Thinking about getting a boa as a second snake?

[Arcapello]

I've had a BP for about a month, and I'm thinking that maybe I'll get a boa eventually (probably 4-6 months).
I'm about 5'4", so I'm hoping to get one that I'll be able to handle by myself safely.
I'd like a breed that's a bit more docile, since it is my first large snake.
I'm hoping to eventually be able to handle daily.
A snake that has fairly simple husbandry would be nice, but I am willing to put in a bit more effort.
I was hoping someone could suggest a boa for me? I like how Hog Island Boas look, and I like Boa constrictor imperators, but I'm not sure if they're the right choice or not for me. I'm not interested in rosy or sand boas, and not particularly interested in Red Tail Boas. I'm definitely not looking into tree boas right now.
Questions:
*For Hog Islands, and Boa constrictor imperators (or any other suggested boas) what's an estimate of how large the enclosure will have to be?
*Feeders- Guinea pigs, rabbits, a few rats? Is it just a matter of opinion? I'm hoping to feed frozen, and would prefer to feed rats. I don't know if I would be able to get any feeders except for rats and mice.

As always, thank you very much to anyone who replies! If you need more information, I can definitely give some.

[Salamander Rising]

I've had a BP for about a month, and I'm thinking that maybe I'll get a boa eventually (probably 4-6 months).
I'm about 5'4", so I'm hoping to get one that I'll be able to handle by myself safely.
I'd like a breed that's a bit more docile, since it is my first large snake.
I'm hoping to eventually be able to handle daily.
A snake that has fairly simple husbandry would be nice, but I am willing to put in a bit more effort.
I was hoping someone could suggest a boa for me? I like how Hog Island Boas look, and I like Boa constrictor imperators, but I'm not sure if they're the right choice or not for me. I'm not interested in rosy or sand boas, and not particularly interested in Red Tail Boas. I'm definitely not looking into tree boas right now.
Questions:
*For Hog Islands, and Boa constrictor imperators (or any other suggested boas) what's an estimate of how large the enclosure will have to be?
*Feeders- Guinea pigs, rabbits, a few rats? Is it just a matter of opinion? I'm hoping to feed frozen, and would prefer to feed rats. I don't know if I would be able to get any feeders except for rats and mice.

As always, thank you very much to anyone who replies! If you need more information, I can definitely give some.

I have 2 BCIs [one male and a hypo female] and I adore them!

I love my BPs and take them out to snuggle frequently but playing with the Boas is entirely different.
They're interactive, not head shy [or shy at all] and they seem to really enjoy being out and having their 'play time' on their tree or just hanging around on me.

They're always out and about, watching me whenever I'm near their condos, unlike BPs who tend to want to hide most of the time.

I'm 5' 3"/100 pounds and the male is almost 7' and 15 pounds and though he is incredibly strong, he is absolutely no problem to handle at all.

He loves riding on my shoulders, tail and lower body wrapped around my waist like a belt and if he feels insecure, he will 'squeeze' to make sure he isn't going to fall but it's very easy to just slide a hand under him and loosen him up if I feel too squished.

The female is a bit smaller, having just had a litter and even though I just got her yesterday, she's already made herself at home, eaten two rats with gusto and settled right in like she's been here her whole life.

Each one has their own 2' x 2' x 4' hand made double-decked enclosure and they seem very comfortable in them.

Bob, the larger male eats one jumbo rat every week and has done wonderfully well on that and the female is getting two medium rats every 5 days as she is rather underweight after her delivery.
[as per her owner's instructions]

Husbandry is simple and straight forward and just about the same as BPs.

Mine are extremely docile, never bite and 'act loving', in as much as any snake is capable of showing affection.


The only 'down side' is that once you have them out of their homes, getting them back in can be a real wrestling match.

If Bob had his way, he'd just hang out on his tree all day long, watching TV.

[Arcapello]

I have 2 BCIs [one male and a hypo female] and I adore them!

I love my BPs and take them out to snuggle frequently but playing with the Boas is entirely different.
They're interactive, not head shy [or shy at all] and they seem to really enjoy being out and having their 'play time' on their tree or just hanging around on me.

They're always out and about, watching me whenever I'm near their condos, unlike BPs who tend to want to hide most of the time.

I'm 5' 3"/100 pounds and the male is almost 7' and 15 pounds and though he is incredibly strong, he is absolutely no problem to handle at all.

He loves riding on my shoulders, tail and lower body wrapped around my waist like a belt and if he feels insecure, he will 'squeeze' to make sure he isn't going to fall but it's very easy to just slide a hand under him and loosen him up if I feel too squished.

The female is a bit smaller, having just had a litter and even though I just got her yesterday, she's already made herself at home, eaten two rats with gusto and settled right in like she's been here her whole life.

Each one has their own 2' x 2' x 4' hand made double-decked enclosure and they seem very comfortable in them.

Bob, the larger male eats one jumbo rat every week and has done wonderfully well on that and the female is getting two medium rats every 5 days as she is rather underweight after her delivery.
[as per her owner's instructions]

Husbandry is simple and straight forward and just about the same as BPs.

Mine are extremely docile, never bite and 'act loving', in as much as any snake is capable of showing affection.


The only 'down side' is that once you have them out of their homes, getting them back in can be a real wrestling match.

If Bob had his way, he'd just hang out on his tree all day long, watching TV.

Thanks! I've heard that they don't like to go back into their enclosures, and they probably would spend a lot of time sitting on the couch with me while I read or watch TV, so that's not a huge concern.
It was really nice to hear about yours, and I'll definitely look into BCI's some more.

[DooLittle]

I will throw a vote to BCI! I love my little guy! No, they don't like to go back into their enclosures. Mine will do his best to turn around and come back up my arm. :p

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

[Evenstar]

I agree with Salamander. Also want to point out that boas will do fine on rats their whole lives. A large female might take 2 jumbos every 2-3 weeks, but still rats are fine.

If you go with a BCI, I would suggest a male. They generally stay under 7-ish feet. BCIs are very docile and make fantastic pets! Hog Islands are great too and stay a bit smaller, but they can sometimes be a bit more high-strung. Not always, but sometimes. Personally, I would opt for a larger snake that was more placid. I have 2 BCIs and 1 BCO (argentine) and the BCIs are the sweetest, most easily handled snakes I have!

My suggestions for you are a male BCI or a Dumerils which are very nice snakes too.

BCIs do need a large enlosure - I wouldn't do less than a 4x2x1 for a male and a 5'x2'x18" for a female. Larger is better.

[Salamander Rising]

Thanks! I've heard that they don't like to go back into their enclosures, and they probably would spend a lot of time sitting on the couch with me while I read or watch TV, so that's not a huge concern.
It was really nice to hear about yours, and I'll definitely look into BCI's some more.

He also loves to go to the local PetCo but he's a kleptomaniac and 'steals' whatever he can snag off the shelves with his tail.

I've gone to the checkout counter to pay for what I picked out, only to find that he's snatched a hamster water bottle or something else totally useless to a snake and is firmly clutching it in his tail.

He cracks up the employees with his comical antics.

Putting him back is like a WWE wrestling match.

I'm grappling with his body while he's doing everything he can to make sure his head in going back *out* out of the doors.

It's a workout, I'll tell ya.

[and wrestling is his favorite thing to watch on TV....either he has no taste in entertainment or he just enjoys all the color and constant movement]

I love my BCIs.



He was in blue when I took this but he's so calm that he doesn't even mind being out when he can't see very well.

[Salamander Rising]

I agree with Salamander. Also want to point out that boas will do fine on rats their whole lives. A large female might take 2 jumbos every 2-3 weeks, but still rats are fine.

If you go with a BCI, I would suggest a male. They generally stay under 7-ish feet. BCIs are very docile and make fantastic pets! Hog Islands are great too and stay a bit smaller, but they can sometimes be a bit more high-strung. Not always, but sometimes. Personally, I would opt for a larger snake that was more placid. I have 2 BCIs and 1 BCO (argentine) and the BCIs are the sweetest, most easily handled snakes I have!

My suggestions for you are a male BCI or a Dumerils which are very nice snakes too.

BCIs do need a large enlosure - I wouldn't do less than a 4x2x1 for a male and a 5'x2'x18" for a female. Larger is better.

I was picking up my hypo BCI yesterday at the expo when a lady came by with a Boa in a tub.

It was gorgeous and I asked her what it was.

She said it was a "nasty jerk Hog Island" and they were buying food for him.

I LOL because it made think of everybody here's stories about their own "JERKS!".



When hubby finally gets the upstairs turned into a snake room, I'm making built-ins for the Boas.

I'd like to have 6' x' 8' x6' 'wall units" that have enough room to have nice climbing trees in them and multiple 'perching shelves'.

They seem to really enjoy being able to get up as high as they can, just to hang out and 'be snakes'.

[yes, my home renovations are getting really pet-centric]



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I will throw a vote to BCI! I love my little guy! No, they don't like to go back into their enclosures. Mine will do his best to turn around and come back up my arm. :p

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

[Arcapello]

He also loves to go to the local PetCo but he's a kleptomaniac and 'steals' whatever he can snag off the shelves with his tail.

I've gone to the checkout counter to pay for what I picked out, only to find that he's snatched a hamster water bottle or something else totally useless to a snake and is firmly clutching it in his tail.

He cracks up the employees with his comical antics.

Putting him back is like a WWE wrestling match.

I'm grappling with his body while he's doing everything he can to make sure his head in going back *out* out of the doors.

It's a workout, I'll tell ya.

[and wrestling is his favorite thing to watch on TV....either he has no taste in entertainment or he just enjoys all the color and constant movement]

I love my BCIs.



He was in blue when I took this but he's so calm that he doesn't even mind being out when he can't see very well.

He's gorgeous! And I'm definitely leaning towards a BCI. Will have to wait until I move and have enough room for one, but it seems like it would be worth the wait

- - - Updated - - -

I was picking up my hypo BCI yesterday at the expo when a lady came by with a Boa in a tub.

It was gorgeous and I asked her what it was.

She said it was a "nasty jerk Hog Island" and they were buying food for him.

I LOL because it made think of everybody here's stories about their own "JERKS!".



When hubby finally gets the upstairs turned into a snake room, I'm making built-ins for the Boas.

I'd like to have 6' x' 8' x6' 'wall units" that have enough room to have nice climbing trees in them and multiple 'perching shelves'.

They seem to really enjoy being able to get up as high as they can, just to hang out and 'be snakes'.

[yes, my home renovations are getting really pet-centric]



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Don't worry, I only have one snake, but him, and all of the other pets are definitely the rules of the household They think they are at least. I think they have more room than the actual humans. Can't imagine what my house will be like when I buy my own.

[Mike41793]

Will have to wait until I move and have enough room for one, but it seems like it would be worth the wait .

EXACTLY my situation too lol. I want a bci so bad but wanna make sure i have the room for caging first. Not until i move out

[Salamander Rising]

He's gorgeous! And I'm definitely leaning towards a BCI. Will have to wait until I move and have enough room for one, but it seems like it would be worth the wait

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Don't worry, I only have one snake, but him, and all of the other pets are definitely the rules of the household They think they are at least. I think they have more room than the actual humans. Can't imagine what my house will be like when I buy my own.

You know you're in it hopelessly when everything thing you see makes you think "I wonder if my snake would enjoy that?".



I've had lots of practice....before the snakes came, everything was devoted to the happiness of the dogs.

Between the two of them, every dime I get inevitably goes toads one or the other for 'toys' or 'accessories'.

It's like having cherished children whom you want to really spoil.



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EXACTLY my situation too lol. I want a bci so bad but wanna make sure i have the room for caging first. Not until i move out

If you get a baby BCI, you'll have plenty of time to find new digs before it's big enough to need a big house.

Even a 40 gallon breeder tank would suffice for probably a year.

They don't really 'grow like weeds'.