My best friend in the Navy had a Columbian red tail. She was super nice, so I do like them. I cringe now when I remember his dad microwaving the rat to thaw it out and I think they had her on cedar shavings for a while. She was around 7 or 8 feet when she passed from a respiratory infection. Since it's for my daughter, my only concern is will she be able to handle a larger snake. My daughter is turning 10, and I know there are plenty of boas that don't get that big.