Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, can you breed Guyana Red Tails with Columbian Red Tails? I am new to BOAs, and i bought a Guyana Red-Tail Boa from the reptile expo, because the lady said it was a Columbian....just wondering if they can be bred even if they're different. THANKS

Yes, they are the same species.

THANKS!

I crossed them this year, actually a hypo Colombian with a Guyana and produced some real screamers.


-----
Brian K. MacDonald
Space Coast Reptiles

the two are different subspecies. So the result is a mutt which, in quite a few people's opinion, is worth considerably less than the Colombian parent and MUCH less than the Guyana parent. Moneywise, IMO, you are much better off to mate Guyana to Guyana and Colombian to Colombian.

Paul Hollander

WEll . . . you can do it, they are the same species but not the same subspecies. I suggest if you want to breed colombians get a pair of them, if you want to produce guyanese get a second guyanese. Most people frown upon making mutts such as this. Even when people do this with great thought they generally have reason to do so besides they got the wrong snake i.e. trying to make an albino bcc etc.

Also you seem new to boas, so I don't mind telling you that a Colombian is better beginners snake than Guyanese. You can make more mistakes and they will still be OK. Also if you have never had a boa before you have a long way to go before breeding. Read everything you can now while your snakes are little. If you can manage to raise a pair of colombians to adult size in a healthy way, and if you can get your female in tip top shape, there's no reason you can't breed. But generally sucessful breeding is accomplished by more advanced boa owners.

Good luck,
Caden

The term mutt bothers me, I think it sounds a little harsh too. I wonder if the word "intergrade" might better describe the offspring of two subspecies mixed together... Its a bit like refering to your neonates as pups or your females as [bleep]es...it is simply not the correct word for the application. Just my thoughts on a silly subject

For the record I much prefer them as they occur in the wild, no morphs or intergrades for me thanks.

In my opinion, "subspecies cross" is a better term than "intergrade" for those made in captivity. Keep "intergrade" for the naturally occurring creatures showing characteristics of two subspecies.

If it would cut down the number of subspecies crosses made, I'd vote for a harsher term than "mutt". "Piece of (bleep)" or "freezer bait" are about right.

Paul Hollander

Geeze Paul,
They are living creatures too you know. Do you not have any compassion for these animals? I don't find them very desirable and would never buy one but I certainly wouldn't destroy such an animal if it were in good health and I'm not sure anybody who truly loves boas would...

In my opinion, anyone who truly loved boas would not produce subspecies crosses.

Paul Hollander

Well said ....

Nuff Said !

M/

>>In my opinion, "subspecies cross" is a better term than "intergrade" for those made in captivity. Keep "intergrade" for the naturally occurring creatures showing characteristics of two subspecies.
>>
>>If it would cut down the number of subspecies crosses made, I'd vote for a harsher term than "mutt". "Piece of (bleep)" or "freezer bait" are about right.
>>
>>Paul Hollander

I am nearly speechless after reading your last post...At least in my mind I never figured you as that kind of guy....

Not that it will matter to you all...But you've lost all the respect I held for you...

Just my thoughts....

n/p