Boa c imperator size and cage requirements

beaglegod · 01-23-04, 10:26 AM

Hi just wondering how big the imperators get and whats size enclosure they need. Thanks alot

Invictus · 01-23-04, 10:44 AM

Many will say one square foot of floor space for every foot of the snake. I used to subscribe to this principle myself, but now that I have a 9 foot and a 7 foot boa, I'm beginning to see how little room the female has to stretch out. So, here's what I will personally be doing, but others may not agree: 5x2 for the males, 6x2 for the females. Height doesn't matter as much - 18 inches to 2 feet is more than enough.

beaglegod · 01-23-04, 12:22 PM

wow I thought the imperators were a bit smaller than that. One day when I have the room Id like to get one as a second snake. From what little Ive read they seem realy cool.

Invictus · 01-23-04, 01:29 PM

I have a couple of pretty large adult specimens, beaglegod. Though, as I've been saying for months now, 9-10 fot females and 7-8 foot males is not as uncommon as people like to think it is.

Though I must admit that 7-8 feet for females and 5-6 feet for males is by FAR the most common demographics for Colombian boas. I just pick my specimens well I guess.

jwsporty · 01-23-04, 09:42 PM

I agree Ken. One COULD go with the minimum requirements, but if you are in it for the long haul, the bigger the cage the better. Looks like I am back in the work shop for another boa condo soon. I am picking up a new boy on Sunday.

Beaglegod, Give the kid lots of room to play..give him a quality environment. Here's what I did with my boa's living arrangements.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showt...threadid=33851

Cheers
Jim

BoidKeeper · 01-23-04, 09:54 PM

I agree too Ken. I think that too many people are suggesting smaller and smaller cages so they can feel better about lowering their standards and craming snakes into small cages. Hey the smaller the cage the less room it takes up the more cages you can fit into your room. The more cages into your room the more snakes. The more snakes the more money you might make. Have everyone agree that snakes don't need a large cage and you won't look bad.
Right or wrong that's what the Rum told me to type.
I made my female cage 5x2 and I'm wishing I had gone with 6'x2 or even 3.
Cheers,
Trevor

Invictus · 01-24-04, 12:00 PM

8x2 is what I'm pondering right now, because my big female seems to be very active. I'm even going to give her the height and maybe a shelf. I'll probably have to use 1" melamine though... Gawd, that's going to be HEAVY!!

Gary D. · 01-24-04, 03:40 PM

Good posts guys. For a full grown boa I have 6'x3'. A couple of other points to note are that B.c.i. have a large range and will vary in size as they do in appearance throughout central and south america. Colombians are some of the largest boas reaching 8.5' and often larger for adult females, while mainland central american boas usually top out arround 7'. And the island forms slightly smaller, the smallest being Hogg Isl. While I agree that the majority of captive bred B.c.i. are Colombian crosses which one should plan on becoming large, the question about B.c.i.s is a bit vague to give a definitive answer. But the wisdom of this thread remains true, always go as big as you can.

Linds · 01-24-04, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gary D.
Colombians are some of the largest boas reaching 8.5' and often larger for adult females, while mainland central american boas usually top out arround 7'. And the island forms slightly smaller, the smallest being Hogg Isl.

Hogs are more in the middle range for BCI lengths. There are many other smaller BCI localities that stay much smaller than Hogs do... Cay Caulker, Mexican Dwarf, Corn Island, Crawl Cay, etc.

6.5'+ female, last weighed in at over 15 pounds...

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/508/22peanutmeDP03.jpg">