I agree here and also second the book!Originally Posted by Reinz
Since you are going to get a Boa and have lots of questions, a lot of Boa keepers consider this to be the best book. It has tons of photos too! I would highly recommend acquiring one. Amazon is a good source.
It seems to me at least that most Boas darken with age. However some here have said that some lighten. All I know is that dealing with most living things about the only thing to engrave in stone is that death is certain to come.
BCs (BCC) are considered to be the largest. And different locales can have different colors and or size.
Punch, Wild Type BI
There are MANY differences between BCC and BCI, but the are not always evident unless you are very well versed in the species.
Feeding, reproduction, temps and general husbandry can have rather wide variation from species to species.
Obviously coloration and ability to retain it can be influenced by selective breeding.
Here is an example of breeding differences. True Red Tailed boas from Peru can be very, very difficult to breed. Seasonality is very, very important however most BCI are very forgiving when it comes to husbandry and usually rather easy to set into a breeding cycle.
I think reading that book and finding anything on the Web written by Gus Rentfro (world authority on boas) will help.
These days a higher end Suri can command a $600 price. Although that will get you one heck of a snake.
Legacy Reptiles is a good place to purchase. They have acquired a lot of Gus Rentfro's old stock both BCC and BCI.
This is a Gus Rentfro (Rio Bravo Reptiles) produced Barranquilla, Colombian boa. It is a locality animal and these boas share both BCC and BCI characteristics.
I bought him in 2013 from Legacy Reptiles.
He has held onto his coloring but his tail in both pictures is less red than when he was a baby.
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