Could someone please explain...

[Zoe]

The difference between a common boa, and a colombian red-tailed boa, if there is one.

Thanks!
Zoe

[rethius]

There is in fact a difference:
Well appearance is one thing: BCI (common boa) is much darker, darker tail, pretty much darker everything, there are no speckles on BCI belly, BCC belly is speckled, and the obvious presence of a RED tail!
Now BCI are found WEST of the andes, BCC (colombian redtail) are found East of the Andes (more in the Amazon)! Bcc (colombian) are fairly rare in captivity, most with a "common boa" refer to it as a redtail! other differences include scale count, dorsal bloches and all those other controversial differences.
Anyways I hope this helps a bit!
-Jeff

[Zoe]

Hi,
Colombian Red-Tailed Boas are BCIs...

[LdyDrgn]

Rethius, I have bci with very speckled bellies. This is not an indicator.

What you are hearing as the "colombian red-tailed boa" is the same as the "common boa".

[ballpython5000]

um i was under the impression a columbian was a bci? has there been a change that i dont know about?

[LdyDrgn]

There are Colombian bcc in existance, but are few and far between. The Colombians you see in nearly every collection are bci.

[snake_lover]

A common boa are the ones most kept in the us and other states . (BCI) Boa.C.Imperator ) a columbian red tail is acctually the same as a common boa !they are just called red tail boas because they have red tails .The bcc Is the true red tail boa.

[rethius]

Bcc colombian DO exist! But I did say they are rare!!

[Zoe]

Okay rethius, but I was asking about common colombian red-tails :]

Thanks all!
Zoe

[ReptiZone]

Now I am confused but I think I can make some sence with all this.

Boa Constrictor Constrictor family:
suriname red tail
peruvian red tail
columbian red tail (rare)
Boa Constrictor Imperator family:
common boa or columbian boa or columbian red tail boa
did I get that all right if not can you fill me in

[Zoe]

You've left out a few, such as venezuelans, hogg island boas etc, but I think those you've named are in the right category.

Zoe

[ReptiZone]

oh I thaught I typed the (and so on etc) but you got the idea

[LdyDrgn]

Hey Chondro ... if you are interested in learning about all the different localities of bci and bcc (as well as a few others such as bcl **DROOL!!!**) check out Boa Constrictor

Hermann Stoeckl is the MAN when it comes to locality specific boas. :thumbsup:

[rethius]

Hey, does anyone own venezuelan redtails (bcc) the black saddles??

[Linds]

I wrote this earlier in the pet peeve thread, as this topic is a big one of mine

"I also can't stand when people label Colombians (BCI) as redtails. Two different subspecies should not share a common name IMHO, this creates serious confusion amongst other things. Not to mention it is extremely frustrating when browsing the classifieds looking for a true redtail and clicking on 100 ads titled redtail boa only to find one or two true redtails! BCI were only labelled redtails as a marketing ploy a few decades ago by dealers to make more money since they were somewhat similar in appearance and BCC fetch a higher price."

Rethius is correct, there are Colombian BCC, but usually when people refer to Colombian Redtails they are referring to BCI. As for distinguishing BCC from BCI on colour, saddle shape, etc... these are innacurate methods since, though they can be strinkingly different, they can also be very similar, the only surefire ways to distinguish one from the other are scale counts and saddle counts. Speckling is present in both species, IMHO BCI have just as much, if not more speckling than BCC do (on average).