first boa! red tail

[cehmz]

She is a beautiful little boa. I have a few different bp's and 3 boa's right now. I will tell you this. If I could only have one or the other I would get rid of my bp's in a heart beat and keep the boa's. They are just so much more interesting than my bp's are.

They do seem to need a bit more handling than my bp's to keep them calm, but this isn't really a problem. I love the boa's so much that I seem to take them out every day....lol

Thats what I've already been feeling, granted I only own a bp other then this boa. She just seems more intelligent and fascinating. An good to hear on they enjoy lots of handling because so do I. Thanks for chiming in.

Also thank you to those of you who said she was a pretty girl, I think so too

[cehmz]

So I had some experts from redtailboa . net chat look at the pictures I have of her and they said she is not a true rtb but actually a BCI.

[Evenstar]

So I had some experts from redtailboa . net chat look at the pictures I have of her and they said she is not a true rtb but actually a BCI.

That is correct. She is a BCI which is not a "true" red tail. However, they are of the same family. A true red tail is a BCC (BCI = b.c.imperator and BCC = b.c.constrictor). Once you see a true red tail BCC, they are unmistakable. There is nothing wrong with yours being a BCI though. In fact, considering your earlier concerns, you are lucky she is. She'll stay a bit smaller than the average BCC which grow to be veerryy impressive animals and, generally speaking, the BCI's have a nicer temperament.

It's kind of hard to tell from the pics, but she looks to be a common columbian or central american boa constrictor. She's not hypomelanistic or she'd be more pink/peach in overall coloration and she's not an anerythristic either or she'd be more grey and black with none of the rust on her tail. She is normal coloration for a common BCI. That in no way detracts from her beauty! She is very nicely patterned and her coloration is lovely - she'll continue to change as she grows and she'll just get nicer!

Here is a pic of my baby boa. She is also a BCI and she's hypomelanistic...

[cehmz]

That is correct. She is a BCI which is not a "true" red tail. However, they are of the same family. A true red tail is a BCC (BCI = b.c.imperator and BCC = b.c.constrictor). Once you see a true red tail BCC, they are unmistakable. There is nothing wrong with yours being a BCI though. In fact, considering your earlier concerns, you are lucky she is. She'll stay a bit smaller than the average BCC which grow to be veerryy impressive animals and, generally speaking, the BCI's have a nicer temperament.

It's kind of hard to tell from the pics, but she looks to be a common columbian or central american boa constrictor. She's not hypomelanistic or she'd be more pink/peach in overall coloration and she's not an anerythristic either or she'd be more grey and black with none of the rust on her tail. She is normal coloration for a common BCI. That in no way detracts from her beauty! She is very nicely patterned and her coloration is lovely - she'll continue to change as she grows and she'll just get nicer!

Here is a pic of my baby boa. She is also a BCI and she's hypomelanistic...

Thank you so much for that detailed response. Do you think I paid to much for her at $100 dollars? She seems to be in good health and mite free and came from the only reptile specialist in or around the city I live in.

[Evenstar]

Thank you so much for that detailed response. Do you think I paid to much for her at $100 dollars? She seems to be in good health and mite free and came from the only reptile specialist in or around the city I live in.

No, not necessarily. If you're happy with her and she's healthy, that makes her worth every penny. It's true that you can probably find a normal BCI for less, but you might have to worry about shipping or traveling to get it which would add to the overall cost.

BTW, even though she seems healthy, I assume you are practising proper quarantine proceedures and keeping her and everything she comes in contact with seperate from your current BP? Boas can carry ibd which is rapidly fatal to pythons. A minimum of 60 day (and many might recommend a 90 day) quarantine is a must. Just thought of it so I thought I'd mention it....

Incidentally, I agree with Morgan (dragonboy). I love Ella, my BP, and I have no plans for her to ever go anywhere, but I do believe she may well be my last BP. Peaches, my boa, is amazingly interactive and intelligent. And she always eats! ....which is kinda important and is one thing that drives me nuts with Ella, much as I love her....

[waltah!]

I don't think I've ever had a boa miss a meal.

[cehmz]

No, not necessarily. If you're happy with her and she's healthy, that makes her worth every penny. It's true that you can probably find a normal BCI for less, but you might have to worry about shipping or traveling to get it which would add to the overall cost.

BTW, even though she seems healthy, I assume you are practising proper quarantine proceedures and keeping her and everything she comes in contact with seperate from your current BP? Boas can carry ibd which is rapidly fatal to pythons. A minimum of 60 day (and many might recommend a 90 day) quarantine is a must. Just thought of it so I thought I'd mention it....

Incidentally, I agree with Morgan (dragonboy). I love Ella, my BP, and I have no plans for her to


ever go anywhere, but I do believe she may well be my last BP. Peaches, my boa, is amazingly interactive and intelligent. And she always eats! ....which is kinda important and is one thing that drives me nuts with Ella, much as I love her....

Yes I have them seperated and use seperate things, hand sanitizer etc. I can't keep them in different rooms in my current apt but they are about 10ft apart.

[Vypyrz]

Nice looking little boa. Welcome to the Boaddiction. I've only got 1 BP as well, and in my opinion boas are more addicting. I've got 4 of them

[EverEvolvingExotics]

She looks great!

[wendhend]

Nice looking little boa. Welcome to the Boaddiction. I've only got 1 BP as well, and in my opinion boas are more addicting. I've got 4 of them

Yes, there is definitely something addicting about them, but their bigger size makes it hard to keep too many of them. For space reasons, I have to limit myself to just three RTBs. I guess that's probably a good thing.....