Tommy, my Guyana Redtail Boa

[Will's Reptiles]

Hi,
So I'm relatively new to the forum and my boa constrictor just shed so I thought I would do an introduction post. He is a few months over a year old and right around 3 feet. I got him from Underground Reptiles but I don't think he was bred there so I don't really know much about his history except his age and that he was captive bred. He has never struck at me ands never missed a meal (even after a vet visit and while in shed) so I am guessing that he was treated pretty well. The only thing I wonder about is that he's is speckled with tiny little scars all over his body and tail. He could have possibly been fed live food before I got him, but there is no way to know.

He is in a 6' by 28" vision cage that is full of hides, plants and wood. He is very calm during handling and uses me as his personal jungle gym. He is just overall a great snake. I would definitely recommend boas to any one who is ready for a bigger snake. I especially like the BCCs; I think their patter and colors are stunning.

Here're the photos I took this afternoon:
I will be posting earlier photos later.
Thanks for reading!

[zactay22]

Very nice, I have a female bcc also. She is always on the move as well. Are the scars on a individual scale level.

[jpsteele80]

I almost wonder if its possibly surinam just because of the coloration in the tail

[Will's Reptiles]

Here are some photos of him in his terrarium and some photos of the day we got him when he was on aspen bedding.

[jpsteele80]

He's definitely a good looker, love the cage setup. I might be able to get away with this look for my GTP but never my retics lol

[Will's Reptiles]

Are the scars on a individual scale level.

No, they are bigger. The ones on his tail are kind of long and jagged. In the last picture of my first post you can see one on his first saddle. It is the big black spot on the right.

He's definitely a good looker, love the cage setup. I might be able to get away with this look for my GTP but never my retics lol

Thanks, he looks especially good right after a shed and when he is in his light phase. I know what you are taking about with setups and big snakes. Im getting a burm soon and don't think I will be able to pull off this natural of a setup when it gets big.

[Klaire]

He looks very at home in his enclosure :) He's a stunning boy

[bigsnakegirl785]

I almost wonder if its possibly surinam just because of the coloration in the tail

Guyana and Suriname are the same locale, there's only a political border separating them. People will pick snakes out of either Guyana or Suriname and separate them by color, not where they were taken from. Purply BCC are labelled Guyana and the rest Suriname.

In other news, gorgeous snake Will's Reptiles, although you a truly brave person to be buying your animals from Underground Reptiles.

[Herpo]

Redtails are my favourite boas. Beautiful, well done!

[dave himself]

He's a good looking boy ;)

[CWilson]

Very good looking boy!

[SnoopySnake]

Very nice BCC you have :)

[macandchz]

love the cage set-up. he's a great looking snake.

[jpsteele80]

Guyana and Suriname are the same locale, there's only a political border separating them. People will pick snakes out of either Guyana or Suriname and separate them by color, not where they were taken from. Purply BCC are labelled Guyana and the rest Suriname.

In other news, gorgeous snake Will's Reptiles, although you a truly brave person to be buying your animals from Underground Reptiles.

Thanks for the info on that, learned something new today

[Will's Reptiles]

In other news, gorgeous snake Will's Reptiles, although you a truly brave person to be buying your animals from Underground Reptiles.

Have you had bad experiences with them? This is the only animal I have ordered from them but everything went soothly and the snake was healthy when he arrived.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Have you had bad experiences with them? This is the only animal I have ordered from them but everything went soothly and the snake was healthy when he arrived.

No because I've heard their reputation, and strongly avoid any company like them. Many people have gotten dead animals from them, ill animals from them, the wrong animals shipped and then they never got the right animal, etc. It's a hit or miss with Underground, but honestly it sounds like your boa was as likely wild caught as it was fed live.

If I'm not mistaken Underground Reptiles also sells a lot of wild caught animals. Generally, any company that has such a huge variety of species is best to steer away from, it generally points towards reptile farming/importing as opposed to them breeding the animals. The majority of keepers don't have a need for wild caught imports, and they can be more difficult to get started and keep healthy.

Outback Reptiles is another company to avoid due to the same issues, and LLReptiles also sells a lot of wild caught animals and is a flipping business, they don't breed the majority of their animals.

[Will's Reptiles]

No because I've heard their reputation, and strongly avoid any company like them. Many people have gotten dead animals from them, ill animals from them, the wrong animals shipped and then they never got the right animal, etc. It's a hit or miss with Underground, but honestly it sounds like your boa was as likely wild caught as it was fed live.

If I'm not mistaken Underground Reptiles also sells a lot of wild caught animals. Generally, any company that has such a huge variety of species is best to steer away from, it generally points towards reptile farming/importing as opposed to them breeding the animals. The majority of keepers don't have a need for wild caught imports, and they can be more difficult to get started and keep healthy.

Outback Reptiles is another company to avoid due to the same issues, and LLReptiles also sells a lot of wild caught animals and is a flipping business, they don't breed the majority of their animals.

Thanks for all the information. This was the first time I ordered a snake online and the first time I ordered from a place like Underground Reptiles. Usually I get all my animals from breeders and it seems like I should just keep doing that. They said he was captive bred but I guess there is no way of know if that is true or not. Thanks again.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Thanks for all the information. This was the first time I ordered a snake online and the first time I ordered from a place like Underground Reptiles. Usually I get all my animals from breeders and it seems like I should just keep doing that. They said he was captive bred but I guess there is no way of know if that is true or not. Thanks again.

Yeah you really can't know with companies like them, just because they say something doesn't mean it's true or that they even know the answer themselves.

As long as your boa stays healthy, it shouldn't be all bad. It doesn't sound like you had a bad experience, so just enjoy Tommy for what he is and avoid them in the future. :)

[dannybgoode]

Beautiful snake and lovely enclosure. I would love a BCC - maybe when Mrs Danny is used to the size of my CA BCI I'd get away with one.

One small recommendation I would make it to change the substrate from aspen. It is very dry and rots very easily if you try and mist the enclosure. Orchid bark, eco-earth etc are a better choice (orchid bark looks the business also).

[Will's Reptiles]

Beautiful snake and lovely enclosure. I would love a BCC - maybe when Mrs Danny is used to the size of my CA BCI I'd get away with one.

One small recommendation I would make it to change the substrate from aspen. It is very dry and rots very easily if you try and mist the enclosure. Orchid bark, eco-earth etc are a better choice (orchid bark looks the business also).

I did switch him over to cypress mulch a while back. he was just on aspen when we first got him because it was all we had. BCC are definitely beautiful and I really recommend them. Thanks!