BCC Columbian RTB

[Expensive hobby]

Thank you guys very much. Just so I know for future purchases and just for my own personal education what did you look at to make your determination?

Basically what can I look for to know what I have?

And even tho it's a BCI, is it still considered a red tail boa? Or is it known as something completely different? Is it a Columbian BCI and not a RTB?

0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Red Tail Boa

[Daybreaker]

Thank you guys very much. Just so I know for future purchases and just for my own personal education what did you look at to make your determination?

Basically what can I look for to know what I have?

And even tho it's a BCI, is it still considered a red tail boa? Or is it known as something completely different? Is it a Columbian BCI and not a RTB?

0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Red Tail Boa

The saddle shape (most -but not all- BCC boas will have peaked saddles that look kind of like this: {}), the tail isn't the deep red seen on many BCC boa babies, and overall head shape and facial markings. For reference, here's a pic of some baby BCC Suri boas (pic at bottom): http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/boas_suriname.htm

BTW Rio Bravo has wonderful info on many boa locales, I'd look through Gus's website.

Colombian BCIs are still considered "red tailed boas" by many (and they're referenced as red tails in pet stores) but personally I don't call my Colombians, Hog, or Argentines "red tail boas" because the "true red tails" are the BCC boas.

[Expensive hobby]

Thank you for all the information. So basically I have a BCI Columbian, if that's what the experts have determined lol.

If that is in fact what she is, how big can I look forward to her getting? Is the realm of 9-10ft out of the question? 40-50lbs? Or are we looking at a smaller snake?

And thank you all again for the education on Boas that I didn't have before!


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Red Tail Boa

[Daybreaker]

Thank you for all the information. So basically I have a BCI Columbian, if that's what the experts have determined lol.

If that is in fact what she is, how big can I look forward to her getting? Is the realm of 9-10ft out of the question? 40-50lbs? Or are we looking at a smaller snake?

And thank you all again for the education on Boas that I didn't have before!


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Red Tail Boa

I would say it's safe to say she's a Colombian BCI: you could ask the breeder what the pairing was to determine if she has BCC blood in her but I personally don't see much BCC influence.

Colombians on the norm get smaller than the BCC boas, so I would say she should get between 6-8' as a female. There are larger girls out there, but most top out around that size range. If she has any BCC blood in her she could get on the larger side of the norm. Can't help much with average weight.

I recommend you to need at least a 6' cage when she's full grown.

[jason_ladouceur]

Here's a picture from the breeder of a new baby Suriname B.C.C that I am picking up next week. You can clearly see the difference between the B.C.I you picked up and a true B.C.C.


Defiantly a B.C.I in my opinion. A nice one though. Congrats and enjoy. Boas are awesome. I'm sure it won't be your last.

[Expensive hobby]

I'm guessing that the BCI tho are less desirable than the BCC?

And on a side note, yes she will have a very appropriate sized enclosure


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Red Tail Boa

[Daybreaker]

I'm guessing that the BCI tho are less desirable than the BCC?

And on a side note, yes she will have a very appropriate sized enclosure


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Red Tail Boa

Very good

As for BCIs being less desirable I would say it's all personal preference and who you ask. BCCs usually fetch a higher price tag than a normal Colombian, but there are many Colombian morphs out there that are desirable and expensive (expensive not meaning they're any "better" than any other boa IMO).

I hope to add a BCC to my collection one day but that doesn't mean I'm not happy/impressed with the BCIs and BCOs in my collection right now.

[jason_ladouceur]

Very good

As for BCIs being less desirable I would say it's all personal preference and who you ask. BCCs usually fetch a higher price tag than a normal Colombian, but there are many Colombian morphs out there that are desirable and expensive (expensive not meaning they're any "better" than any other boa IMO).

I hope to add a BCC to my collection one day but that doesn't mean I'm not happy/impressed with the BCIs and BCOs in my collection right now.

I would agree that Beaty is in the eye of the beholder. I personally think that BCO is one of the coolest boas there is. They are so dark and they get huge. normal BCI's are more common in the pet trade than the other boas. But they also have almost all the morphs. Other than the one BCO morph and the rumor of albino BCC they are all BCI. So the sky's the limit with BCI. I love all my boas. Don't think I could pick a true favorite.

[Evenstar]

I totally agree with everything you've been told by Daybreaker and Jason....

You have a normal Colombian BCI, not a BCC (although it is possible your snake has some BCC blood in its "pedigree" somewhere, but without documentation of that from her breeder, there is no way to know for sure). But judging from looks alone, I'd say there is no BCC influence and your snake is 100% BCI.

BCI are not generally referred as red tails - at least not by those with experience. The true Red Tail Boas are BCCs.

BCI are in no way any less desirable than BCC. Mostly its a matter of preference, and there are some that always prefer pure locality BCC over BCI, but there are also those that strongly prefer BCI as well. The BCC are a little harder to find in the trade so they tend to fetch a higher price tag, but that doesn't make them more desirable.

A female BCI will reach about 7-8 feet and around 30lbs. Smaller or larger is not to be unexpected though.

Enjoy your baby - boas are amazing animals!

[Expensive hobby]

Thank you all again.

She ate her first meal today which made me very excited. Hits "more accurately" and "more confidently" than the BPs it seems.

She weighed in at 70g's before feeding and I will have her on a 5 day schedule with my ball until she needs less frequent feelings.

I really wanted a big snake(why I got a boa instead of another ball) and I just hope she's big enough lol. I'm not ready, nor is our family ready, for a big burm, retic or conda, so she was gonna fill that size gap...

He really is an intriguing creature, and so different from the BP's I'm more accustomed to.

She def seems more "friendly" and most certainly not head shy in the slightest like my BP.

On a side note, I waked in the house today and saw my wifey holding her all on her own(normally terrified of snakes and very resilient to hold my BP) but she made me so proud lol.


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Red Tail Boa