Looking to get a boa no sure what kind

[VooDooDoc]

Thanks for the advice, some great stuff to go on here! I'm leaning towards a Dumerils at this point I think.

[Trackstrong83]

Thanks for the advice, some great stuff to go on here! I'm leaning towards a Dumerils at this point I think.

Can't go wrong with a dumerils.

[Evenstar]

Thanks for the advice, some great stuff to go on here! I'm leaning towards a Dumerils at this point I think.

Can't go wrong with a dumerils.

Agreed!! Excellent choice!

[Gio]

Dums are a very good choice,,, But,,,, listen to this from somebody who was JUST in the same shoes you are now.

Male OR female Colombian BCI.

Here's why and this is no knock on the Dumerils boa because it was on my short list and I'd still like one. Dumerils "ground" boa. Great snake but somewhat similar to the Royal in terms of terrestrial habits. Again, I'm just suggesting a bigger switch from the Royal.

You will have a semi arboreal snake with a BCI, NO feeding issues, and get this,,,,,, after you have one, at least in my case you'll feel something large, like a female BCI isn't going to be that large at all because they are such great snakes.

Actually I've seen some VERY thick Dumerils boas that I love. Again not slamming the Dums, just offering up a snake with a bit different habits. The Carpet python isn't a bad choice either. Balls, Bloods and Dums sort of all have very similar habits as far as being mostly ground dwelling in character.

I'm hoping, really hoping my male Barranquilla Colombian BCI ends up in the 7 foot range and not the 5-6 area. After making the jump, you just kind of realize boas are NOT monsters and even at a big size like an 8 foot female you won't be feeling like you have a 20 foot retic.

So,

Dumerils: great size especially the females. One of the most beautiful natural patterns of any boa IMO. Laid back. Some can be picky eaters. They are more arboreal than say their cousin the Madagascar ground boa (also beautiful) but still they are not a huge change from the Royal IMO as far as display and general activity level. Although I think a lot less scared of the world LOL!

BCI boa: has a beautiful pattern, active, semi arboreal, feeds like a shark. Very docile and curious when you take them out. You may have trouble putting it back. Hardy animal and easy to maintain. TONS of morphs. Great size big and thick but not enormous. Good to great display animal.

I don't have a ton of info on the Carpet Python other than they are beautiful, possibly one of the prettiest snakes going. They are active and pretty arboreal. Probably a better display animal than the BCI. Can be a bit snappy.
Carpets along with the Dumerils are on my list of "maybe someday" snakes.

Really if you chat with enough people and look at threads that ask "If you could only have one snake what would you keep?" The ones I've read have a bunch of whack jobs like myself talking about their boa constrictors.

Hey, this is just me blabbing about my choice and passing along my thoughts. The Dumerils crowd can surely come up with a whole host of reasons to go that route.

I say step up,, get a nice, boa and let it get big. Most, never go past 8-9 feet.

Good luck.

[brobertson]

Dums are a very good choice,,, But,,,, listen to this from somebody who was JUST in the same shoes you are now.

Male OR female Colombian BCI.

Here's why and this is no knock on the Dumerils boa because it was on my short list and I'd still like one. Dumerils "ground" boa. Great snake but somewhat similar to the Royal in terms of terrestrial habits. Again, I'm just suggesting a bigger switch from the Royal.

You will have a semi arboreal snake with a BCI, NO feeding issues, and get this,,,,,, after you have one, at least in my case you'll feel something large, like a female BCI isn't going to be that large at all because they are such great snakes.

Actually I've seen some VERY thick Dumerils boas that I love. Again not slamming the Dums, just offering up a snake with a bit different habits. The Carpet python isn't a bad choice either. Balls, Bloods and Dums sort of all have very similar habits as far as being mostly ground dwelling in character.

I'm hoping, really hoping my male Barranquilla Colombian BCI ends up in the 7 foot range and not the 5-6 area. After making the jump, you just kind of realize boas are NOT monsters and even at a big size like an 8 foot female you won't be feeling like you have a 20 foot retic.

So,

Dumerils: great size especially the females. One of the most beautiful natural patterns of any boa IMO. Laid back. Some can be picky eaters. They are more arboreal than say their cousin the Madagascar ground boa (also beautiful) but still they are not a huge change from the Royal IMO as far as display and general activity level. Although I think a lot less scared of the world LOL!

BCI boa: has a beautiful pattern, active, semi arboreal, feeds like a shark. Very docile and curious when you take them out. You may have trouble putting it back. Hardy animal and easy to maintain. TONS of morphs. Great size big and thick but not enormous. Good to great display animal.

I don't have a ton of info on the Carpet Python other than they are beautiful, possibly one of the prettiest snakes going. They are active and pretty arboreal. Probably a better display animal than the BCI. Can be a bit snappy.
Carpets along with the Dumerils are on my list of "maybe someday" snakes.

Really if you chat with enough people and look at threads that ask "If you could only have one snake what would you keep?" The ones I've read have a bunch of whack jobs like myself talking about their boa constrictors.

Hey, this is just me blabbing about my choice and passing along my thoughts. The Dumerils crowd can surely come up with a whole host of reasons to go that route.

I say step up,, get a nice, boa and let it get big. Most, never go past 8-9 feet.

Good luck.

I agree 100%! This is what I did, and I absolutely adore my BCI! I doubt you can go wrong either way, but if you want to mix it up even more from a ball, BCI is the way to go!

[DooLittle]

My vote would also be for a bci. Love mine. They have the most curious personalities. Here is my two.

Female Coral Albino




Male Hypo

[Evenstar]

I agree 100%! This is what I did, and I absolutely adore my BCI! I doubt you can go wrong either way, but if you want to mix it up even more from a ball, BCI is the way to go!

I do have to agree with Gio and brobertson on this. My very first boa was, get this, a BCI female. And yes, she's getting quite.

But she was the perfect first boa for me. I adore her! She has the most wonderful personality ever and, despite her size, she is extremely easy to handle - and I'm a pretty small woman but she's still easy for me to work with by myself. BCIs are just all-around awesome snakes.

I had no clue what I wanted. I knew it was between a Dum, BCI, or BRB (kind of like you!!), but I didn't know which. I went to an expo and talked to lots of people and handled all 3 species. I almost bough a juvenile female Dum, but then found that female BCI - a baby from a WONDERFUL breeder who spent a LOT of time answering questions, was very knowledgeable, and never once made me feel insignificant or dumb. Part of the experience was buying from a good person. I got this baby because of him. The guy with the Dum was barely able to tell me what sex she was and didn't know anything else about her and promptly started chatting with his buddy when I started asking questions. I put her back. I have NEVER been sorry with my BCI girl.

Now having said that, I do now have a Dumerils. And this one is fantastic! I can see why these guys make such GOOD first boas. This is a great species and highly underrated. They are very calm and great to handle. They do get fairly heavy though and don't really stay as small as some folks think. But Gio is right - don't worry too much about size. None of these boas get huge and their nice temperaments make them a joy to handle.

If you do decide on the Dum, you won't be sorry!! But you'd thoroughly enjoy a BCI too!

[Raven01]

My intended 1st boa was supposed to be either a Brazilian or a Peruvian Rainbow.
Instead I wound up acquiring a Peruvian Long Tail as my introduction to boa's.
She won't get too large and, is every bit as active and interactive as my Irian Jaya CP.
On the down side there is not a ton of info easily available on this subspecies as some other more common snakes that also fit your requirements.
Another plus for me is both the I-J and the Long Tail get better looking as they age.

[Gio]

My intended 1st boa was supposed to be either a Brazilian or a Peruvian Rainbow.
Instead I wound up acquiring a Peruvian Long Tail as my introduction to boa's.
She won't get too large and, is every bit as active and interactive as my Irian Jaya CP.
On the down side there is not a ton of info easily available on this subspecies as some other more common snakes that also fit your requirements.
Another plus for me is both the I-J and the Long Tail get better looking as they age.

Speaking of underrated, I think the longs tails are supreme boas. What is lacking a bit in info is made up for with some other info about the husbandry. They can handle the cooler temps and are quite hardy.

I'd like to learn more about the long tails. Raven01 might be the "drum beater" for these guys. I don't hear enough about them, but I agree it's another boa to look into!

[Evenstar]

My intended 1st boa was supposed to be either a Brazilian or a Peruvian Rainbow.
Instead I wound up acquiring a Peruvian Long Tail as my introduction to boa's.
She won't get too large and, is every bit as active and interactive as my Irian Jaya CP.
On the down side there is not a ton of info easily available on this subspecies as some other more common snakes that also fit your requirements.
Another plus for me is both the I-J and the Long Tail get better looking as they age.

Speaking of underrated, I think the longs tails are supreme boas. What is lacking a bit in info is made up for with some other info about the husbandry. They can handle the cooler temps and are quite hardy.

I'd like to learn more about the long tails. Raven01 might be the "drum beater" for these guys. I don't hear enough about them, but I agree it's another boa to look into!

Very true!! I think many of the subspecies are overlooked. I have a 1.1 pair of Argentine boas (BCO) and they are among my favorites! There's not that much info out there on these guys either, but there should be. I wouldn't recommend BCO as a first boa though. They can grow to be giants - females regularly exceed 10ft and males often get close to that. Plus their attitudes can be quite intimidating.

BUT the Peruvian Long-tailed boas are amazing animals and tend to be a smaller and more docile subspecies. The only problem I see would actually be FINDING one.......