Boigas

**Minkness** · 12-16-15, 04:28 PM

Saw some on fauna and they really caught my eye. Peices were a bit steep but apparently they are the only captive bred in all of America or something.

Does anyone have experience with these snakes that could be shared? Might be a neat future addition. =)

reptiledude987 · 12-16-15, 04:30 PM

lots of different boigas. what was it Boiga dendrophila?

**Aaron_S** · 12-16-15, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

Saw some on fauna and they really caught my eye. Peices were a bit steep but apparently they are the only captive bred in all of America or something.

Does anyone have experience with these snakes that could be shared? Might be a neat future addition. =)

They are rear fanged species. Which one were you looking at? Most tend to be okay during the day but are hell with scales at night.

**Minkness** · 12-16-15, 05:09 PM

Dendrophiles. =)

The ad had a bunchbof different colored ones though. I really like the solid green/blue one and then ine that is like black stripes iver a yellow/orange/red fade background.

riddick07 · 12-16-15, 05:14 PM

I wish I could get some of the rear fanged ones but I'm just way too worried about one striking one of the birds some how. Maybe in the future when I can have a separate room for them.

If you get one share lots of photos

**Minkness** · 12-16-15, 05:25 PM

Oh, if I get one, it will be a whiiiile away. But I'll certainly let everyone know if I do! ^_^

reptiledude987 · 12-16-15, 05:30 PM

Ive never seen them in the colors you mentioned ive only ever seen the black and yellow. Also I second what aaron said lol

Nightflight99 · 12-16-15, 05:33 PM

I've worked with Boiga dendrophila and Boiga cynodon, the latter of which I currently keep. Depending on your experience level, both of them are fairly easy to work with, assuming that you receive either long-term captive or captive-bred/captive-hatched specimens. Many of those that are available in the U.S. trade are wild-caught specimens that tend to be saturated with parasites, and need to be treated right away in order to minimize mortality.

Both species can also be picky feeders, so be prepared to be patient and have access to a variety of potential prey items.

Below are a couple of shots of the B. cynodon in my collection. These guys are juveniles and have not yet undergone their color change.

**Minkness** · 12-16-15, 07:05 PM

I am not trying to use thisas a sale's ad, but maybe this will help in identifying what it is I'm seeing. This is the ad I saw that made my eyes go O__O

Available CB Boiga - FaunaClassifieds

IW17 · 12-16-15, 07:59 PM

Beautiful animals. Prices seem steep though. And no live arrival guarantee below 40 and above 80? That leaves about two months a year that you're covered lol.

SSSSnakes · 12-16-15, 09:32 PM

I have a beautiful Black & Yellow female for over 7 years and I have had a few Black & White/Yellow juveniles over the years, that I sold off. Like Aaron said docile during the day and Evil at night. Picky eaters. Mine strikes full mouth open, so if she bites you, she will get those rear fangs in you.

SerpentineDream · 01-03-16, 09:49 PM

Can they be handled? I've been looking at B. dendrophila latifasciata, B. dendrophila dendrophila and B. cyanea, pretty much in that order. It's hard to find CB specimens but I'm holding out for them.

My first introduction to snakes was when I was in the 5th grade and a lady brought in a bunch of her reptiles to show us. I was the only one who wanted to pet them. She had a *very* docile B. dendrophila dendrophila which she allowed me to handle (yeah, that would never fly today). It was the first snake I ever touched, and it was exquisitely beautiful. However from what I've read and been told, that snake may have been the marked exception to the rule? My general understanding is that they're nervous, aggressive and will bite as soon as look at you, which is not at all the gentle animal I remember.

Humble308 · 01-14-16, 09:13 PM

I'd like to keep Boiga cynodon at some point, those you have Night are gorgeous. I'd like a few more years experience though before trying them. Looks like a good animal if you're a bit on the fence about keeping venomous. I read it's mildly toxic, but I don't reckon you'd want to get bit by one anyways?

Nightflight99 · 01-14-16, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SerpentineDream

Can they be handled? I've been looking at B. dendrophila latifasciata, B. dendrophila dendrophila and B. cyanea, pretty much in that order. It's hard to find CB specimens but I'm holding out for them.

My first introduction to snakes was when I was in the 5th grade and a lady brought in a bunch of her reptiles to show us. I was the only one who wanted to pet them. She had a *very* docile B. dendrophila dendrophila which she allowed me to handle (yeah, that would never fly today). It was the first snake I ever touched, and it was exquisitely beautiful. However from what I've read and been told, that snake may have been the marked exception to the rule? My general understanding is that they're nervous, aggressive and will bite as soon as look at you, which is not at all the gentle animal I remember.

Most Boiga are not the type of snakes that you would enjoy to handle. They tend to be quite passive and somewhat drowsy during the day, but may turn into a whip at night. At that time, they are easily aroused and get quite defensive, putting on a threat display and (often) launching bluff strikes. They're venomous, but most of them are not considered dangerous for humans. The one exception to that rule is Boiga blandingii, which may have the potential for a more serious bite. I've been tagged by an adult Boiga dendrophila before, but aside from physical injury caused by the teeth, the bite only produced some minor swelling and redness.

In any case, all of these factors make Boiga in general a poor choice if you're looking for a snake that you can freely handle, but they are fascinating snakes and very rewarding to keep. Just be prepared for a largely off-hands approach.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humble308

I'd like to keep Boiga cynodon at some point, those you have Night are gorgeous. I'd like a few more years experience though before trying them. Looks like a good animal if you're a bit on the fence about keeping venomous. I read it's mildly toxic, but I don't reckon you'd want to get bit by one anyways?

Yep, about the same as B. dendrophila--they're large snakes and a bite by an adult isn't going to be fun. That said, it is also extremely unlikely to produce any significant symptoms. I think that keeping a rear-fanged species with an attitude is certainly not a bad idea to test the "venomous" waters. Of course, no other non-venomous or mildly venomous species will ever perfectly mimic an actual viper or elapid, simply because you know that the consequences of a bite aren't even in the same ballpark.