View Full Version : Boa constrictor (constrictor or imperator)
hugofeio
11-09-12, 11:27 AM
Hello !
Can you guys identify this boa for me ?
I was told it is a Boa constrictor constrictor, but that it is 3 years old and not growing anymore. Is it really a boa constrictor ? Can it be underfed ? Or is it another kind of Boa ? Does it look relatively healthy ? The conditions the snake is being kept are poor, but the snake is not mine. I'm trying to keep it, but I need to know what type of boa it is, and if it is healthy, before I keep it to myself.
http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp98/hugofeio/boa0014.jpg
This is really important, guys.
Thanks !!!
Metalserpent
11-10-12, 01:08 PM
Look up Vincent Russo. Buy his book and read it. "The complete boa constrictor". All you need to know are in the pages.
KORBIN5895
11-10-12, 01:31 PM
I can't answer the lineage question but that is one stunning boa! Overall it looks quite healthy.
moshirimon
11-10-12, 02:09 PM
decent health. look Bci to me though. nice colours could be hypo hard to tell from pic. definitely not bcc and looks like some stuck shed on it's face. i'd say go for it if your getting a good deal
moshirimon
11-10-12, 02:10 PM
what's your experience with snakes? are you sure youre ready to buy a boa constrictor if you don't even know what they look like?
SnakeyJay
11-10-12, 02:23 PM
Personally I'd say bci mate. :)
jaleely
11-10-12, 02:39 PM
i disagree, i think it looks unhealthy and skinny. Obviously stuck shed on the head. I think it could be fixed with the right person giving it humidity, feeding it, and maybe getting it re-hydrated.
just curious, why does it matter what subspecies it is? obviously the person taking care of it isn't taking care of it, if you can do better you should just to be a good person.
Terranaut
11-10-12, 02:53 PM
3 yrs old and not growing any more. Lol. My male grew a full foot and about 4 more lbs between 3 and 4 yrs old and he is still growing. Not that its a bad thing. He looks to be in similar shape to my male when I got him.
I say get him!!
Rogue628
11-10-12, 02:57 PM
It looks BCI to me. It doesn't look like it's 3 years old to me, but then, it could be the curled position it's laying in. It's girth looks fine. I'm not seeing anything that says it's not been fed properly, unless it really is 3 years old and is as small as it looks. I'm curious if that's stuck shed on it's nose or some rubbing?
Of course, this is my own opinion that I'm basing my own BCI experience off of. I could be entirely wrong.
Why do you need to know exactly what it is? Is it a size issue or a husbandry issue?
Ridge Runner_20
11-10-12, 03:46 PM
I think the pile of shed underneath and what appears to be a spot stuck on the head are giving the animal a bit rougher appearance than it likely deserves. I'd say girth looks OK; a nice representation of the "loaf of bread" form desirable for boas.
As for ssp., I'd guess BCI (perhaps a bit of CA influence?), and my first inclination was to say possibly hypo as well. But honestly, unless you're planning on breeding, who cares? If you like the animal and wish the best for it, do your research and due diligence, and you'll have a great addition to the family. :blink:
Best of luck!
RR_20 (Mike)
KORBIN5895
11-10-12, 04:33 PM
I will say again that snake look perfectly healthy. A piece of stuck shed isn't going to kill it. The body mass looks good too.
bci...central american..as for size centrals stay smaller..aside from the really crappy shed it looks ok.
Its sweater box could be cleaner,but thats just me;)
Metalserpent
11-11-12, 01:31 AM
Wow midbody, belly, and ventral scale counts all from that pic. Not to mention saddle count. You guys are good. Why read from a book written by an expert on boas. Hahahaha.
SnakeyJay
11-11-12, 03:17 AM
We're giving opinions not a definitive answer... However CA blood does not always mean smaller, Colombia is Central American I believe. :)
hugofeio
11-11-12, 06:16 AM
Hello,
I do have some experience in snakes, but I never had a boa constrictor, thus my doubts concerning the snakes sub-specie, and health. Thanks for the answers ! I will think about keeping it to myself, but its not that simple. Boas constrictor are illegal in portugal, and this one is coming all the way from spain for 30€. Its cheap but risky. And its not really the snake I was looking for...
KORBIN5895
11-11-12, 06:30 AM
Keeping an illegal species is never a good idea. Great call.
Terranaut
11-11-12, 07:34 AM
Yeah if its illegal where you live I would avoid it.
Lankyrob
11-11-12, 08:03 AM
Trouble eith keeping illegal snakes is that when you get caught it doesnt just reflect on you, it reflects badly on ALL snake keepers.
Pass on this one and get a snake that you CAN keep legally.
Wow midbody, belly, and ventral scale counts all from that pic. Not to mention saddle count. You guys are good. Why read from a book written by an expert on boas. Hahahaha.
You're hilarious.
KORBIN5895
11-11-12, 09:12 AM
You're hilarious.
I know right? I literally facepalmed!
k79tarver
11-19-12, 03:55 AM
i disagree, i think it looks unhealthy and skinny. Obviously stuck shed on the head. I think it could be fixed with the right person giving it humidity, feeding it, and maybe getting it re-hydrated.
just curious, why does it matter what subspecies it is? obviously the person taking care of it isn't taking care of it, if you can do better you should just to be a good person.
I totally agree!! Poor baby looks miserable, someone needs to help it. Besides it's absolutely gorgeous!!
ya that's a ca/nic a Mexican boa, they are bci beside his stuck shed he looks in great body shape and these guys tend to be a lot smaller. I also think he is a hypo :) pretty boa
SnakeyJay
01-01-13, 04:06 PM
Even for a dwarf it still has a reasonably pronounced spine in places but that could just be the way he's coiled.
you see spine I see muscle tone, I think a lot of people have fat boas lol
SnakeyJay
01-01-13, 04:51 PM
I think a lot of people have fat boas lol
Oh I believe you there... :)
babyboa97
01-03-13, 09:33 PM
it looks like my central american bci
this is what a ca should look like
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg283/cpblsoup/mexi_zpsd1f31f86.jpg
my final opinion is costa rican boa
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg283/cpblsoup/crb1_zps7d6a1584.jpg
but youll never really know for sure, that sucks definitely some other locale...island, Mexican...very interesting lol
a more outcrossed rican
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg283/cpblsoup/7859984226_a9e9de4e05_b_zpscdfe094d.jpg
moshirimon
01-07-13, 12:43 PM
you see spine I see muscle tone, I think a lot of people have fat boas lol
Agreed. Up and down boas are thick, but I think they should be somewhat thinner side to side.
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