should i?

[erebus45]

i currently have one normal ball python (am getting another one as soon as cage arrives and i get it set up) my question is i want a boa of some kind the thought of getting a boa has been on my brain for awhile now but before i do anything rash i thought i would get some opinions of other boa owner and see if i should still continue to pursue to get one. i have done some research here and their but their is so many kinds that have different husbandry needs its crazy. i would want one that i can fit in a ap-t8 sized cage (taller if it likes to climb) that way i can just stack it on top of my other two that i have. i would like one that i could trust around my 4 yr old son (he loves snakes but still wont hold one yet) i like the red tailed boas but from my understanding is that they get pretty big, i had a dumeril's once but for some reason he would not eat i took him to vet alot and to my local pet store that deals alot with snakes and he force fed him a couple times but after about a 3 months he all of a sudden starting having a seizure(i think) and passed away that kinda scared me to be honest...but anyways any advice is always appreciated thank you

[redshepherd]

I just have a dumeril's boa, but you could always get a boa constrictor imperator male if you're worried about size.

If being docile and handleable is highest priority though, I'd try dumerils again. Their ease of feeding seems pretty split, they're either pigs that eat everything or are picky with f/t. Looking for an older dum (over a year old) will give you a better chance of no feeding issues, and buying from a reliable breeder or keeper.

You see posts about boa constrictor bites, but almost never see one about dums, even within dumerils communities.

[Sauzo]

You cant go wrong with a boa. If you want one on the smaller side with decent temper, I would say go for a BI. They are pretty much bulletproof on care and are garbage cans when it comes to food. Also most are really mellow. Both my BI girls are lounge snakes except Vicky has been striking at things she thinks is food recently. I think she might be going through a growth spurt and wants more than normal food lol. Get a male is you want smaller sizes. females get bigger. I also got a 2 month old baby dumerils who is the sweetest snake ever. She rivals my boas on mellowness. She is content to literally just sit on me and she eats like a pig. If you buy a dumerils again, make sure it is eating good before you buy it as I have heard babies can be a pain to get started eating sometimes. All of them can fit in a T8 but I would go with a T10 as its the same footprint but more height. Here's my 6-7' 4 year old girl in a T10 for example As you can see, she fits in there fine.

BC which are the true red tail boas get a lot bigger and have a more narrowed husbandry requirement but they are really pretty too. You can also check out BI morphs which come in pretty much all colors and patterns and all prices lol.

[Neal]

Regarding boas, some ideas of what exactly you're looking for, and a price range would make it a lot easier for us to suggest some different ones.

Now about the trusting with your 4 y.o. son, anything with teeth can bite, and no matter how tame you think something is, there's always a possibility of something going sideways. For this reason you always need to be around to supervise your son if he's holding a snake.

[BWB]

I have a male Hog Island boa that is a great snake - pretty laid back, easy to handle and eats like a trooper. Never had him strike me or even attempt to but he hissed at me when I first got him until I straightened him out (repetitious handling). He is now over four feet long and weighs 1.5 kg. Loves to be out exploring but mainly hangs out on our dining room chairs (his enclosure is in this room and occasionally I forget to close it up when cleaning and have found him out on the chairs and on the table yesterday). Part of the problem that I have seen with people and snakes is that they come approach them headfirst - snakes don't like that. All of my snakes have no issues with handling but still don't like to have a hand or other body part abruptly show up in their line of vision. If I handle them along their sides, holding them firmly and supporting their bodies with both hands they are completely comfortable.

[Gio]

Great!
It sounds like you are a settled adult and have an established home situation. Boa Constrictors are wonderful. They are as entertaining as almost any other boa or python and will utilize height and ground spaces.



We all have different likes/interests so deciding can be made easier by doing the research you are now.


VERY FEW boas male or female get huge. Any 8 foot BC (boa constrictor) is on the bigger and of the scale.

I consider my male rather large at 6.5 - 7 feet. He is completely handleable and a joy to keep.

This is not a morph. He is a Barranquilla, Colombia, locality boa. He was produced by Gus Rentfro who is considered a world authority on boa constrictors. I purchased this one from Legacy Reptiles.

Take a look at the colors after a fresh shed and in natural lighting!



There are several subspecies and smaller locals to choose from.

I like my boas a bit larger but not overly huge.

The display a nice mix of terrestrial and semi arboreal behaviors when set up and fed properly.




Start here, buy it and enjoy the read. I'd look this over and focus on something you really want.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Boa-.../dp/0978897927

[Mangiapane85]

Great!
It sounds like you are a settled adult and have an established home situation. Boa Constrictors are wonderful. They are as entertaining as almost any other boa or python and will utilize height and ground spaces.



We all have different likes/interests so deciding can be made easier by doing the research you are now.


VERY FEW boas male or female get huge. Any 8 foot BC (boa constrictor) is on the bigger and of the scale.

I consider my male rather large at 6.5 - 7 feet. He is completely handleable and a joy to keep.

This is not a morph. He is a Barranquilla, Colombia, locality boa. He was produced by Gus Rentfro who is considered a world authority on boa constrictors. I purchased this one from Legacy Reptiles.

Take a look at the colors after a fresh shed and in natural lighting!



There are several subspecies and smaller locals to choose from.

I like my boas a bit larger but not overly huge.

The display a nice mix of terrestrial and semi arboreal behaviors when set up and fed properly.




Start here, buy it and enjoy the read. I'd look this over and focus on something you really want.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Boa-.../dp/0978897927

Holy moly. That might've just sold me on getting a Boa! Absolutely remarkable snake!


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[Reinz]

If you would like an easy step up in your snake handling, display animal, and all around fun, a Boa is a great choice.

No reason to repeat what others have said, but you will not regret it. Afterall, a snake with a mustache has just got to be fun!


Elenore





Punch


Boas Rock!

[Gio]

Here are a few other places to check things out.

Author of the book, boa expert and friend of Gus Rentfro
http://www.cuttingedgeherp.com

Great quality animals with some nice locality stuff.
https://www.facebook.com/BoaConstrictorDesignerboa/

Locality oriented and has Rentfro (Rio Bravo) stock.
http://www.tcreptile.com/page1.php

Great guy! One of the nicest people in the boa bizz.
http://www.mccarthyboas.com/home.html

Where I bought my boa.
https://www.facebook.com/legacyreptileslocalityboas

[erebus45]

Wow... Boas in generally are just beautiful I love the fact that (on some of them) the color is not the same all the way down the snake like the red tail and that beautiful barranquilla that gio posted pics of I will deffenitly do alot of research and reading up on them...to me (and I'm not dissing bp's at all) but to me it just seems like the boa is just more Idk how to word this but mean looking I guess you could say but I wanna give many thanks to all of you guys for the great pics and links.... Thank you

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