Identify this

[limey]

I know we already have a sticky, which is very useful. But I wanted opinions :)

This boa came into the local animal adoption centre where my girl works. The owner couldn't be bothered to care for it any more. It looks to be in perfect health, he's very friendly and am considering getting him.

But what type is it: BCC/BCI? Any guesses on locality?

[Mikoh4792]

Looks very BCC

but you can NEVER know if a bcc or bci doesn't have other subspecific blood mixed into it just by looking.

Very long ago a bci could have been mixed into it's lineage and you would never know.

[limey]

Yeah, my initial thought was a possible mix. I'm no boa expert by any means. But I was looking for the peaks on the saddles and it has just 2 or 3, but most of the saddles are not peaked anywhere else. The patterning is FAIRLY clean I suppose, but it is dark overall, esp compared to a suriname.

[kelzerman]

Beautiful girl though!

[limey]

Yeah. I'm probably gonna take him/her. We don't know the sex yet. But the adoption centre was planning on euthanizing him if nobody wanted him within a few weeks. And I can't allow that... it's too nice to be killed. I will find space for him.

[Cruddown]

Beautiful snake. Looks like a sweetheart.

Your right hand in that photo with you looks like a hedgehog. I thought at first that you were holding her while she was eating. I had to take a second look!

[limey]

Yeah it does look quite hedgie like ha ha... Thats actually my girlfriend. She's tiny - 5 ft 2. The snake dwarfs her. I'm a 5ft 11 guy lol

Any way, so I'm gonna go and give her a quick health check and hopefully pick her up today. And to think that animals like this are euthanized every day. It really is sad.

[Cruddown]

Sorry, I was too distracted by the snake and the hedgie!

[poison123]

I do agree that it has BCC in it.

[Kera]

good for you, save that snake. :) keep us updated

[limey]

Okay guys, I got the Boa. I had chance to have a very good look at it yesterday, check it over etc. He is gorgeous. I never saw myself as BCC/BCI person. I always thought they looked dull and brown in photos. In real life however, they are something else!

It is a male - I am guessing about 75% BCC (possible Guyana) mixed with 25% BCI. That's my hunch, from what experience I have and going on other pics/cues and hints.

He came with a tank and heat lamp all for $15. Deal of a lifetime.

$15 to save a life. Can't beat it.

Now, 2 things I will need to do eventually:

His current tank is only about 3.5 x 1.5 feet, which is a little too small. He's surviving in it, but I will need bigger as I don't feel comfortable with how small the cage is. Bear in mind he is about 7-8ft. So I need a 4 x 2 x 2 at least.

So new tank needed next payday I think.

Also need a bigger heat mat. The one I have leftover is from my previous Ball Python and is about 1/2 the size it should be. Again, he is okay for now, but I am aware of what needs to be improved.

I don't like my animals to be just "surviving", I like them to "thrive".

Happy ending for boa boy.

I named him "V" because of his classic mustache and goatee seen on a lot of BCC's.

Those of you that will have seen the V for Vendetta movie will know "V" as the main protaganist with the masked mustache/goatee guy modeled after Guy Fawkes!

[kelzerman]

Yay! It is good to still have people like you around. It would have been a real sad story if that beautiful snake would have been put down.

[bigsnakegirl785]

For a 7 or 8ft I would shoot for a 6x2x2 minimum. But gorgeous snake, definitely looks very much BCC to me!

[Tsubaki]

Yeah. I'm probably gonna take him/her. We don't know the sex yet. But the adoption centre was planning on euthanizing him if nobody wanted him within a few weeks. And I can't allow that... it's too nice to be killed. I will find space for him.


This just, Wow? Blew my mind! putting down 'unwanted' snakes? Snakes up for adoption? 15$ !?? O.M.G Really? This, wow.. it is like a slap in the face haha!

If you have a snake here, no matter what kind. And it needs a new home? If you put it up for 'adoption', you get an ton of replies within the hour. Even people who will drive miles to come and get it.. You can filter out a good one, and it has a new home. Snakes are never 'up for adoption' here, only up for sale. There are tons of people offering homes through on-line advertising.. for 'unwanted snakes and lizards', and i usually refer to them -people who are to cheap to buy a reptile-:D

There would never have to be a snake put down in this country, just because nobody wants it. Not even if its very defensive and/or has scars, as long as does not have weird diseases there will be always someone who wants it.

If i saw this snake lying there, with an adoption fee of 15$... I would take it in a heartbeat! its Gorgeous, and that price is ridiculous, i am jealous!!!!!! I think if this happened here, a snake in a rescue centre in need of a home.. Reptile lovers will swarm and fight over the snake. Maybe you can call it a good thing there there are no 'rescue' snakes here... But i cant help but feel jealous, this is one beautiful snake!!!!!

[limey]

This just, Wow? Blew my mind! putting down 'unwanted' snakes? Snakes up for adoption? 15$ !?? O.M.G Really? This, wow.. it is like a slap in the face haha!

If you have a snake here, no matter what kind. And it needs a new home? If you put it up for 'adoption', you get an ton of replies within the hour. Even people who will drive miles to come and get it.. You can filter out a good one, and it has a new home. Snakes are never 'up for adoption' here, only up for sale. There are tons of people offering homes through on-line advertising.. for 'unwanted snakes and lizards', and i usually refer to them -people who are to cheap to buy a reptile-:D

There would never have to be a snake put down in this country, just because nobody wants it. Not even if its very defensive and/or has scars, as long as does not have weird diseases there will be always someone who wants it.

If i saw this snake lying there, with an adoption fee of 15$... I would take it in a heartbeat! its Gorgeous, and that price is ridiculous, i am jealous!!!!!! I think if this happened here, a snake in a rescue centre in need of a home.. Reptile lovers will swarm and fight over the snake. Maybe you can call it a good thing there there are no 'rescue' snakes here... But i cant help but feel jealous, this is one beautiful snake!!!!!


Thanks Tsubaki. Yes, it is a sad state of affairs - the "putting down" part.

I am going to generalize very badly now, but there are lots of people here in the U.S. that are so misinformed about snakes, or incredibly fearful of them for whatever reason - usually due to plain ignorance and watching too much TV. (Stupid films like Anaconda for example.)

Everyone that works in the local adoption center here (in a big city) is terrified of snakes. There are 30 employees working there. My girlfriend is pretty much the only one that likes reptiles that works there.

The staff "wanted rid of the snake as soon as possible", either by adoption or euthanization.

The U.S. has a long way to go in terms of public knowledge regarding reptiles. (Also, knowledge on accents and cultures too. Most Americans can't tell the difference between an Aussie or British accent - I get called Aussie about 5 times a day compared to British about once a month. I am originally from UK but most people are clueless.)

The education system is very flawed and lacking over here, in my opinion. I'll probably get a load of haters here now from saying this, but oh well.

This is my honest opinion after living here in various states over the last 5 years and meeting literally hundreds and hundreds of people.

I did get lucky with this boa, I suppose. I can't buy a 6x2x2 anytime soon though. Yikes. It will be months before I can afford such a tank. He will be in his 3 x 2 until then.

He's doing well though.

[Sharlynn93]

my MIL started volunteering at our local humane society, and one of the workers told her that someone had tried to surrender a snake and an iguana in the past, and they had to turn it away because none of them know anything about them and they are all terrified of reptiles...so my lovely MIL "volunteered" me to them if they ever have another one brought in so that it wouldn't end up being abused, let loose, or die...probably not a common thing around here, i don't know of a lot of snake keepers around, but hoping that i can be of service if it ever does happen :)

[bigsnakegirl785]

Thanks Tsubaki. Yes, it is a sad state of affairs - the "putting down" part.

I am going to generalize very badly now, but there are lots of people here in the U.S. that are so misinformed about snakes, or incredibly fearful of them for whatever reason - usually due to plain ignorance and watching too much TV. (Stupid films like Anaconda for example.)

Everyone that works in the local adoption center here (in a big city) is terrified of snakes. There are 30 employees working there. My girlfriend is pretty much the only one that likes reptiles that works there.

The staff "wanted rid of the snake as soon as possible", either by adoption or euthanization.

The U.S. has a long way to go in terms of public knowledge regarding reptiles. (Also, knowledge on accents and cultures too. Most Americans can't tell the difference between an Aussie or British accent - I get called Aussie about 5 times a day compared to British about once a month. I am originally from UK but most people are clueless.)

The education system is very flawed and lacking over here, in my opinion. I'll probably get a load of haters here now from saying this, but oh well.

This is my honest opinion after living here in various states over the last 5 years and meeting literally hundreds and hundreds of people.

I did get lucky with this boa, I suppose. I can't buy a 6x2x2 anytime soon though. Yikes. It will be months before I can afford such a tank. He will be in his 3 x 2 until then.

He's doing well though.

I'm not even sure it's going to fit in that, but you're the one with the enclosure so you'll have to see. I don't think I have anything that size to compare, except maybe the tub I have my bp in and my 6ft boa would take up at least half the floor curled up. Either way, you wouldn't want him/her in it for long, boas aren't like ball pythons they like to be able to stretch out.

[IW17]

I can't buy a 6x2x2 anytime soon though. Yikes. It will be months before I can afford such a tank. He will be in his 3 x 2 until then.

He's doing well though.
Build an enclosure. I used Melamine for my Bci. Her enclosure is 6x2x2 and the whole thing cost me under $200.

[limey]

I'm not even sure it's going to fit in that, but you're the one with the enclosure so you'll have to see.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, bigsnakegirl. The enclosure came with him - he has been living in it most of his life from the previous owner. I didn't have a 3.5 x 2 x 2 just sitting around in my tiny 1 bedroom apartment waiting for a snake lol.

He fits in it just fine, with a hide on both sides and water bowl. I haven't had chance to measure the exact length. It''s probably closer to 3.75 feet long. I'm just terrible at guessing cage sizes. I might be able to build one when I can get the materials together. It'll likely be a few weeks yet.

I know you guys are looking out for the snake - rest assured, he is in good hands. I just helped him avoid the lethal injection, so he's already on the right track ;)

[Austiclees]

Count the subcaudal scales... BCI will usually have less than 30 or so and a BCC will have way more than that, (Between 40 to 70). Like others have mentioned though, if there was some mixed blood in the lineage, it would still be difficult to tell without an actual DNA test.

Either way, it's a beauty.

p.s. the subcaudal scales are the scales after it's cloaca, (poop-shoot).