redtail boa

[soda]

What are the temperaments like for the redtailed boas? How are they different from balls?

[Linds]

Ball Pythons are timid snakes, and their first response to a threat is to tuck their head and hide. They also tend to get stressed out quite easily which can lead to many other problems. Boas tend to be much more bolder, and there first response if they are cornered is to strike. Many babies tend to be on the nippy side, but if they are handled regularily, mostly grow out of it. Boas are also much more clingy when handled then balls, who tend to just stay in whatever position they were in. They also exert much more strength during these times. Now there are 'redtail' boas and actual redtails aka 'true redtails'. I avoid the term altogether, as it is so loosely thrown around. Colombian (common) boas are sometimes called 'redtailed' boas, and this is incorrect - it was a term applied to them by dealers trying to wing an extra buck out of them several decades ago. Bcc (Suriname, Guyanese, Peruvian, etc) boas are the original 'redtailed' boas. Now they do have general subtle differences in temperament. Colombians seem to be a bit more comfortable in the end with handling, while Bcc tend to retain a bit more nervousness I find. Colombians also have a killer feeding reflex, while most Bcc I own or have worked with don't tend to have the same appettite, and may not consume as much or may be a bit shy to take it. This may also be partly due to the fact that most Bcc available are WC/LTC/farmbred, while Colombians are commonly bred in captivity these days... can't really be sure until more CBB Bcc are available for comparison.

[soda]

thank you for all the helpful info!

So do Columbians bite? My ball has struck at me before but never bitten.

I read your care/fact sheet on boas and am thinking of getting one at a reptile show----so I'm starting to collect all the info I can. It will actually be awhile before I do get one.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

thanks again Linds.

[Invictus]

ALL snakes bite. If you are afraid of being bitten, this is not a good hobby to take up. Colombians do bite, but it's extremely uncommon. Even the babies we've purchased have never bitten us. However, I have been nailed by some sub-adults and even an adult once. Bottom line, if the snake decides that either A) you smell like rodent, or B) it wants to be left alone, you're going to take a bite.

[soda]

I 'm definately not afraid of being bitten---just wanted to know if they are bitters.

[Jeff_Favelle]

My ball has struck at me before but never bitten.

That doesn't mean it doesn't bite, LOL! That just means you're fast enough for it not to get you.

Boas are more deliberate and steady-moving than most pythons. They can become docile if handled from an early age, yes.

[soda]

I be ~very~ fast, yes! :)

[Bartman]

I just got a boa recently, and have had my ball python for about 2 years now (wow time fly’s by) and they both have their goods and bads ive noticed.

Balls are much easier to handle as linds said, while boa's tend to fling around if they aren’t being supported to their liking. They are also more active in your hand, while balls sort of just sit their and slowly cruise around.

Balls lack the amazing feeding response of my boa which is why they even out.

My boa is already growing onto me and im really liking his personality. Great snakes but im always more cautious of biting from the boa then from the ball that’s for sure :D

[VI Reptiles]

Getting bit by a bp is nothing! I got bit by mine because I dropped his mice in the enclosure and I wanted to re position them and he striked and got me! I didnt even notice till i looked at my hand and he was still on it but as soon as I pulled away it let go. Im thinking of getting a columbian boa thats 12 ft. Its $350 CDN. Do you guys think its a good deal?

[Linds]

Originally posted by Invictus
Colombians do bite, but it's extremely uncommon. Even the babies we've purchased have never bitten us.

LOL hardly uncommon. If I had a nickel for every bite I've dodged (or been hit :eek: ) I would be rich. Both the Colombians in my own collection, as well as others I've had the opportunity to work with have, or at least attempted to bite me. One of my females... well... lol... Matt knows how much she loves to give kisses :p Given they aren't handled much, but still, to say it is uncommon is way off the mark. I'm sure many people here as well have been bitten by Colombians at some point, or nearly.

VI Reptiles,
If you knew of a 12' Colombian you should be talking to guiness, as that is sure to be a record-breaker :p :p

[LdyDrgn]

I've been bitten a couple times by one of our adult males and once by our biggest female. No striking, just a "Hey I don't like this" type of bite, LOL They didn't really hurt at all.

Another one of the adult females struck and bit me during feeding one time. That hurt much worse since the impact was behind the teeth. heh

[soda]

I got bit by an anole once that I caught in Florida..... It was a big one too and with all his might he bit and then back off and looked at me. I tried not to laugh because I didn't want to hurt his feelings...... lol

[Invictus]

VI Reptiles - I'm still pretty new in this hobby, and you have NO IDEA how many times I've heard of people and their supposed 12' boas. At the last herp show, someone even said to me "I have a 15 foot boa at home." All I said was "Umm... no you don't." I know of ONE person alone who has a boa constrictor over 11 feet, and I would not have believed it had I not seen this monster with my own eyes, in a 6 foot cage, going end-to-end, and back again.

[reptiguy420]

I currently own 4 red tail boas....and ive been nailed by everyone of the little chits.My own fault though i hand feed my boas....and stupidly i did exactly what vireptiles did....only it took me four times to realize YOU DONT GRAB THE DARN MOUSE AFTER YOU DROP IT IN THE TANK STUPID! Yeah the bite doesnt really hurt, even though every time ive been bit they draw blood.

[Brent Strande]

50% of my boas have bit me (granted I only own 2!) and it's the female het albino that always nails me! She will coil into an 'S' pose and hiss loudly though, so I know that it's coming...

So far the bites haven't hurt, but when she's pushing 6-8 feet I really don't wanna find out then! I've started to handle her more in order to hopefully prevent or reduce the possiblity of getting nailed too often by an ornery adult female boa!

[Matt_K]

Originally posted by Linds
One of my females... well... lol... Matt knows how much she loves to give kisses :p

Yes, that snake LOVED to strike.. She only managed to get me twice.. But she tried everytime I went in her cage..

I currently have 4 boas that will NOT hesitate to bite at any chance they're given.. It's all part of the fun of keeping snakes..

[Bartman]

Mine struck at me in the box I got it and would have that whole day. Now everytime I go into the cage to get him, I just gotta take it nice and slow or he gets really nervous

[zero&stich]

"I have a 15 foot boa at home." All I said was "Umm... no you don't."

Last show I went to in White Plains, NY someone I knew by face came up to me while I'm looking at Regal's display lizards, claimed they have a 8 ft B.P. My response what pretty much from the quote above. LOL!

[cjice]

I was wondering about temperment of boas and the differences between them and balls....After reading these posts, I got more info on that, but I want to know if there is such a thing as "smaller" boas. Do all boas get big or is there such a thing as a smaller breed. My bp is the perfect size for me...am I out of luck if I wanted some type of boa that is similar to that size?

[zero&stich]

Rosy boas I believe stay at a reasonable length(3-4 ft). Also sand boas stay small. I think Kenyans get around 20 in but don't quote me on that. I'm not entirely sure on eaither lengths. Just give you a rough estimate but I do know both are the smaller species of boas. Do some research on both species and see if they interest you.

The sand boas are kinda cool. I like the trails they make in a sand subtrate. It's neat but from what I've seen they seem to be very secretive and one of the shyer species.

[MouseKilla]

The list of similarities between boas (bci/bcc) and ball pythons is much shorter than the list of differences.

Balls are secretive, picky eating, timid little things usually while the boas eat anything and everything, NEVER cower from a threat and some don't even have any use for a hide. There's
really no comparing the two.

If you want a boa that won't get huge, assuming you're asking about BCI/BCC ssp. you can go with a lone male of any kind or if you want a pair to work with you could get Hog Island boas.

I like them all, boas behave more as you would expect a snake to act, BPs I find behave more like what you would expect from a turtle. lol! Balls are cool still, it's just my preference.

[Linds]

There are 'dwarf' Bci from the Tarahumera region. Though not very common in captivity yet, the ones that are seem to stay around 3'. Gus at Rio Bravo Reptiles works with them, as well as I believe Vince Russo at Cutting Edge Herp.

There are also the Candoia (ground boas), Rosy Boas, Sand boas, and Rubber Boas that stay quite small as well.