Diffrence between a ....

[ChristinaM]

Columbian BCC
and
Columbian BCI ?

what is the diffrence? I'm assuming it is size, yes? If that's the case, how would you know which you are getting if you buy it as a juvie?

Example: a store I was in tonight had a " columbian boa constrictor". What would that be? It was nice whatever it was.

[BoidKeeper]

Well Jeff Rone, The boa Phile says there is no difference but that is a bold statment. The differences are one group of boas living on one side of the Andeas mountains are BCC and the ones on the other side are BCI with Colombian boas on both sides.
There is a photos in the Boa Constrictor Manual showing a Colombian BCI and Colombian BCC, the BCC is every bit as nice as a Peruvian or nicer.
The fundamental differences are as you said, size as well as apperance, colour is nicer one the BCC and the BCC has less then 21 saddles while the BCI has 21 or more. There is also a different number of ventral scales on BCC then there are on BCI. Ventral scales are the scales running down the belly of the snake from chin to vent.
The boa at the store (which you should not buy) is most likely a BCI. Colombian BCC are rare.
Cheers,
Trevor

[C.m.pyrrhus]

Boa Constrictor Meristics Sheet

This should help out a lot when determining species for Boa constrictors, I use it personally and find it useful. I simply count scales from my boas sheds, which usually I get 100% whole pieces which are simple to count and and go by. Yet, I will say, that boa taxonomy is still something of debate.

The boa in the store was most likely what most folks would say to be a Colombian B.c.i., myself included. I have found, through this meristics chart, that many Colombian B.c.i. just may be in fact B.c.c. Personally, in the end I feel it may just not be such a big deal as simply owning such nice snakes regardless of what they "are." Knowing that the B.c.i. group is highly broken into several different looking locales, sizes and temperments, I do not see why B.c.c. or any other ssp. could not be the same.

One of my Boas ( A typical Colombian) has all the scale counts that would leave me believe her to be B.c.c. My other boas both come out as B.c.i. This is coming strictly from scale counts off the meristics chart of course. Yet, her saddle count is about the only thing that reflects B.c.i. that I can see. This also may be do to the fact that many commercial boas have both sets of species genes from early breeding and selling of these big snakes into the market years ago. I feel strongly that not many boas may reflect to be pure in nature as we think or hope. Who really knows, I sure don't. True and pure Colombian B.c.c. just may be rare as well. Unless you surely have a sure bet that your boa came from a certain locale, best bet may be you have a boa like this. Does not matter to much, harm has been done so to speak already, and these snakes are cool regardless of where they were picked up. I also hate it when I hear that B.c.i. are not "True Red-tails", as I know from some specimens of these snakes that B.c.i. are known to be just as bright red, clean and gorgeous (if not more than) as there B.c.c. counterparts.

I would take the advise from Trevor, and not purchase from the pet store. You have a better choice coming from breeders across the board that produce these wonderful snakes. Many choices available on locales of the boas, as well as some stunning color variations that appeal to many folks.

[ChristinaM]

Thanks guys No fear, I do not intend on buying from a store if I can help it. I much prefer knowing who/where my "purchase" came from. Not to mention I found the costs astounding.
Excellent link, that one is going in my favorites. Thank you.