What kind of Boa should I get?

[Wendtskie]

Yes ive researched how big they will grow and yes I know all the warnings about Boas. This would be my second snake I currently have a Ball Python. But i want a bigger snake and personally like the looks of a Boa better. So what kind of Boa would you recommend for an Intermediate level snake owner? I dont want huge and i dont want any smaller then a Ball Python.

[KORBIN5895]

Just go with a Colombian boa. A female will usually stay around the eight foot mark while a male is maybe six feet. My big guy is about three years old and five feet long.

[Norm66]

I'm with Korbin but would add Dumeril's boa to the list for consideration. I have a Colombian hypo male but still have a hankering for a Dum.

[alessia55]

Hog Island Boa is also a great option :yes:

[theapexgerman]

I'm with Korbin but would add Dumeril's boa to the list for consideration. I have a Colombian hypo male but still have a hankering for a Dum.
What he said everyone needs an dum lol

[Wendtskie]

Tell me more about this Hog Island Boa

[Terranaut]

Just out of curiosity, what warnings?

I would just pic up the boa you like the looks of the best. Any male will stay within reason size wise. A hog island is nice. Where abouts in Canada are you?

[KORBIN5895]

I was wondering about those warnings too.

[Wendtskie]

Just about their size and stuff. I am from Northern Alberta do you know of any Boa Breeders inAlberta?

[MoreliAddict]

just a heads up, don't overlook Carpet Pythons, they're a personal fav of mine and they're the size you seem like you're looking for:
http://www.testriffic.com/resultfiles/19486jaguar_carpet_2006_1.jpg

boas are also great, i can't help you much with them but i've definitely never heard any "warnings" about them...

[Wendtskie]

I found a Red Tail at my local pet shop that they claim is male but how can i be sure? So im not stuck with a huge female.

[Pals_id]

Tell me more about this Hog Island Boa
Here:
Boa constrictor imperator (http://www.cuttingedgeherp.com/boaconstrictorimperator/item.nhtml?profile=boaconstrictorimperator&UID=114)
or Here:
Rio Bravo Reptiles: Island Boas (http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/boas_island.htm)

I found a Red Tail at my local pet shop that they claim is male but how can i be sure? So im not stuck with a huge female.

The most accurate way is to have a vet or experienced breeder/reptile keeper probe the animal. I don't think I would take a pet store's word for it...just my opinion though.

[theapexgerman]

Unless you know the owner of the pet store or been going to it for years don't trust them if they say its an female could be telling the trutbut could be lieing

[Terranaut]

Do not take their word for it unless you are there and watch them probe it. If a breeder says its one or the other fine. Ask the pet store the hatch date. Bet they don't know. So how would they ever know the sex for 100% sure. Now I used to deal with a guy at a pet store who knew his stuff and actually confirmed my snakes sex for 4 of my big snakes. So there are exceptions. But most of the time what I said is true so be careful.
I also have to agree with the carpet idea. As an adult they are much easier to care for and to enjoy. I have 2 of each all adult so I know their differences. I think a carpet is a better choice. Love my boas but carpets are just a more enjoyable snake all around. Again just my $.02 so take it as you like :)

[Wendtskie]

Its not a chain pet shop just an old lady whose been in business for quite sometime. She says she orders them as males. Also i currently have a Exoterra 60 x 45 x 60 cm / 24” x 18” x 24” (WxDxH) is that good for a Boa for a while atleast?

[Wendtskie]

I read carpets are a pain inthe *** when they are young tgey bite and stuff?

[theapexgerman]

You could always look into an dumerile boa there very nice and don't get to big

[MoreliAddict]

I read carpets are a pain inthe *** when they are young tgey bite and stuff?
alot of carpets are nippy when they're young but the vast majority grow out of it.

you could just avoid this issue entirely if you pick your snake up at an expo, there you could handle a bunch of carpets and make sure to get a tame one - that's what i did ;)

good luck with whatever you go with

[youngster]

I read carpets are a pain inthe *** when they are young tgey bite and stuff?

Not all of them, some are (actually most are) but that's only because they have a lot of predators in the wild when they are young.

Mine has already tamed down almost completely (still a little cage defensive) but it barely even draws blood when they bite and it's totally worth it.

[Wendtskie]

Also i one day wanna breed and have come to a personal conclusion boas would be easier

[Gungirl]

ok.. slow down. Figure out what kind of Boa you like the looks of most. Then research and ask all the questions you can think of. Once you are confident in your choice then find a good breeder and get a snake that you know the history of. If you want to breed you don't want what you think might be a morph. You want to know what the parents where 100%.

[Terranaut]

Just because you don't need to incubate eggs doesn't make it easier. Just different pitfalls to come across. If you like the boa at the pet store but your worried it's not male how are you going to breed? You will need a female at some point. Go buy your boa regardless of sex and confirm it before you buy a second boa. If your set on boas and have seen one you like go for it :)

[Norm66]

you could just avoid this issue entirely if you pick your snake up at an expo, there you could handle a bunch of carpets and make sure to get a tame one - that's what i did ;)

good luck with whatever you go with


As much as I love my JCP he was a perfect gentleman that day at the expo. Never acted scared or anything. Then I got him home and proceeded to get bit a few times. That said he's calmed down now and hasn't taken a swipe at me in quite some time. I think he finally trusts that I'm not going to eat him.

Not to discourage the OP from getting a carpet, just don't want to mis-represent them.

[Trent]

Also i one day wanna breed and have come to a personal conclusion boas would be easier

I am curious what brought you to that conclusion.
In my experenice pythons are generally easier to breed then boa constrictors.There are exceptions!
There are other points I would make,but others have already stated most of them.

[alessia55]

What about a rainbow boa?

[Wendtskie]

I am thinking a red tail from the pet store i handled it, has a healthy eating schedule and looks real healthy but is my exoterra big enough?

[Terranaut]

How long is the snake? That tank is ok for up to about 2.5 ft maybe 3.
Also is glass walled or screen? If the top is screen you have to cover as much as you canwith foil to keep any humidity in.

[exwizard]

I'm with Korbin but would add Dumeril's boa to the list for consideration. I have a Colombian hypo male but still have a hankering for a Dum.

What he said everyone needs an dum lol

Im with these guys on this one unless youve already decided. Some advantages to Dums is that they are just as handleable as Columbians, but have that unique pagoda pattern on them.

These are a couple of pics of Popeye who is a very typically sized male of 5 1/2' long and 10 lbs.

[Strutter769]

I agree with getting a Colombian Boa, and also asking a knowledgeable person to probe it to confirm its gender. The enclosure you mentioned may already be too small depending on the size of the boa.

[theapexgerman]

Im with these guys on this one unless youve already decided. Some advantages to Dums is that they are just as handleable as Columbians, but have that unique pagoda pattern on them.

These are a couple of pics of Popeye who is a very typically sized male of 5 1/2' long and 10 lbs.
IMO dums are better lot more handleable than an columbians dum love to be held ivr seen only one that didn't like to be handle and that wasn't his fault show him black betty

[Wendtskie]

Im reading around lots so many people are against Boas. I like the personality of the boa i held at the storemore then I do my own Ball. They dont seem as shy. The one im looking at is maybe 1.5- 2 feet long about as this as a quarter. Approx how old is that? The store got.him in November how old do stores usually get them?

[exwizard]

Black Betty is not a good example because her size is not typical of Dums. Popeye is more the typical size.

[Caylan]

B.C. Longicauda are the coolest boa's out there! Stay smaller too, but still bigger then a ball python!

[exwizard]

Im reading around lots so many people are against Boas. I like the personality of the boa i held at the storemore then I do my own Ball. They dont seem as shy. The one im looking at is maybe 1.5- 2 feet long about as this as a quarter. Approx how old is that? The store got.him in November how old do stores usually get them?

1 1/2-2' is still a baby, maybe a yearling but still a very young boa.

[Wendtskie]

So he will be good.in my exo terra for a while then?

[Wendtskie]

They sold the red tail! :(

[Wendtskie]

Just bought my Boa!!

[Gungirl]

What did you end up with?

[Terranaut]

Yeah come on. What did you get and where are the pics??
Congrats. You'll love it!!

[Wendtskie]

Found a different one cute little guy

[Wendtskie]

Just a common Red Tail hes gorgeous dont know of the sex yet tho

[exwizard]

That is great! What kind?

[Wendtskie]

View image: IMG 20120323 190632 (http://postimage.org/image/wf53xemn9/)

[Wendtskie]

View image: IMG 20120323 191814 (http://postimage.org/image/5mh2820cx/)

[Terranaut]

Wow judging from that wall you were really upset the first one sold :)

[Freebody]

get a bloody salmon boa. they are considered to be a dwarf species of boa, males max around 5 feet, females at 7 and they are pretty.

[Wendtskie]

I want to build my own tank for this lil guy and i was wondering if i could build it too "max size" for a boa and let him grow into it? just at first provide lots of hiding and climbing and then as he grows take away stuff he no longer needds?

[Gungirl]

That is what I did for my Royal and my boa. It works fine for me. You just have to make sure they feel secure and are eating for you. a lot of small hides and coverings work great.

[KORBIN5895]

@ freebody

Good lord! The op is looking at common phase boas and you recommend a 2k morph! You are as crazy as I am!

@ op

I am sorry to say this and I usually don't say these things but......


You want to breed? Yet you are worried about getting a "huge " female?

I am not sure what info you have been studying to come to your conclusions but you seem a little confused. I am unsure of what you paid for your new boa but the pet stores buy the wholesale for $60 tops and I mean tops. As a "breeder you really need to have more of a plan than just buying a couple of Commons. Hey I though that same way when I joined here so don't be offended.

I recommend not buying any more snakes until this guy is ready to breed. That way you can see if you are actually committed to raising a larger snake. One of my male bci is only five feet long but he has the grip of a gorilla. Are you ready for the commitment of a large and powerful snake? Are you ready for two large and powerful snakes?

Are you thinking about how you will house twenty to thirty babies? What will you house them all in?
What will you feed them? Rodents are way over priced here in Canada. Are you ready to spend $150 a month to feed all those little babies? Are you ready to hold on to those babies if someone doesn't buy them off of your internet ad? Will you wholesale them to the pet store for forty bucks each?

Unfortunately you are a very inexperienced right now to seriously be considering breeding. Again don't get offended as we all have started that way. Please take some time to see if you even like this one before going out and making plans and decisions that you aren't completely educated on. Again don't take it personal but I would hate to see you get a "breeding" pair of snakes and become uninterested in them. That's when bad things start happening to snakes and it also has the potential to cause problems in our hobby.

[exwizard]

8:07 Found a different one cute little guy

8:08 Just a common Red Tail hes gorgeous dont know of the sex yet tho

8:11 That is great! What kind?

Sorry for the cross chat there. I did not see your second post until just now.

As far as experience is concerned, I have a few things to say about that. First off whatever you do, youre free to do. They will be your snakes after all and your problem if things dont work out so well. This having been said, the only way to get experience is to do it. It is a learning curve and yes, experience is the best teacher. I have full confidence that when the time comes, you will make the right decisions concerning the snakes' care. If there are any questions about this you can feel free to ask and I for one, if I have an answer for you, I will do my best to answer you without any judgement from me. :)

[Wendtskie]

well hes just a baby anyways so by the time hes breeding age i should have a good idea. I dont plan on instantly becoming a breeder im just interested in MAYBE one day. I gought him for 150 i kbow thats pretty over priced but i wanted him bad he was so friendly stole my heart the one i originally wanted was like 230 for just a common. Thanks for your advice tho man my ears and eyes are wide open for all advice i want to be a good snake owner im already addicted to the hobby

[wildcat]

Do you want to start out with a young one or older one?
There are quite a few older Colombian red's on kijiji, what happens is people buy them as babies and don't fully realize how big they can get. A well looked after male can get to 10 feet with the females possibly hitting 12 feet. Your looking at building your own containment which takes up lots of space, getting the proper sized food can by a big issue as well. I would strongly suggest getting your potential animal vet checked especially if you buy him from someone you don't know. Make sure your going to have the time to spend handling them. Just to give you an idea on growth rate my red is 4 1/2 years old, 8 feet long and weighs around 30 pounds...I'm in northern bc as well.

[Wendtskie]

Im a welder so a containmeny is no issue i have alot of space and some good ideas like i said at the beginning of his thread i know their potential

[wildcat]

Don't go to big with your containment they can get stressed out.
If your cage has a screen top, use a damp towel to cover up some of it...that will immensely help with your humidity and heat.
They are very beautiful animals...enjoy

[Wendtskie]

Im gonna go big just provide alot of hiding

[Freebody]

korbin5895, that was the point, i was just joking lol but, ya never know, the op could be loaded and only was the most rare.

[Wendtskie]

Where can i get a thermostat in canada

[theapexgerman]

I want the bloody salmon boa but 2k for a snake the only way I would get is to breed it lol
But listen to kevien he's right for an change

[Freebody]

ya i got him to breed, i had a motley and a coral albino female, so i decided to go all out with the male for them.. and they are more than 2 k here in canada, i got him for $2700 last year.

[Wendtskie]

Good news the Boa I bought yesterday ate today!

[theapexgerman]

ya i got him to breed, i had a motley and a coral albino female, so i decided to go all out with the male for them.. and they are more than 2 k here in canada, i got him for $2700 last year.
Your crazy real crazy lol

[Pueblo]

I have a nice columbian myself she is female and she is 12 feet she is the calmest of my snakes she sits on the couch with me and the wife and watches tv with us she rests her body on the back of the couch and her head on my shoulder and never skwirms around unless im walking around with her. i feed her a full rabbit every seven days and she is happy with that. i would recomend if you do get a columbian be it male or female take it out as often as you can and feed it on a weekly schedual. thats just my advive but wonderful snakes good luck. ohh ya and always take them away from there cage to feed so they never think your comming in there with food. then you should be safe

[alessia55]

ohh ya and always take them away from there cage to feed so they never think your comming in there with food. then you should be safe

This is actually a myth. Feeding in a separate box does not make them less likely to bite you. And feeding inside their enclosure does not make them associate you with food.

[theapexgerman]

More of a chance of getting tagged if you feed out of the cage cause some snakes have aggrisive feeding respones

[Terranaut]

Yup. My male boa lifts the first 3rd of his body off the ground and strikes from a foot plus away. My male king has come right out of his viv on a miss one time right on to the floor next to me .... The guy holding the rat. Freak!! But hey thats part of the whole snake thing right!!

[Pueblo]

well i have never personally had an isue but heres the thing no matter what kind of snake you own if they have a bad day your probably going to get tagged. i have never been bitten and i know my snakes very well wich is only somthing that comes with time. just respect your snakes and they should respect you but regular feeding and lots of handling will familurize them with you and calm them down.

[Pueblo]

the other thing is my girl doesnt really strike she more like opens her mouth around her meal and starts swallowing it but i have really long tongs just in case she ever has a bad day.

[ryan holmes]

coral albino boa constrictor