Noob Boa Questions from a BP Guy

[Kinra]

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!

I'm not sure if this is what LGray23 ment, but boas will eat pythons so you want to be careful with that. Also, boas can carry ibd without symptoms and while a boa has a slight chance of surviving as far as I know it's always deadly in pythons. After quarantine I don't see why they can't be kept in the same room.

[Alexandra V]

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!

As was stated before, after quarantine there's no problem keeping them in the same room, etc. Obviously not in the same cage, as you said, but I've kept my boa in the same room as my BP (the cages are right next to each other, actually) for about two or three months now and there have been no problems.

However, something I do meticulously is make sure I don't "cross-contaminate" anyways. So I don't use the same bowl to heat up their rats, and I don't use the same tongs to feed the both of them, and I do a lot of hand washing. It might be a bit of overkill, but that's how I do it just as an extra safety net.

[fndjason4]

Boas are definitely more agressive feeders. The speed of stike and feeding response is truly impressive in any boa i have ever been around. They readily will take different type feeders and will often feed in shed if offered (not recommending. just saying). My albino female is a little over a year and about 4 1/2 feet. she amazes me every time i interact wity her.

They are defnitely different as far as movement and reaction to you. Boas seem to keep my attention when i am handling alot more than balls. They are both great though and if you can handle the size and care boas are a rewarding snake to keep.

[Evenstar]

Thank you Kinra and Alexandra! I appreciate your clarification! That all makes sense now, lol....

[MissDizzyBee]

I'm not sure if this is what LGray23 ment, but boas will eat pythons so you want to be careful with that. Also, boas can carry ibd without symptoms and while a boa has a slight chance of surviving as far as I know it's always deadly in pythons. After quarantine I don't see why they can't be kept in the same room.

It's still always fatal with boas, but they can be asymptomatic carriers for years. Pythons, on the other hand, will typically die within a month.

[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!

[MasonC2K]

Speaking of breeders...

Recommendations?

All of the web sites I have found so far are out of stock.

Thanks to everyone for responses.

[fire-eyes]

Speaking of breeders...
Recommendations?

My BCI is a salmon pastel male from JimiSnakes. He's got more than just those. Great snake, great buying experience. I don't know the status of babies available, but it's worth waiting.

[Kinra]

Speaking of breeders...

Recommendations?

All of the web sites I have found so far are out of stock.

Thanks to everyone for responses.

I found my boa on Kingsnake.com sold by Boots Hawks. He was great to work with. He held my boa for over a month while we waited for the weather to get better in my area and he kept in contact, at least once a week, with updates on her. I love my boa and am extremely happy with her. I know he has jungles, salmons and probably more hypo jungles. If I decide to get another boa he will be the first person I contact. I don't know if he has a web page.

[Crazy4Herps]

Speaking of breeders...

Recommendations?

All of the web sites I have found so far are out of stock.

Thanks to everyone for responses.

Dave Colling! (http://rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com/homepage.htm) I got my Bci from him. He's a great guy and his boas are top notch!