are outta sight!
and you're starting off on the right foot with an animal from a trusted source :gj: