Advice needed please new to Boas

[tanzi]

Hi, I would really appriciate a bit of advice I will tell you a bit about myself, I am new to snakes have always found them so fascinating I am not a youngster 40 something but I have had 4 cornsnakes and am so besotted now, I would really love a boa but as a complete novice I want to know from everyone what type makes the best first pet temper and housing. Thanks to everyone for any advice given to me.. :)

[Consequence41]

well in my opinion i would have to say a Dumerils Boa... i have see alot and i haven heard of one bitting anyone and there pretty easy to care for... they get around 5-6 feet and may grow alittle bit larger... but i would say a Dumerils Boa, mine hasnt given any hard times...

[LdyDrgn]

Dumerils get MUCH bigger than 5-6 feet.

Depending on the size of snake you are willing to work with I would suggest a boa constrictor imperator (bci). These are the Colombian boas, Hogg Island boas as well as a whole bunch of Central American localities. The Colombians range from 6-8 feet with potential to reach 10 feet. Central American and Hogg Islands stay fairly small. And as I'm sure you know, females are larger than males. Central Americans are quite testy and you will probably get bitten more often :D. Colombians as a general rule are very sweet. Hoggies can be anywhere in between. Always by captive bred, they will be healthier and more docile.

To keep a Colombian, they will need a cage that is 4x2x2 minimum. As babies and juveniles they can be kept in varying sizes of plastic tubs (translucent, not opaque). Drill a few holes for fresh air, place a human heat pad underneath set to low, line tub with newspaper, add a water bowl and TA-DA... snake home. Place snake in put the top on and secure it so the snake doesn't pull a Houdini on you. ;)

Temps: Warm side 88, cool side 78
Humidity: 50-60%

:) Hope this helps

[Ed_r]

As much as I would love to have a Dums I definately would not say they are a good starter Boid. As LdyDrgn said a BCI aka Columbian Boa is a better choice. They can and do get large though ,please be prepared for that.

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

TANZI:

My advice would be doing some reading and research into boas and types you find interesting for color, pattern, growth size, eating habits, and special care. Most people I think start into Common Boas or Rainbow Boas. Both are good and have there pro/cons to the beginner. Common Boas are super easy to take care of and require very little and have gorgeous clors and patterns and are a gem to anyones collection. A con would be size not everyone want a boa at 6 feet plus. As for Rainbow Boas size is a pro and so is ther colors and patterns, but a con to a beginner is they are rather specific to care. As mentioned above Dumeril Boas are good too but I hear some require special needs in feeding being most are hard to get started. As a beginner avoid the Emerald Tree Boas till you master some of the less delicate species of boas.

But either way there is loads of information here and with some research you will find something that fits your needs. Just don' t jump into something without research or cause its a good deal and easy to get.

Hope this helps you out and does not scare you off the boa hobby............lol............boas need love and care, not part time care givers or owners.

Cya....

[vanderkm]

You might want to consider the carpet pythons - about 6 feet long but more slender body than the boas, still very much a large snake. While our experience with jungle carpets is that they are somewhat senstive to handling, the Irian Jayas are beautiful in pattern and very stable in temperament, as are the coastals. While the carpet pythons are not as placid as common boas, they are a very nice alternative. They will cost a bit more to purchase, but are still very reasonable in price.


mary v.

[tanzi]

Thank you all for your advice I will do a bit more research into what I hope will suit me, I was tempted with a rainbow boa that a pet shop had they were just a cou[le of months old and were feeding well but I won't jump into getting one tili I look at different ones, thanks again everyone for you help..

[SD-SNAKE]

Why dont you get yourself a nice male baby boa. maybe a suriname, guyana, salmon, or albino depending on how much you want to spend. This way is wont get as big as a female and you could tame it from a baby. Just a thought i love boa's. take care Nick

[daver676]

Question about above:

Is "Red-Tail Boa" just a generic name for boas?

[Invictus]

I don't think it really matters, since you already have experience keeping Corns. Corns are a handful... I know this from my own experience. My Boa is WAY easier to care for than the corns. I say pick a color pattern and go for it.

[Zoe]

daver:
the term "red-tailed" was added to Boa Constrictor because msot people wouldnt buy a snake called a boa constrictor. It can be used for BCCs and some BCIs. True Red-Tails are the BCCs, suranime, guyana etc boa constrictors.

Zoe

[LdyDrgn]

Just to clarify a bit... bcc are NOT good beginner boa constrictors. They require much more strict husbandry than a bci.

[Invictus]

My BCC is still way easier to care for than my corns... :)

[theroom101]

Originally posted by LdyDrgn
Dumerils get MUCH bigger than 5-6 feet.

Dums average around 5'-6'. The largest they tend to get is about 7'. Some people claim they can reach 9', though I have yet to see any proof of this. Unless you are powerfeeding a sub-adult, a Dum shouldn't exceed 7' and not even that if it's a male. However, I do agree that they don't make a great "starter" boa. My first boa was my BCI and he was very forgiving while I spent my first few weeks mastering husbandry (that humidity was tricky). ;-)

I hope you enjoy whatever boa you choose because they make great pets.

[Colonel SB]

I would get a Hog Island B.c.i they are a naturally dwarfed boa and they are in my oppinion the best lookin of all the boa locals. There care is just what Lady Dragon said in here post. Good luck with the hunt.

[Mike177]

i have a central american BCI and he is easy, nice, and a good eater. now whether there temperment is worse than other i dont know i am not a big boa person as much as i am a python person but cenral americans are smaller that some of the colomians altho not as pretty. I have a male central american boa that i adopted from some people who just didnt want him anymore and he is about 6-7 feet. i converted my closet into a nice cage and things are working out great. i get a strong fedding responce and he has a great temperment well hope you can find what your looking for

[LdyDrgn]

Theroom101 - Is this enough proof for you?

http://photo.redtailboa.net/albums/albun00/Dum.sized.jpg

I've posted it before in this forum, too... I have also seen other large dum's as well...

[BoidKeeper]

I have Hogs, Brazilians, and Kenyans and soon I will have Rosy Boas. If you're looking for a boa and you want some thing small then a Rosy may be for you. If you want a small boa that looks like a red tail then the Hog is for you.
Good luck,
Trevor

[theroom101]

I still stand by what I know to be true, and that is that the average Dumey doesn't get that big. I didn't say that Dums couldn't get that big, but most don't.

Actually, the more I thought about it... I did some on-the-fly research and it turns out that the Madagascar Ground Boa (a very close relative of the Dumeril Boa) does average around 9'-10'. Both snakes look extremely similar. Just a thought. I wonder if dums and mads can be crossed? o>

[reverendsterlin]

ooohh fun, is this where we jump in and remind folks that a few folks are saying that Bci is only a misnamed Bcc lol