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Someone told me that albino boas tend to be a little squirrely compared to others. Perhaps due to inbreeding or not being able to see as well. Is that true?

From 4 of 8 I own, I noticed even after being handled for over 4 years, those 4 always feel uncomfortable and try to wiggle free everytime. So my answer is I think half the albinos act that way at least from my experience.

I have 2 Albinos, one is a Kahl, the other a Sharp.

The Kahl wiggles all over the place when I go to pick her up, or just put her back in her cage.
The Sharp has no odd behavior and is just like all of my other boas.

I have also heard the same issue discussed before. Basically it seems that everyone comes to the conclusion that it caused from inbreeding or it is genetic.

I own a bunch of different kahl strain stuff. But everything I own is either het for something or a snow or sunglow. None of my animals wriggle or anything along those lines.

From the start I would often interact with them as babies besides cleaning and feeding. Even if I let them out to roam a secure room for a few hours till they decide they have had enough and curl up in a corner.

All of my adult albinos are huge now and are easily maintained and never give me any trouble, and despite frequent handling as babys are great breeders (a completely different topic) as well.

I guess what it comes down to is do your homework and try to acquire animals that are outcrossed as much as possible if you would like to try and avoid this problem. If you still are not 100% sure why not go to a few reptile shows and get pick out your albino in person. If squirming is in fact inheritable and not caused from lack of human interaction or whatever then you will experience this first hand at the show.

Greg Reinert

You just have to stick it to us with that Stripe-Line everytime, eh Greg?

; )
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The anerys have all been a little weird.

I've only got one. He was more active than most neonate BCI
when I got him, kind of like a BRB.

He has totally settled in now though and is just as docile and
relaxed as the rest of my boas. I handle my boas regularly
and they are kept in the living room so they constantly see
people...

Can't wait to get that little guy paired off...

Mine is 9 months old and I don't think she had much handling before I got her a month ago. She's either frightened or ill-tempered. I don't know which. I hope daily short gentle handling will help her settle down. I really don't want a large temperamental snake in my collection so I'm considering selling her. I guess she could make a good breeder for someone if not a pet for me.

Ive had several clutches of albino boas over the years and Ive never noticed the albinos to act any different than the normals born with them. I personally believe each snake is an individual. And each one is born with a different personality. That might be a crazy statement to some but I think it is true. I had one albino female in 2000 that was the absolute sweetest animal Ive ever had. She never hissed nor tried to bite once. She was a great feeder right off the bat and I just like to think she has a special personality. Not all are like that. Some get that dont mess with me gene and they keep it their entire life. I could go on but its amazing that if you interact with your snakes long enough you actually get to know them and their individual personalities. No two are really the same!!

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