Epicrates subflavus

[Strutter769]

Jamaican Boa. Does one ever tire of epicrates photos?

[alessia55]

Awesome eyes on that one

[Strutter769]

Awesome eyes on that one

I love the eyes too, but can't help but wonder, so these also undergo the color changes the Brazilians do throughout maturity? Can you imagine what this little guy would develop into? Wow!

[marvelfreak]

I love the eyes too, but can't help but wonder, so these also undergo the color changes the Brazilians do throughout maturity? Can you imagine what this little guy would develop into? Wow!
We have a couple of members that have them. I believe one has a adult.

[SnakeyJay]

Stunning snake, I would love to have one of these but it'll have to wait a few years lol.

[Caylan]

I find epicrates too rare to really know what they are at first, but they are wicked snakes! Arboreal boas must be one of the most fun snakes that can't kill you ever! Anymore pictures would be awesome of course!

[Strutter769]

Jamaicen Boa According to Jamaica-allspice.com, these guys can reach 10 ft,!

[Strutter769]

Tom Crutchfield also has these guys for sale as well, only $1,475/pair. I need a get-rich-quick scheme!

[millertime89]

Go figure Tom has them...
I'm a little surprised that these have been classified as epicrates, they look more like corallus.

[youngster]

Not always looks that classify genus.

[millertime89]

I'm aware, but I'm curious as to why this one was classified as it was.

[Snakesitter]

The Jamaicans are very cool animals. Pricey, but cool.

[Strutter769]

The Jamaicans are very cool animals. Pricey, but cool.

Cliff, can you answer Kyle's question about what classifies these as Epicrates? I too am curious.

Thanks!

[Snakesitter]

You know, I'm not really sure why they are considered epicrates. Matters of scientific classification frequently leave me scratching my head in favor of looking at the pretty colors. ;-) Sorry. :-(

Ed, who used to drop by this forum every now and then, has a pair of them. He might have a better idea.

Wikipedia says they average around 6.5 feet as adults. It also says they are "considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild." :-(

[Strutter769]

All the more reason to breed I'd say. So, I've heard the BRB market recently described as being stagnant. Maybe you and rainbowsrus can tell us what adjective you'd use to describe it? Definitely a point of interest for us future breeding stars!!

[Snakesitter]

Stagnant? LOL. I'd say more "poised for takeoff." Cage tech has finally progressed to the point where Brazilians are easy to keep, so long as people are humidity-aware. The babies are getting more attractive every year. And the old rumors -- Brazilians are difficult to keep and always bite -- are finally starting to fade away as ownership reaches a high enough level. The next few years could be sweet indeed for the subspecies.

[millertime89]

Stagnant? LOL. I'd say more "poised for takeoff." Cage tech has finally progressed to the point where Brazilians are easy to keep, so long as people are humidity-aware. The babies are getting more attractive every year. And the old rumors -- Brazilians are difficult to keep and always bite -- are finally starting to fade away as ownership reaches a high enough level. The next few years could be sweet indeed for the subspecies.

I'm guilty of saying its stagnated, however that was the wrong word for it. The existing market with the extreme limit on morphs has stagnated, what the community REALLY needs is what you're speaking of, education, new blood, and some exciting new bloodlines. It seems that new markets come in almost a reverse bell curve, a new species is introduced, demand is high, the market gets flooded by people trying to make the most money from the new species, supply exceeds demand resulting in price drops. Morphs then come into play and demand goes back up while supply of the morphs is low. BRBs are in between the 2nd and 3rd level. At least that's my observation. People seem to be experimenting and tracking down the genetics of new morphs and we should see a boom in BRB morphs hitting the market soon.

If my perception is wrong forgive me, but this just seems to be what I've seen based on my readings of the BRB market as well as several others.

[Strutter769]

Man, I've got to get in on some morphs! I hear there's snow in the San Jose nowadays! (-: Not on my budget, any time soon.

[Snakesitter]

Be careful with the term "morphs" in the Brazilian market. Only two have proven out so far: hypo and anery. Hypos look cool, but the price has crashed. Aneries are still pricey...but I think they're a waste of a good Brazilian: why take all the color out of an animal known for its color? ;-) (There are also initial ghosts, but these are really a combination of the prior two traits.)

There are other morphs theorized but still being proven, among them calico (the "snow" in San Jose lol) and albino.

There are also a host of pattern variants, all still unproven as well, probably due to being polygenetic.

[Strutter769]

Personally, I'm neither a fan of the hypo or anery morphs. As you said Cliff, taking the color from an animal known for coloration doesn't seem sensible. Primary color and black alike contribute to the looks of Cenchria and to diminish either I don't fully understand.

Having said that, as a future breeding star, (-: I feel I will need both in my collection if only to offer diversity. Then again, I've been told to only breed what I like to look at, so I am still on the fence about them.

[millertime89]

I LOVE aneries, one of my favorite snakes is Harry Wessel's Phantasm line of aneries, stunning snakes. Pulling all the red out of a primarily red snake creating something almost pewter-like in appearance? That, in my not-so-humble opinion, would be AWESOME.

[Strutter769]

When I think pewter- or metallic-like, I always think if the Pucallpa, Peruvian Boas. Just stunning animals: (Courtesy of Rio Bravo Reptiles)

[millertime89]

fair enough, I always think of pewter as being darker colored.

[Strutter769]

Now I'm thinking I'd like to breed only Epicrates! But, I'd also like to do some others.. as you may know.

[millertime89]

Now I'm thinking I'd like to breed only Epicrates! But, I'd also like to do some others.. as you may know.

I want small breeding colonies of SD retics, morelia, BRBs, and MAYBE ATBs or GTPs.

[exwizard]

I want small breeding colonies of SD retics, morelia, BRBs, and MAYBE ATBs or GTPs.

I like your choices Kyle.

[Strutter769]

I want small breeding colonies of SD retics, morelia, BRBs, and MAYBE ATBs or GTPs.

Can you define "small breeding colonies?" 2.4?

[Snakesitter]

I would say 2.2-2.4 qualifies. :-)

[Strutter769]

Ok. 2.4 is how I'll be starting my first project. This way, I can rest two females per year, every year. Is it important for the males to rest too for longer than between seasons?

[millertime89]

Somewhere in the 1.2 - 2.4 range, depends on what I get and what I produce mostly. Morelia will most likely be 1.2, SD retics will probably be 2.4, BRBs will probably be 2.4 also, Dunno if Nero will be bread, he's my first and isn't anything spectacular, but he's special to me, maybe once but he'll probably remain a pet. I don't want much more than 20 adult snakes.

[natsamjosh]

I'll have to read up on the Insular boa research, because E. subflavus, imo, do actually resemble tree boas more than the mainland Epicrates. My guess is that there were DNA studies done to link them to the mainland rainbow boas, but I don't know off the top of my head. (I know it's heresy to say it, but while I find the research interesting, I don't find taxonomy to be all that exact of a science. More of an art. :) )


Here are some pics of mine:

Cornelius:
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh91/natsamjosh/Yamba/IMG_6139.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh91/natsamjosh/Yamba/IMG_6145.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh91/natsamjosh/Yamba/IMG_6143.jpg



Jamba:
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh91/natsamjosh/Yamba/IMG_6190.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh91/natsamjosh/Jamba/IMG_6184.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh91/natsamjosh/Jamba/IMG_6183.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh91/natsamjosh/Jamba/IMG_5996-1.jpg

[Strutter769]

So many colors and the rough scales give it reallied nice camouflage in the gravel or grass.

[Snakesitter]

Is it important for the males to rest too for longer than between seasons?
Not that I've ever read or seen practiced. But I wouldn't push them too hard in any single season unless you're giving them the next year off. With 2.4 that should not be an issue though.

[Snakesitter]

Ed, great to see those two again! So will their first baby be named Cornamba? ;-)

[natsamjosh]

Ed, great to see those two again! So will their first baby be named Cornamba? ;-)

Thanks Cliff! Either "Cornamba" or "Jambelius!" :blink:

[Snakesitter]

^^ Like!!! ^^