Look who followed me home...! aka story with a good ending

[cinderbird]

My second in a series of two local trades that i did. A guy did a very nice thing in taking in this neglected little anery boa from a neighbor whose child he had been purchased for had lost interest in it quickly. He fattened him up to a good body weight but always had the idea to rehome him because boas really weren't his thing.

One of my big female BPs was downright demonic when it came to my cats. There was just no way she'd settle down with my two furry felines anywhere near her (and that meant within scenting range). Since I can't even close off doors to keep them out I decided it would be in both of our best interests to rehome her.

I wrestled the aptly named Dragon into a transport tub with a hide and met up with Local Guy. The moment of truth came when he reached into the tub (albeit with gloves on, but still) to pick her up and she didn't even flinch. He handled her for about 10 minutes and it was like she was an entirely different snake. THIS was the snake i'd purchased originally--calm, easy going, not very head shy and not a demon. He agreed and thought that they could have a very nice life together. In exhange I picked up his little male boa to give a nice home to.

Boas are something I'd considered initially when getting into snakes but after handling a 9 foot, 25 pound female BCI i just thought they were too much. This guy is at least 2 years old and barely 3.5 feet. I can't imagine he'd even make it to 7 feet at this point. Local guy was feeding him 1x a week, medium rats. I don't have a weight on him yet but I will soon. Unfortunately, the reason he is so small is probably because he was very underfed during crucial parts of the growing process when he was neglected by Neighbor Kid. (they were feeding him small adult MICE 2x a MONTH). From what i have been told he is a true red tail (BCC and not a BCI). He is powerful, at least 2x as powerful as my strongest ball python. He is in incredible shape, and if not for the underfeeding he'd be a perfect specimen. Although.. with the underfeeding it made him a great snake for me. Soon he will be in a nice big display type cage where everyone can see how handsome he is.

What is also nice, is Local Guy keeps a few ball pythons and had had the boa for a year prior to me getting him. Initially I told him i couldn't take the trade because of the fear of IBD and the fear for my ball pythons. He actually knew what IBD was and we had a few conversations about it. After that issue was negated, all that was left was for me to handle him.

This is my new boy. More pics coming after he settles in. He needs a name.

[luna13]

nice pick up

[Jason Bowden]

Nice boa and future display snake!

[Inugohan]

Well a big congrats to you. I love boa's myself, but I am still a python guys and will probably never own one. However I have done plenty of research and smething lags in my mind that it can't be a BCC if it is indeed anery. So odds are it is a BCI and there for not to small for his age. Some male columbians only reach 5 feet as it is. Anyway, congrats again and thanks for sharing. ~Caylan.S.~

[Oroborous]

Handsome boa, congrats on the new addition!

[cinderbird]

Well a big congrats to you. I love boa's myself, but I am still a python guys and will probably never own one. However I have done plenty of research and smething lags in my mind that it can't be a BCC if it is indeed anery. So odds are it is a BCI and there for not to small for his age. Some male columbians only reach 5 feet as it is. Anyway, congrats again and thanks for sharing. ~Caylan.S.~

I took what i was told about him with a large grain of salt. I'm not a boa person at all (yet). I've got enough info to get his basic husbandry down, but after that i'm pretty much lost (but thats why i've got the forums ) He may be a BCI, i'll take some full body pics soon to get some expert opinions.

Thank you for your information, i really appreciate it.

[Aeries]

He's just gorgeous! I'll be thrilled if my Anery holds that much grey to that age! =3 A big difference for me inbetween the males and females is not so much the length, but the width. Females are alot bulkier...so I like the males better! 6ft is fairly typical, 7 is rarer.
One feeding every two weeks is fine...as long as it's an appropriate sized meal.

[cinderbird]

He's just gorgeous! I'll be thrilled if my Anery holds that much grey to that age! =3 A big difference for me inbetween the males and females is not so much the length, but the width. Females are alot bulkier...so I like the males better! 6ft is fairly typical, 7 is rarer.
One feeding every two weeks is fine...as long as it's an appropriate sized meal.

I was always told males stayed much more managable. He is 2x as thick as my biggest bp and SO strong. He wrapped both my wrists together and its like living handcuffs. He's unused to me handling him so hes very clingy. hehe.

Oh and his feeding regiment is definitely changing here. Of the few things i do know about boas its that their metabolisms are very slow. I've got small/medium rats. He's on F/T which is awesome. By weight I'm imaging that hes about 3000-3500 grams. Would a small rat or a medium rat be better? or should he be on larges? He was being fed meals large enough to make a lump even a few days later. None of my BPs get meals that size. Theirs barely leave lumps.

[BPelizabeth]

Wow he is really beautiful! Such a pretty color...really amazing!

[cinderbird]

Wow he is really beautiful! Such a pretty color...really amazing!

his colors and pattern are breath taking. I was so surprised when i saw him the first time. Here is the picture Local Guy gave me to see him when we were emailing. Not a great image but it shows his whole body.