Boa recommendations

[dboeren]

Hey guys! I'm looking for a boa to add to my collection and wanted to get some advice from the group. I have actually kept boas before but this was in the early 90's so it's been quite a while and there's a LOT more knowledge out there now than there was back then. Currently I have a Diamond/Jungle Carpet Python.


Anyway, here are my requirements...

1. Must not outgrow a 4x2x1 or 4x2x2 enclosure. I have a 4x2x1 Boaphile right now, but could pick up a taller cage, just not a wider one due to space limitations. At the same time, I do want enough heft that you know you're not holding a corn snake, which I think means maybe not one of the island localities.

2. I am willing to go with either gender (so probably a male since they stay a bit smaller?) and I'm not planning to breed them

3. Must be friendly (pretty much most boas are in my experience)

4. Must be reasonably priced (say 400 or less), I'm not looking for funky morphs or whatever. I can stretch a little for something exceptional. Not really a fan of albinos but maybe some pattern morphs or localities with cool patterns.

5. I will be attending the Daytona show in mid-August and this is where I'm hoping to pick it up. I'm using the time between now and then to try to do my homework. However, I am also willing to buy online and ship if I don't find what I'm looking for at the show.


I'm thinking some candidates might include a BCI, Dumeril's, and Longicauda but I also know BCI is a wide blanket term so any more specific advice is appreciated. I'm particularly interested in any impressions on the differences between BCI and Longicauda in size, weight, personality, etc... I'm also open to any other subspecies that I may not currently be familiar with.

Also, up to about what age do you think one of these would be able to live in a 44qt sized tub before moving them up to the 4x2x1? I know boas are known for relatively slow growth compared to most snakes and I try to plot out timelines of where everyone will live year-to-year to make sure I've got the right homes ready at the right time for everyone.

Thanks!

[Avsha531]

Sounds like you need an Island boa- Hogg Island or one of the Cays...

Check out Cutting Edge Herps/Vin Russo

[richardhind1972]

I have a pair of 2year old bcl at the moment the female is about 4.5ft/5ft and eventually the female will probably be around 5.5-6ft and the male a bit smaller, both really nice too handle and not too girthy eventually not like most BCI
I also have Nicaraguans,mainland and corn island nics, both are 3 and less than 5ft and not too girthy and nice and pleasant too
But had from quite young so been handled in regular basis so very used to me
The leopard have plenty of cool morphs and blood boas all are quite small too ,the berry bloods and leopards are normally under 5ft too. There's also plenty of other locals like cay calker, and some Mexican tarahumara boa which are only around 4ft
The dumerill can get quite a decent size but really nice
Some people say about hog island too but if you can find a pure one as their gene pool as proper been muddied ,they can still be around 6ft mark
hope this helps

Hey guys! I'm looking for a boa to add to my collection and wanted to get some advice from the group. I have actually kept boas before but this was in the early 90's so it's been quite a while and there's a LOT more knowledge out there now than there was back then. Currently I have a Diamond/Jungle Carpet Python.


Anyway, here are my requirements...

1. Must not outgrow a 4x2x1 or 4x2x2 enclosure. I have a 4x2x1 Boaphile right now, but could pick up a taller cage, just not a wider one due to space limitations. At the same time, I do want enough heft that you know you're not holding a corn snake, which I think means maybe not one of the island localities.

2. I am willing to go with either gender (so probably a male since they stay a bit smaller?) and I'm not planning to breed them

3. Must be friendly (pretty much most boas are in my experience)

4. Must be reasonably priced (say 400 or less), I'm not looking for funky morphs or whatever. I can stretch a little for something exceptional. Not really a fan of albinos but maybe some pattern morphs or localities with cool patterns.

5. I will be attending the Daytona show in mid-August and this is where I'm hoping to pick it up. I'm using the time between now and then to try to do my homework. However, I am also willing to buy online and ship if I don't find what I'm looking for at the show.


I'm thinking some candidates might include a BCI, Dumeril's, and Longicauda but I also know BCI is a wide blanket term so any more specific advice is appreciated. I'm particularly interested in any impressions on the differences between BCI and Longicauda in size, weight, personality, etc... I'm also open to any other subspecies that I may not currently be familiar with.

Also, up to about what age do you think one of these would be able to live in a 44qt sized tub before moving them up to the 4x2x1? I know boas are known for relatively slow growth compared to most snakes and I try to plot out timelines of where everyone will live year-to-year to make sure I've got the right homes ready at the right time for everyone.

Thanks!

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[dboeren]

The usual recommendation I see is snake length = cage length + cage width so I think up to 6 foot or maybe 6.5 should be OK? Especially if they can benefit from a taller cage giving a little extra room to explore.

Thanks for the info on bloods & leopards, I'll check these out. longicauda sounds like a potential good match since you're saying they stay a bit smaller. Do you have any recommendations on breeders for longicauda that I could reach out to, especially ones that might be located near or attending Daytona (unfortunately the vendor list isn't up yet)? I'd prefer one of the black & silver high contrast ones over the dark ones.

[ckuhn003]

Hey guys! I'm looking for a boa to add to my collection and wanted to get some advice from the group. I have actually kept boas before but this was in the early 90's so it's been quite a while and there's a LOT more knowledge out there now than there was back then. Currently I have a Diamond/Jungle Carpet Python.


Anyway, here are my requirements...

1. Must not outgrow a 4x2x1 or 4x2x2 enclosure. I have a 4x2x1 Boaphile right now, but could pick up a taller cage, just not a wider one due to space limitations. At the same time, I do want enough heft that you know you're not holding a corn snake, which I think means maybe not one of the island localities.

2. I am willing to go with either gender (so probably a male since they stay a bit smaller?) and I'm not planning to breed them

3. Must be friendly (pretty much most boas are in my experience)

4. Must be reasonably priced (say 400 or less), I'm not looking for funky morphs or whatever. I can stretch a little for something exceptional. Not really a fan of albinos but maybe some pattern morphs or localities with cool patterns.

5. I will be attending the Daytona show in mid-August and this is where I'm hoping to pick it up. I'm using the time between now and then to try to do my homework. However, I am also willing to buy online and ship if I don't find what I'm looking for at the show.


I'm thinking some candidates might include a BCI, Dumeril's, and Longicauda but I also know BCI is a wide blanket term so any more specific advice is appreciated. I'm particularly interested in any impressions on the differences between BCI and Longicauda in size, weight, personality, etc... I'm also open to any other subspecies that I may not currently be familiar with.

Also, up to about what age do you think one of these would be able to live in a 44qt sized tub before moving them up to the 4x2x1? I know boas are known for relatively slow growth compared to most snakes and I try to plot out timelines of where everyone will live year-to-year to make sure I've got the right homes ready at the right time for everyone.

Thanks!

Sounds like we're in the same boat. I've been researching for awhile now and looking to get my 1st BOA. I have a vacant 4 x 2 x 15" enclosure and I've had several breeders say this should be fine for a male BCI and or smaller Boa. According to Vin Russo's Boa Book, he likes to keep adult boas in a 5-6 foot long enclosure while keeping dwarfs and island boas in a 3-4 foot enclosure. I really don't want to have to purchase a larger enclosure

As for Hog Islands, these BOAs have been on the top of my list but finding available pure breds have been as difficult as finding a needle in the haystack. I may just end up with a male BCI if I can't find any Hogs.

[richardhind1972]

Sorry I live in the UK so not sure on breeder's over in the USA, I know that crispy snakes haves some amazing anery longicauda, just stunning,b ut not sure where about a they are sorry
Yes leopards are from the smaller sonarion boas and most bloods are from the el Salvador boas and most are pretty cool and on the small side

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[dboeren]

As for Hog Islands, these BOAs have been on the top of my list but finding available pure breds have been as difficult as finding a needle in the haystack. I may just end up with a male BCI if I can't find any Hogs.

Have you checked Morphmarket and faunaclassifieds? I think I've seen some listed on both as well as 50% hogs. It can take time finding the right animal though when you're looking for something uncommon.

[ckuhn003]

Have you checked Morphmarket and faunaclassifieds? I think I've seen some listed on both as well as 50% hogs. It can take time finding the right animal though when you're looking for something uncommon.

Yea, I've checked Morphmarket and contacted pretty much every breeder that's been associated w/ Hog Islands. Also joined several Facebook groups associated w/ Hogs. I have seen some Hypo Hogs but I've been a little hesitant (even though I really like the cleaner look). I've seen so many people looking for 'pure Hogs', that I'm worried that I would probably wish I had a 'pure' for some reason after purchasing a Hypo. It's kind of like the saying 'you don't know what you really want until it's too late' ...if that makes sense.

[dboeren]

With so many awesome snakes out there and room being limited, there's always an element of uncertainty. I've been waffling for a while over Blood Python vs. Sumatran Python vs. a couple of different Blood morphs and am still not sure. It was a lot easier back when I kept Corns. They were cheap and small so you could just buy 4 or 5 different ones rather than have to make hard choices

The only thing I'm really sure of is that you'll never regret waiting for (and paying for) a really nice snake. If a hypo looks better to you than a "pure" hog and you're not planning on breeding hogs and you're also not into the whole purebred locality thing then it seems unlikely that you would regret it later. But, there's nothing wrong with taking your time until you're sure either.

btw, where in Georgia are you? I'm in Marietta (NW of Atlanta).

[ckuhn003]

If a hypo looks better to you than a "pure" hog and you're not planning on breeding hogs and you're also not into the whole purebred locality thing then it seems unlikely that you would regret it later. But, there's nothing wrong with taking your time until you're sure either.

btw, where in Georgia are you? I'm in Marietta (NW of Atlanta).

I'm looking at this like it's my one time to get the 'best and only BOA for me' so I just want to be sure that I would be satisfied with a Hypo over a Pure And due to my ignorance, I can't answer that yet....haha

I live right below you....Smyrna Ga!! Good to know that I'm not the only snake person in Cobb County