Dwaf vs BCI: Need Advice

[dakski]

Hello there.....

As some as you know, I'm looking for my 1st and only BOA (don't laugh). Initially I was only looking at male dwarfs, mostly due to size and I found my interests in the Hog Island locality. I contacted several breeders and was coming up short everywhere I looked. My interests then started shifting to male BCIs thinking maybe the difference in size wouldn't be too much of a stretch (I'm thinking a 4x2 pvc enclosure). Long story short, I started to communicate to a well respected breeder and I found some BCIs that I really liked (i.e. Super Ghost).

Now all of a sudden, I was contacted by a respected Hog Island breeder who has some babies for sale so I'm looking to the board for some advice.

The factors that are most important for me are the following:

Temperament: I want a BOA that's docile and that I can handle. I've heard that Central Americans can be a little nippier then Colombian Boas. Any truth to this and should this be a big factor in my decision? Are Columbians considered better pets in terms of handling, etc...???

Visual Appearance: I tend to gravitate to a more clean looking BOA and some of the Hog Islands that I've seen are very speckled (not a fan) while others have a cleaner look. Is this something that changes over time?

Size: I'm not looking to power feed so I'm assuming a male BCI won't exceed what I'm looking to get into (again I have a 4 x 2 enclosure).

Thanks!!!

Ckuhn003,

I think most male BCI's will rarely see 6FT, if feed properly, meaning not overfed and slow grown.

A 4X2' should suffice for the life of a BCI male, and it will take 5-6 years for a BCI to reach adult size, so you have some time. Also, ask about the size of the parents. That plays a part as well.

BCC males may very well get 7FT+, but you are looking at BCI males, which is different. I do not think they are too many 7FT+ BCI males out there that were fed properly and grown slowly. 8FT, not likely. An 8FT female BCI is pretty big. Again, a 9-10FT female BCC is much more likely, along with a 7FT+ male.

BCI's are bred mostly for temperament and color/pattern/morph. I do not know many breeders that are out there trying to breed monsters, but you can ask.

Most BCI's, especially if handled from birth, although they are likely to have a strong food response, will be rather docile and more so with handling.

If you want to ensure a calm BCI, work with a breeder who knows each snake and can tell you who the calmest are, or at least who isn't nippy. Alternatively, if you get a juvenile instead of a baby, their "personality" will be more intact, and if calm and easy to handle, will probably stay that way, if not improve with regular handling with you.

Again, I would worry less about general species traits and more about the individual you are getting.

In a situation like this, working closely with a breeder is vital. Make sure you know what you are getting into.

I love BCI's because of the morph options and temperament and personality. I have nothing negative to say about dwarf species (and yes, and dwarf should be happy in a 4X2') but have limited experience.

Good luck and keep us in the loop.