Localities?

[CaspertheGecko]

Hi guys, I know I'm going to sound like a broken record and I apologize in advance. However I am very confused in how the localities work. I bought my first boa yesterday and I absolutely love him. I got him from a local well loved pet store and he is very healthy. However I failed to ask what his locality is. I kind of just assumed he's a red tail boa. But now I see maybe he isn't. I'm super sorry for making a post like this, I'm sure you get them a lot. But can anyone help me or point me in the right direction?

[lady_bug87]

If anyone is going to guess they'll need a top view. Very likely its a common BCI

Best of luck!

[Jrich]

Casper, try Boa Constrictor Keepers on Facebook. Active group that could tell you within minutes what your little guy is.

[eminart]

Looks like a common BCI, but again, boa genetics are just about impossible unless you have accurate background info on yours.

[Tsubaki]

Mixed (or intergrade) Boa Constrictor, with mostly BCI influences.

[SnoopySnake]

Mixed (or integrate) Boa Constrictor, with mostly BCI influences.

Yep. Its impossible to know what locales are present without proven lineage info.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Papers will tell you for sure, but seeing as you got it from a pet store chances are you aren't going to be able to find the breeder let alone the papers. Colombian BCI and Colombian BCI mixes are the most commonly found boa constrictor in pet stores, so something along those lines is probably your best bet.

If you wanted a breakdown of localites, it goes from species ->subspecies ->locale. So Boa constrictor is the species, Boa constrictor imperator is the subspecies, and Colombian is the locale. There are multiple locales within subspecies, depending on which sub you're looking at.

[CaspertheGecko]

Thank you for your help guys! I feel bad that I didn't research this part of boas before getting him. Although in the end it doesn't matter what he is because I'll love him either way :). I just would like to know what kind he is so when people ask I don't sound too stupid haha. But is there a way to know if he is hogg island or any other species? Or is he for sure columbian? I've also got a photo of his mom, unfortunately nothing of his dad.

[Tsubaki]

He is a mixed locality, maybe even a subspecies mix... One of his ancestors could easily be a Constrictor Constrictor or any other subspecies, crossing those was not a 'rare' thing to increase colors.. And after a few generations you can barely tell anymore (Without DNA research). Like with any mix he will never 'be' anything more than a 'Boa Constrictor'. Even if he 'looks' more like one than the other. He doesn't need to be anything more than that to be an awesome good looking pet, right?

Look at it like this, you buy a dog from the shelter. It resembles a husky, is it a pure husky? Or only 3/4th? Maybe there's even some Dingo mixed in far away? You can't possibly know if you don't know his 'lineage' If you're honest you would just say he has 'a lot of husky in him', Now with dogs your dog would never be allowed into a breeding program with pedigree Huskies, however in snakes there is no such thing. Calling a snake by 'what it looks like most' dirties the lines. Just call him by his name, there is absolutely nothing wrong with owning a beautiful Boa Constrictor.


So if anyone asks, you could consider saying. " He's a boa constrictor, with a lot of B.C.I Colombian in him' :)

p.s. dog breeds and snake localities aren't 100% comparable, but its the same basic principle.

[CaspertheGecko]

Thank you! Like I said, it really doesn't matter to me what he is. He's just my pet and his personality is amazing thus far. It's just nice to know. So thank you:)

[SnakeyJay]

As has been said you'll probably never know but he's most likely mostly bci but just refer to him as a common boa if you need a label. He's a nice little guy tho mate, I'm sure you'll enjoy him.