Noob Boa Questions from a BP Guy

[MasonC2K]

So I am a seasoned BP owner at this point and I am interested in getting a BCI or BCCI. Given where I live it seems only BCI is available.

I've got a good grasp on husbandry as far as space needed, temps, and humidity, feeding schedule. But I'd like to know more about behavior differences.

So if anyone you keep both boas and balls could you give me some differences if any?

Like, if you change something or the weather changes will they go off feed for months or are they steady eaters? My balls seem to be finicky that way.

Anything is appreciated.

[fishmommy]

every boa will have its own personality, but here is what I have found to be true with my boa vs. bp

Boas are steady eaters and readily take a variety of food items (rats, mice, etc) with very little hesitation.

Boas are not really head shy and will not retreat from contact the way a bp will. it can be a little unnerving until you get to trust your boa.

Boas are quite different when handled, and are much more grippy than bp's. boas are more likely to climb and seek high ground when handled.

Boas are also faster when motivated than bp's, so keep on your toes

[Kinra]

I just got my first boa this morning, so I don't have too much to offer, but I've been told the feeding response in boas is different than BPs. I also think boas are better feeders than BPs.

From my experience this morning unboxing my boa, I can tell you a pissed off/stressed boa is going to go offensive instead of defensive like a BP.

[MissDizzyBee]

I agree with the above. Rather than going off feed, mine will take whatever food is offered, then regurgitate it if something isn't right. He's not as shy, and he more or less jumps when he wants to go somewhere - think leaping from one branch to another.

The heat and humidity are the same, but my boa hardly uses his hide at all. He likes to sit in his tree.

The lack of headshyness threw me off at first...I was always afraid he was agressive...but that's just how he is.

I love my BP, but boas...they are *amazing*.

[Alexandra V]

I have a Nicaraguan boa, so it's still BCI but they tend to be a little different from Columbians, but I find that with any boa they're a lot more active when handled, like instead of getting comfy and chilling like a ball, a boa will tend to want to explore you more.
Every animal is an individual, as was stated. A good example is my boa compared to my ball. Even though boas are reputed to be ferocious eaters, mine seems to be picky some times. And, on the contrary, even though ball pythons are reputed to be picky eaters, my big male has never refused a meal in his life. You just have to get to know the animal you're interested in.

Boas are much quicker, as was stated, so keep on your toes, but most tend to be fairly docile (emphasis on tend) docile when they've settled in. You just have to see them as individuals. Also, BCI are usually much easier to find than BCC, but they're becoming more and more popular, so you might be able to find one with some digging.

[Skittles1101]

I think it varies with every boa too, as the above stated they tend to have much stronger feeding responses, they are much easier to switch to f/t, and they rarely refuse. I keep 4 bps and 1 boa, and my boa has yet to refuse a meal, but he also has bitten me much more often (he's still a baby...most of them grow out of that). He hasn't struck at me in a few weeks so I am kind of excited. My boa moves much slower and seems not as clumsy as my bps. He can climb on me for hours if I let him, and they are MUCH stronger than bps. I just love my boa though, I really do highly recommend them as long as you're careful to not expose them to your bp collection, which I'm sure you are aware of.

My boa is a bit of a freak apparently, I rarely EVER see him out...he lives in his hides and really only comes out if he's hungry, or if I wake him up to hold him. Once he's out though he's very active and curious..not lazy like my bps lol.

[fire-eyes]

I had one ball python and then one boa (BCI). I'm glad I got the boa!

My baby boa was exceptionally mean and nasty. Most baby boas aren't like that, although it is common for them to be nippy. They grow out of it. With months of work I got him calmed down. Again that's not typical.

My boa, at over 2 years old now, has never refused food. The strikes have always been extremely strong, if not violent. He has never regurgitated.

Boa behavior is different from ball pythons in that they don't move as much. It seems that they are far more efficient, and just don't bother to move unless they have to. And when they do, it's very precise and often slow. They seem a bit more intimidating than ball pythons, although there really isn't much of a good reason for it.

Most boas that are taken care of and in good health calm down and eventually become friendly. Handling them is different, as sometimes they enter the panicy "I'm going to fall!" motions quickly. Once confident, they calm right down.

You might get an annoyance bite or an accidental smack to the face from the tail in such panic. I haven't been bitten by my boa in well over a year, and when I have been bit, it was either in the first few weeks where he was freaking out (not common) or when I did something dumb like bump his head hard.

Boas are impressive snakes -- very muscular and extremely strong. They won't put up with the kind of innocent mistakes that a BP will put up with, at least, not for as long. With a BP you might get away with bumping its head a few times, but with a boa, that first time can get you tagged. As such you simply learn to think out handling them and move slower and with more planning, and in a different way.

BCI are easier to take care of and more tolerant of husbandry mistakes than BCC. I believe they are also smaller. Female BCI's are larger than male BCI's. I have read that BCI's have a better disposition / attitude than BCC's. BCI's seem to be the better beginner boa.

I have truly enjoyed my experience from raising a baby, and I strongly suggest it. Keep doing your research and when you feel confident, go for it. Get a baby. Expect it to be in anywhere from a bad to an extremely bad mood on arrival, but it will calm down.

[fire-eyes]

From my experience this morning unboxing my boa, I can tell you a pissed off/stressed boa is going to go offensive instead of defensive like a BP.

Very true. When i got mine as a baby, he was in total rage mode once he got out of that bag. Very intimidating for such a tiny snake. And smart, I had a very tough time corralling him. Unlike a BP where I can just distract it with one hand and grab with the other, he kept track of both hands and effectively kept me away.

At one point he was lunging partially off the floor coming at me and my (very large) camera -- so you had a human being pushed back by one very upset little snake. Fun stuff.

Today he's 2+ years old and 4 feet long and still growing, and a real sweetheart.

[MissDizzyBee]

Very true. When i got mine as a baby, he was in total rage mode once he got out of that bag. Very intimidating for such a tiny snake. And smart, I had a very tough time corralling him. Unlike a BP where I can just distract it with one hand and grab with the other, he kept track of both hands and effectively kept me away.

At one point he was lunging partially off the floor coming at me and my (very large) camera -- so you had a human being pushed back by one very upset little snake. Fun stuff.

Today he's 2+ years old and 4 feet long and still growing, and a real sweetheart.

I bet that was adorable.

For some reason the fiesty smart ones just melt me into a puddle.

[Evenstar]

I really do highly recommend them as long as you're careful to not expose them to your bp collection, which I'm sure you are aware of.

I am in the same position as the op - I am experienced with bps and am considering getting a boa. I had never heard this. Can you explain further what you mean?

I do know that snakes are more or less solitary animals and I have no intention of letting any of my snakes really interact with each other, but is even further seperation necessary between these 2 species? i.e. Can they be housed in the same room (again, seperate enclosures of course)?

Thanks in advance!