Last year on my way to the San Antonio Expo I stopped by the Snake Farm in New Braunfels. Hadn't been to the Snake Farm in 10 years, at least. Saw this Colombian Rainbow Boa in one of the cages and commented to the guy(1), the snake looked just like the female I'd left there back in Oct. 1972, the day before I went into the Navy. So the guy says to me -- "That's one of her offspring. She just died a couple of years back. She lived longer than any snake we've ever owned". This was in 2007. I had had that snake for at least 6 years. Here is a 1968 photo of it from my Photobucket page.

Bought it from Manny King(2), All Pets Pet Center, Bellaire Texas around 1965 or 1966. It was an adult when I bought it.
That kid running The Snake Farm has been there for all 3 owners. I guess he should know. When I asked him if the snake in question had a certain identifying feature, he said it did. Anyway, if this is all true, that puts that snake's lifespan in captivity of at least 30 years. Total age at death, probably 35 years, or more.

That other boa is one Joe Laszlo gave me. Think it might be a True Colombian BCC?

(1) Name withheld for privacy.

(2) Manny King -- Son of '"The Snake King" in Brownsville',pg 151, 204,...; Handbook of Snakes, Wright and Wright, Cornell University Press, 1957.
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

[ Hide Replies ]

• how old is your oldest boa? - reagorfu, Thu Aug 21 10:50:55 2008
• RE: how old is your oldest boa? - Jonathan_Brady, Thu Aug 21 13:10:28 2008
• Oh by the way... - Jonathan_Brady, Thu Aug 21 13:12:43 2008
• RE: how old is your oldest boa? - reagorfu, Thu Aug 21 13:49:40 2008
• 30 is possible - Doug T, Thu Aug 21 16:03:35 2008
• RE: how old is your oldest boa? - Slithering_Serpents, Thu Aug 21 19:32:49 2008
• A slight correction: - boaphile, Fri Aug 22 09:06:40 2008
• RE: A slight correction: - jscrick, Fri Aug 22 10:19:26 2008
• RE: A slight correction: - Slithering_Serpents, Fri Aug 22 15:04:49 2008
• RE: A slight correction: - Slithering_Serpents, Fri Aug 22 15:08:56 2008
• RE: A slight correction: - jscrick, Fri Aug 22 17:52:54 2008
• I have one in its 40's - Warren_Booth, Thu Aug 21 16:11:54 2008
• RE: I have one in its 40's - reagorfu, Thu Aug 21 17:10:49 2008
• RE: I have one in its 40's - Slithering_Serpents, Thu Aug 21 21:13:25 2008
• RE: I have one in its 40's - Warren_Booth, Fri Aug 22 08:03:14 2008
• RE: I have one in its 40's - Slithering_Serpents, Fri Aug 22 18:33:51 2008
• I have a 12 year old het albino. np - SenorSnake, Thu Aug 21 17:48:44 2008
• pic - SenorSnake, Thu Aug 21 18:08:53 2008
• She looks to be in great shape too n/p - Slithering_Serpents, Thu Aug 21 19:38:18 2008
• Thanks - SenorSnake, Thu Aug 21 20:37:07 2008
• RE: how old is your oldest boa? - HerpLver, Thu Aug 21 18:42:24 2008
• RE: how old is your oldest boa? - Slithering_Serpents, Thu Aug 21 19:20:17 2008
• hmmm... - Jonathan_Brady, Thu Aug 21 19:45:11 2008
• RE: hmmm... - Slithering_Serpents, Thu Aug 21 21:19:00 2008
• Lots of old Rainbow Boas - Jeff Clark, Thu Aug 21 21:48:43 2008
• RE: how old is your oldest boa? - jscrick, Thu Aug 21 23:15:35 2008
• 20 yr old normal, 10 yr old albino &more - AbsoluteApril, Fri Aug 22 10:33:46 2008
• How old indeed? - boaphile, Fri Aug 22 11:11:53 2008
• I still have my first 2 boas........... - garweft, Fri Aug 22 12:25:54 2008
• Rainbow Boa story... - jscrick, Fri Aug 22 12:54:35 2008
• CORRECTION: 40 years, not 30 years. - jscrick, Fri Aug 22 12:59:27 2008
• RE: CORRECTION: 40 years, not 30 years. - AbsoluteApril, Fri Aug 22 14:10:38 2008