Noob Boa Questions from a BP Guy

[Crazy4Herps]

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.

In terms of Bci vs Bcc, I would definitely recommend a Bci for a first-time boa. Bcc, true redtails of locales such as Suriname, Peru, Guyana, Venezuela, and Brazil, are gorgeous snakes but are much less resilient than Bci, and some locales (such as Suriname Bcc) are prone to something commonly referred to as "Suri syndrome", which is basically chronic regurgitation. They're great snakes, but for a starter boa Bci or some other subspecies is usually the best option.

Though husbandry is fairly similar, boas are SO different from ball pythons! For one thing, they are much more calm and relaxed. My boas are rarely nervous or jumpy. Boas are very docile and super fun to hang out with, but young boas can also be very sassy; they won't think twice about giving you a good bite if they're unhappy! (It's actually pretty cute. )

Anywhere, anytime, and any season, boas are aggressive feeders. I've been keeping boas for several years now and I have yet to see either of mine refuse a meal. Actually, you should definitely take this into consideration when you're selecting a cage. If I have food, my boas will come flying out of their cages as soon as they're opened a crack. I find that tubs with top-opening lids are difficult when it comes to feeding larger boas.

The thing that always throws me off is their weight. Boas are much more solid than ball pythons; if you have a ball python and boa that are identical in length and girth, the boa will be a lot heavier.

And yes, IBD is something you should be completely paranoid about!!! Getting a new boa is always a scary thing. Buy from a reputable breeder and quarantine like crazy!! Boas have been known to be asymptomatic carriers for over a year, meaning that even if you quarantine for six months, you're still taking a risk. (And this isn't like risking the spread of mites or RI's, this is like risking the death of your entire collection.) I'm not saying you need to quarantine your boa for a year, but it is extremely important that you buy from a reputable breeder and familiarize yourself with the symptoms!

Anyways, good luck and have fun! Boas are absolutely the best pets all around! They have wonderful personalities, great feeding responses, and are really just perfect in every way!