My next Snake?

[MacWin]

Also I noticed that NERD does sell Yellow Anaconda's I would love to get KLG's opinion as well.

And I just noticed I am a seargent now WOO HOO

[MacWin]

And if I can get Nanners to calm down I think I can calm down anything LOL. When I first got him he was a nutjob now only every once in a great while does he do his rattlesnake imitation. And doesn't strike like he used to either.

[RPlank]

BCI. Enough said.

[jotay]

Ok please no one laugh but what is a BCI? a common boa?
I love boas but I heard you have to be careful with them if you have Pythons because they can give them a RI that can kill them quick, that's why I was considering a JCP
Thanks !

[JamminJonah]

I will never laugh at the BCI question because it is confusing.. it stands for Boa Constrictor Imperator (I think that's right) they are also called red-tailed boas here is a link to the same sort of question with an amazing post by Randy.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/PNphpBB2...ic-t-1896.html

[jotay]

Thanks!

[Smulkin]

Perfect place to start learning of em (BCI, BCC etc) - acronyms are always deflicted like that. The RI I think you're referring to Jotay (I'm almost unqualified to biol water at this point in the week heh) is IBD (Inclusion Body Disease) which wreaks havoc on their nervous system and can only be confirmed via biopsy (i.e. post death ). TONS of folks keep both without incident so it's hardly a given but it is spooky they can be carriers and not exhibit a single sign. Developing a safe procedure (keep seperate, handle/maintain Boas last. lather, rinse, repeat) is your insurance there. No need for panic at all, just foreknowledge and self-education.

[Ginevive]

You should get a bci. I love mine. He would eat a toy mouse if I dangled it in front of him.
I'd recommend getting one from a breeder. Alex Hue is a great one; I just got my new BP from him, and was leary about getting snake online for the first time, but it all went really well. He has a few bci's in stock too.
As long as you know the proper caging requirements and potential size (which I am sure you know already you should be very happy with a bci!
But they should be keot away from your BPs, in case they carry IBD. It's fatal to BPs. I just keep mine in a seperate room and wash hands thoroughly between snake handling.

But they should be keot away from your BPs, in case they carry IBD. It's fatal to BPs. I just keep mine in a seperate room and wash hands thoroughly between snake handling.

WHile its not necessary to keep boas away from pythons, it is necessary to quarantine new purchases and practice safe sanitation when it comes to handling. Also, IBD is fatal to just about anything it infects. I think some of us here are too schizted out by IBD....not ALL boas carry nor do ALL pythons.

[Kara]

What's your experience level? Anacondas are something I probably wouldn't recommend to 90% of the snake keeping population. They have such a propensity to be unpredictable & persnickity that getting your feet wet with some "intermediate level" species - i.e. Olive pythons, blood/short-tail pythons, some of the various boas, etc. would be a very good idea before taking the plunge into anaconda-dom.

Should you decide to get one, start with a yellow, simply because they are somewhat calmer than greens & don't get as big. Just don't expect a ball python in any way, shape or form. You can get away with a lot more with other species than you can with Anacondas - they don't tend to be as forgiving of husbandry errors.

Just my $.02

K