Good first boa?

[SnowFoxx]

I'm looking into possibly getting a boa (in addition to about five other snakes LOL) and I'm wondering what kind is a good to start with? I currently own two BPs and a corn snake. I'm looking for one that stays in the 6'-8' range, and temperment is of highest importance! Are Dums good tempered snakes in general? I like the way they look. Any other ideas? I do like BCIs, but something a bit more unusual (top price $300) would be nice. No offense to BCI lovers!

- Victoria :w

[snake_lover]

I would say a good first boa would be a columbian BCI or a hogg but columbians have a better temperment then a hogg island boa!But the hogg wil stay smaller then the columbian and is a lil bit more expensive then the columbian
Goodluck,

[rethius]

Nothing wrong with starting off with a nice cb Bcc. Guyanas and Suris might fall into your price range! And if you are really worried about size, get a male!

[Zoe]

Yep, I'd say a BCI or a BCC, too. BCIs tend to stay a little smaller than BCCs but not my too much, and are quite a bit cheaper. Males will stay a bit shorter, and thinner, than females.

You could also consider some other BCIs, like argentinians which stay 4-5 ft.

There are also rainbow boas to keep in mind... the brazilians are gorgeous and are about 6-7 ft. Colombians are nice, but lack the bright colour and pattern that adorns the brazilian's back, and they stay smaller - about 4-5 ft.

Also, there are ATBs, (Amazon tree boas) which are beautiful, hardy, interesting but also usually very aggressive. However, if you get a baby and handle it daily (start when it's bites wont hurt ) it should be fine as an adult.

Zoe

[djnzlab]

HI,
I have seen some big bcc lately, never any over a few years old this makes me think they are being dumped or worse due to size,
here's a post that shows a few middle aged bcc

be sure you want a large snake they are very gentle giants but do need some room, I have two sub adults
doug
http://reptilehaven.net/modules.php?...&topic=11099&5




the pictures were from the post on reptilehaven.net, and were from the BCC breeder Mcarthy,boa's

Doug


http://mccarthyboas.com/

[djnzlab]

Here's another pic of a big old common BCI, thats about 11 ft and some pounds she's so biglook at her eye's geeze..
http://reptilehaven.net/modules.php?...&topic=10937&8
this female Belongs to breeder of BOa's nameD Lori KEho,
the snakes name is diamond..

Jeeze i never thought bci got this big did you..psps LOri dosen't power feed this is just an adult snake...
doug
Lori's web page, she does rescues in the states for numeorus reptiles.
http://www.koalaskritters.net/livefeeding.html
excellent info.
doug

[Zoe]

Those are exceptions. There is a wide range between feeding enough, feeding a lot, and power feeding. Feeding a snake often (especially if this snake's parents are big) can easily result in a 10ft+... but that isn't normal, most stay around 6-8ft, depending on sex and feeding.

Zoe

[BoidKeeper]

Rosie Boas make great first boas. They stay about the size of a corns.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Zoe]

Oh yeah! Can't forget the rosies, and sand boas! They stay small, are very colourful and are hardy.

I suggest you go to a herp show in your area and take a look around... A lot of boas would be good first boas, depending on what you're looking for.

Zoe

[rethius]

Hey, I've been looking for that first pic for a while, what a peruvian!
Can't wait till mine get that big!

[snake_lover]

those are pretty cool pix ! That's the first time i see a suri that big in a pic :O

[snakemann87]

hey, dums can be harder than BCI's or hoggs, if size is a big factor, then a hogg would be best. They're pretty and easy, but a BCI is just as good take away the size potential, but you can always get a male. Come on how can you resist this???

[Linds]

I would steer clear of any arboreals, as these are sensitive snakes with very specific requirements, and are best left to more experienced keepers.

If you can meet the high humidity requirements of a rainbow boa (very easy to do unless you intend on housing them in an aquarium), they can make wonderful pets. Asides from the low-heat tolerance, and high humidity requirements, they are hardy, relatively problem-free captives. Though babies are born striking at anything and everything, I find them probably one of the easiest species to calm down, and grow into predictable (as far as snakes go), handleable adults.

Rosy boas are hands-down my favourite beginner snake. They are great for the first time keeper to the most experienced. They are super easy to care for and stay small (2-3 feet). They come in all sorts of pattern and colour variations, depending on locality. Probably the most tolerant species of snake for handling. Sand boas and rubber boas also fit into this category. Rubbers and rosies have awesome temperaments, sandboas can too, though some of them may be snappy.

Many of the insular forms of BCI attain smaller sizes (4-6') and are not challenging in their husbandry requirements. There's many to choose from, however be prepared that no matter what the animals' reputation, that is never the rule. Many people say burms are gentle... well, I've encountered more burms that would like to bite my head off than gentle ones... BCC are calm? maybe 65% of them... now everyone says BCI have great temperaments... hehehe... well... some of them do... but I've seen just as many nasty ones as I have docile There is really no guarantee on temperament, whatever the case.

Originally posted by djnzlab
they are very gentle giants but do need some room, I

LOL... you haven't met my kids :eb:

[snakemann87]

very true linds. Most have better reps but that is never the case. I'm sure somewhere out there, there is a nasty corn. So you can never be sure.

[dead bob]

Originally posted by snakemann87
very true linds. Most have better reps but that is never the case. I'm sure somewhere out there, there is a nasty corn. So you can never be sure.

Yup, my daughter's young corn curls up into an "S", repeatedly strikes, and shakes his tail like a rattle snake. Pretty amazing actually....