Good to be back in the herp world!

[kovacs01]

Here is my new little guy after a long (17 year) hiatus from the hobby. It quite surprised my wife when he arrived. I had talked about getting another herp for years, but never followed through. When I told her I had ordered one, I don't think she believed me. Anyway, I picked him up as a yearling a few months ago, and he is eating like a pig and growing fast. We call him Atlas......now if only I could find a little girl for him. I will post some better pics later.

[RAD House]

Wow he has a great pattern, almost reminiscent of a Gabon viper. What type of boa is he?

[eminart]

Congrats! I was out of the hobby when I got married too. Suffice to say, my wife is quite surprised since we now have a fair sized collection.

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

What type of boa is he?

Dumeril's boa.

[kovacs01]

Originally Posted by eminart

Congrats! I was out of the hobby when I got married too. Suffice to say, my wife is quite surprised since we now have a fair sized collection.



Dumeril's boa.

Nope, he is the "other" ground boa from that island, A. Madagascariensis, commonly known among other similar monikers as the madagascan ground boa.

It has been interesting getting his environment just right, since there is so little information out there. I used dumeril's as the baseline, and through research and experimentation have found out that they need quite a bit higher humidity levels than Dumeril's. I think probably they can stand about 2 degrees warmer on average as well, though I doubt that difference is gonna matter much.

[eminart]

Originally Posted by kovacs01

Nope, he is the "other" ground boa from that island, A. Madagascariensis, commonly known among other similar monikers as the madagascan ground boa.

Ah crap. I hate when people spread false information, and this time it was me. Thanks for setting me straight. I actually don't know much about the boas of madagascar, and I really didn't know this species existed (or that it was separate from Dumerils anyway). They do look pretty similar. I took a glance, assumed it was Dumeril's, and opened my big mouth.

Anyway, great looking snake. Congrats.

[kovacs01]

Originally Posted by eminart

Ah crap. I hate when people spread false information, and this time it was me. Thanks for setting me straight. I actually don't know much about the boas of madagascar, and I really didn't know this species existed (or that it was separate from Dumerils anyway). They do look pretty similar. I took a glance, assumed it was Dumeril's, and opened my big mouth.

Anyway, great looking snake. Congrats.

No sweat man! It is a VERY common mistake. Not many MGBs in private collections, and the differences are subtle, especially in photos. The differences:

The MGB has more of a cryptic pattern. On the dorsal portion, the pattern is much more defined on the DGB. There are definite light/dark boundaries, and that is not the case on the MGB. The head is also different. The MGB usually has copper colored patternless, indistinctly, or lightly patterned head, where the DMB head pattern is usually very well defined. Finally the MGB will generally carry many more pink/orange tones, especially in the first third of the body length. I suspect that some of the "pink" phase dumeril's out there are a result of hybridization. There are other biological and physical differences of course. But for those unfamiliar, those are the easiest things to look for

On the physiological side, the MGB is a bigger heavier bodied snake. It is more prevalent on the northern portion of the island(s) and favors slightly warmer and significantly more humid conditions.

Since data is so lacking on these, and I have had to grope blindly; it is my eventual intent to make a good solid care sheet is available for anyone else who wants to keep the species.

[PatrickT]

Originally Posted by kovacs01

Nope, he is the "other" ground boa from that island, A. Madagascariensis, commonly known among other similar monikers as the madagascan ground boa.

It has been interesting getting his environment just right, since there is so little information out there. I used dumeril's as the baseline, and through research and experimentation have found out that they need quite a bit higher humidity levels than Dumeril's. I think probably they can stand about 2 degrees warmer on average as well, though I doubt that difference is gonna matter much.

I was able to see it in free last december when i was in the Lokobe forest in Madagascar:









You can check the climate data of Lokobe Nosy be to get it right. It was very humid and quite warm. If you need any info ask me.

[kovacs01]

Originally Posted by PatrickT

I was able to see it in free last december when i was in the Lokobe forest in Madagascar:


You can check the climate data of Lokobe Nosy be to get it right. It was very humid and quite warm. If you need any info ask me.

Thanks Patrick! Your picture is awesome, and that looks like it was an amazing trip. It now makes my wish, though, that I did not have a strictly terrestrial setup. From your picture, it seems that "ground" boa might be a misnomer, and that they are semi-arboreal. That is basically how I got environmental data for them, by checking climate data for Northern Madagascar.

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

Never heard of that boa before but amazing scale pattern. Definitely one I'd have to buy if I came across one. How big do they get?

Again, the data here is unreliable. When that is the case with snakes, I usually lean towards the smaller numbers. In captivity, expect the average male to go 6-7 feet, and 7-8 feet for the female with outliers at 8-10 feet respectively. There are reports of 13 feet, but I doubt it. Girth wise, they are probably the heaviest boa. They aren't like a blood python, but not far off it either.

[trailblazer295]

Awesome pattern!!

[Albert Clark]

Handsome guy! He will have no problem with the ladies i'm sure. Grats.

[PatrickT]

what does "herp" world mean?

You´ve got herpes?

[kovacs01]

Originally Posted by PatrickT

what does "herp" world mean?

You´ve got herpes?

From the Wikis:

Herpetology (from Greek "herpien" meaning "to creep") is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (gymnophiona)) and reptiles (including snakes, lizards, amphisbaenids, turtles, terrapins, tortoises, crocodilians, and the tuataras). Batrachology is a further subdiscipline of herpetology concerned with the study of amphibians alone.

[trailblazer295]

Never heard of that boa before but amazing scale pattern. Definitely one I'd have to buy if I came across one. How big do they get?

[RAD House]

Incredible, do you mind if I ask where you got him?

[Albert Clark]

I would be curious as to the temperament of the MGB. It is a stunning animal. Thanks for the description and comparison to the DGB. Nice class.