Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Not looking to make a quick buck, but am wondering what locale specific boas would be a good investment and or would be unique. Thoughts on the Boa Sabogae? I'm looking for something that stays realitively managable in terms of size and temperment. Now that I think about it, what about a true BCC (i.e., the Venenzualan BCC)?
Thanks all.

One word of advice, be VERY careful. Very few locale lines in the US can be proven without a shadow of doubt.

I know of a few lines brought in by universities originally from field collected animals. There are also a few from zoos abroad in the country of origin that bred animals collected within specific regions of the country.

While there are MANY more trustworthy breeders that work with locale animals, I do recommend that you speak with Gus Rentfro of RioBravoReptiles.com and with Kevin Barnett of Ectothermics.com. Both of them are very particular with the animals they work with and have done extensive work to verify their locale animals and have many contacts that would provide useful in learning about locale boas and obtaining ones you are interested in.

Your interest in sabogae is good, but that is one subspecies to be VERY careful with. And I do recommend talking with Kevin for those.

.........I would add that if you were looking for, perhaps, Trinidad BCC you could also try Rob Tudehope. He has a like that are pretty nice (not sure if he has any breeding trials with them this year though).

I would also say get what YOU like. If you go that route then you will have much more fun and enjoy the experience alot more. I went with the Suriname BCC. I went with them because I love them. If I never make a penny I would still enjoy working with them. When you find the (ssp) that does that for you then you have found the right one.

Good luck in your search
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Find a locale you are interested in and then inquire about breeders.

It really depends on subspecies, exact locale, and how much verifiable proof you want to purity that determines the people you are going to want to do business with.

Like the others have already said, work with a reputable breeder AND, more or less you get what you pay for. The better the paper trail is towards verifying the locality, the higher the value and therefore commands a higher price tag. If you find a great deal, may not be what you really want.

Your initial breeder animals are NOT the place to scrimp!! Not saying to get the most expensive ones, just pay attention.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
19.29 BRB
14.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Excellent advice both in being wary of so-called locale specific boids that are available and in getting what is most aesthetically pleasing (and manageable) for me. I have to admit that I am drawn to some of these morphs out there, but there is something about the art of keeping exquisite locale pure animals that is really appealing. There also doesn't seem to be that frantic “hurry up and breed them this season to command a higher price” attitude with the locale specific animals. As for finding these top-notch breeders, that seems kind of difficult. I am familiar with Gus’ site (although he never seems to list what offspring he has available) and with Ectotherms, but it seems impossible to locate a web site for Dennis Sargent, Rob Tudehope, etc.

One last thing, is it coincidence that some of the motleys look a little like the Pearl Island boas?

I have email addresses for Dennis and Rob, email me at chris.gilbertboa@gmail.com and I can get them for you.

Gus sends out his available list on his list-serve. So you'll have to contact him about that.

If you like morphs and locales, there are pure locale morphs.

Some of the following exist in pure forms, though there are also crosses of these morphs:

Sonoran imperator:
Leopard, Hypos

Nicaraguans:
T-plus Albino, Hypomelanistic, Ghost

El Salvador Bloods (be careful here).

Hypo Panamanians (All should have CITES).

There are many others but those are just some of the BCI locale specific morphs available.

..........I am more apt to pick up the animal that I like the specific look of than the one with the longest paper trail. Remember that Florida Red Tails freely admited that some of their original stock was of "unknown" origin and thier blood lines are some of the most sought after in the industry (at least for BCC). I have seen animals that have paperwork that I simply for whatever reason didn't end up liking enough to buy. There have been animals with no paperwork that have been thru several hands that I just "had to have"

What I would say is that if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is
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What about leopards, they stay real small, they are totally different and they are locale specific to the Sonoran desert. They are both a morprh and a locality boa.
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Caden Chapman
slithering.serpents@gmail.com

I'd recommend the Burke's for leopards, my friend bought a just beautiful pair of leopards from them. There are lots of cool locale boas too.

Caden

>>What about leopards, they stay real small, they are totally different and they are locale specific to the Sonoran desert. They are both a morprh and a locality boa.
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>>Caden Chapman
>>slithering.serpents@gmail.com

Leopards are rather different. I thought they were a morph though? I think it's Vin Russo's, but there is a Tamahura(sp) boa out there that looks sensational. It would be cool to work w/ some specific island locales...
Jon

Yes they are both a locality (Sonoran Desert) boa and a morph.
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Caden Chapman
slithering.serpents@gmail.com