Differences Between Boa & BP

[Emmastaff]

I have had my new male albino Boa for a month now. I also have 5 BP's that i have had for several years. It is pretty interesting how different they can be. Simply feeding them is a lot different. The boa has a much stronger feeding response, which was quite startling at first! There was no thinking about whether he really wanted it or not, like with the BP's. He also is much more social. He did have a bit of cage aggression at first. But I have been hook training him, (rubbing his head with the hook to let him know it isn't feeding time). Once he feels that, he is all ready to be picked up. I was just reading that albinos can have poor eyesight, so I wonder if this is why he is particularly receptive to this? He is a dream to handle once out of the tub. He seems to enjoy it and doesn't want to go back into his tub. Unlike my BP's who are like "Oh, good Lord, put me back already!". If I come into the room, the boa comes to the front of his tub looking to come out. The BP's are not as enthusiastic. When I am handling him, the boa will look right at me, eye to eye. It was a little unnerving, but I am used to it now. LOL My boy is currently 2 1/2 feet long, so still a baby. But I am enjoying him a lot. We want to make him comfortable with handling as much as possible, and he is on his way. Don't get me wrong, I do love my BP's too, but they are just not as into me! LOL (With the exception of my pastel male BP who is very social).

[Mike41793]

I have heard alot of people say stuff like this. It just makes me that much more excited for the day I'll be able to have enough room to get a boa.

[pigfat]

I love my red tail, he usually does the same thing and comes up to meet me when I open his tub. But sometimes he stays in stealth mode burrowed under the aspen. The CRAZY thing about my boa is that I actually have to make the rat dance quite a bit before he will take it. My balls take them quicker than he does.

[MasonC2K]

This is what I was told and am beginning to experience as I am a new owner as well.

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

[WifeOfSlasher]

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

So true!!!! My guy is a speedy little devil. He has calmed down a bunch since Christmas Eve when we got him. Now he's happy to stay wrapped around my wrist and hand checking things out but I still watch him close because he will take off for something of particular interest

[dragonboy4578]

I love my boa's. While I love my ball pythons when ever I am in the mood to just play with one of my snakes it always ends up being one of my boa's. They just love to be out of there enclosures, and will hang out for hours.

Boa's do take a little to get use to, at least for me. It took a while to get use to the way they interact with me. Once I was use to their behavior I realized just how curious they are. My boa's will search every inch of my reptile room when given the chance. From my experience boa's seem much more determined than bp's do also. Once they make their minds up it is hard to change them.

[yeroc1982]

So true!!!! My guy is a speedy little devil. He has calmed down a bunch since Christmas Eve when we got him. Now he's happy to stay wrapped around my wrist and hand checking things out but I still watch him close because he will take off for something of particular interest

Thats crazy because my Dum is the most chilled out snake i own, along with my red tail, my carpet is the speedy one! You let him go and you better hope your fast cuz he motors! My BP, well she's pretty chilled out too, sometimes kinda in a rush to go nowhere but mostly pretty chilled out.

[notmyfault]

So true!!!! My guy is a speedy little devil. He has calmed down a bunch since Christmas Eve when we got him. Now he's happy to stay wrapped around my wrist and hand checking things out but I still watch him close because he will take off for something of particular interest

So true! My boa was so fast and flighty when I first got her. She has calm down alot since I've first gotten her though. She is my favorite snake to handle! Just need to be mindful when something takes her attention.

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[roseyoungblood]

I don't have a boa but I visited the pet store the other day for snacks for my cats & swung by the reptile area. A kid working there convinced me to hold a red tail boa--not that it took that much convincing. When I saw that guy trying to bite the kid I was beginning to second guess my choice in snakes to hold, but once he got to me he wrapped himself tightly around my bicep contentedly. My heart melted! I would've bought him then and there if I had a larger enclosure available. He didn't want to let go, either, it got a little awkward trying to free him from me. Such a beautiful snake, too.

It's a good thing I knew better than to make an impulse buy though, I didn't realize how big they can get until I got home and did some research. Think my next snake will remain a BRB. Gah it was a lovely snake though.