Please help me ID My Boa

subsentient · 01-11-17, 09:31 AM

Hi all, I’m sure this gets asked often, but I was wondering if anyone could provide me some additional insight into the genetics of my boa from some pictures. The ad said ‘Super Hypo' but the person I had bought her from said he wasn’t sure as he gotten her in a group trade and was mostly familiar with ball pythons. The particulars are not of great importance to me, I think she's beautiful, and I have no plans of breeding her, but it would be nice to have some accurate descriptors to use if possible. My apologies for the quality of the pics, they were taken by the PO, when I’m holding her I have no free hand for a camera as she is mostly biting me, although she is getting better for sure.
Cheers!

SnoopySnake · 01-11-17, 10:47 AM

That's a beautiful boa, it's definitely a hypo of sorts. I couldn't tell you if it's a super or not.

**Tsubaki** · 01-11-17, 02:24 PM

It's hypo alright, you can't 100% visually distinguish a super hypo from a regular hypo. If you want to prove it's a superhypo, the only way is breeding to a non hypo boa. If the entire nest is hypo, it was a superhypo. Doesn't make any other difference unless you're breeding.

subsentient · 01-11-17, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopySnake

That's a beautiful boa, it's definitely a hypo of sorts. I couldn't tell you if it's a super or not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

It's hypo alright, you can't 100% visually distinguish a super hypo from a regular hypo. If you want to prove it's a superhypo, the only way is breeding to a non hypo boa. If the entire nest is hypo, it was a superhypo. Doesn't make any other difference unless you're breeding.

Thanks for the feedback! Does all the erratic black spotting suggest anything else in terms of genetics or is that a common pattern? I also couldn't decide where it would sit in terms of the Boa ID chart in the Boa constrictor Identification thread sticked here, any thoughts on that?
Thanks for your time!

bigsnakegirl785 · 01-11-17, 10:00 PM

Hypos are highly variable. Without breeding it, visually it only looks like a hypo without any other genes.

The identification chart is specifically for normal locality boas, you're not going to be able to identify a morph on it.

Since it is a hypo it's common boa (Boa imperator) of mixed descent. The "Colombian" hypos originated from Panamanian boas, but hypos are also present in other localities I believe. All you can say is it's a hypo boa of unknown descent unless it proves to be carrying other genes.

subsentient · 01-12-17, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

Hypos are highly variable. Without breeding it, visually it only looks like a hypo without any other genes.

The identification chart is specifically for normal locality boas, you're not going to be able to identify a morph on it.

Since it is a hypo it's common boa (Boa imperator) of mixed descent. The "Colombian" hypos originated from Panamanian boas, but hypos are also present in other localities I believe. All you can say is it's a hypo boa of unknown descent unless it proves to be carrying other genes.

Awesome! Thanks so much for taking the time.

SnoopySnake · 01-12-17, 10:02 AM

It does have an interesting look to it, bu said hard to say why that is.

subsentient · 01-12-17, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopySnake

It does have an interesting look to it, but hard to say why that is.

Thanks for the reply, I think she's really pretty; which is nice because it gives me something to admire while she's attaching herself face-first to my hand over and over again... so full of fury for such a little thing. I figured there may be no more that could be discerned from sight alone but thought id ask just in case. No big deal at all though as I have no plans to be breeding her, just pet duty.