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.