Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 5 year old BCC, and whenever I go to these snake shows or a reptile exhibit I always see some boa with a GIGANTIC head. When ever I ask how old no one seems to know. I'm guessing that the head takes more time to "fill out" than the rest of the body. Anyone with a really old boa observe this? Or is it just genetic?

There was actually a research study that showed Boas that eat larger meals grow bigger heads as an accommodation. By that theory, a snake that ate smaller meals would retain a smaller head.

I don't have the link to the study, but I read it within the last year. Google it.

Yes, that's why I asked the question a while back about the true BCC Basin's diet in the wild. Big heads for large meals, with all that discussion of frequent small meals for captive animals.
Don't know for sure, but I think you are referring to the published opinion that "pin head" snakes are the result of frequent small meals, not allowing adequate head growth to normal size.
jsc

and got a study done by Blackwell synergy. the results after the 58 week test on neonates from the same litter was their heads did not change significantly after being fed larger sized prey items compared to their siblings. The study at the end implicated genetics as the determining factor in head size.

Suriname have the largest heads IMO. Boa constrictor constrictor (BCC) generally have larger heads than Boa constrictor imperitor (BCI).
Boas that have been on a reduced diet and have lost body mass generally have that big head look. More obvious in BCC than BCI.
To answer your question, those are probably underfed BCC you're referring to.
jsc

I think it has to do with feeding. Their bodies can grow quickly but not their heads. If a snake reaches 5 feet in 2 years it will still have a 2 year old head. I think BCC have bigger heads proportionately because generally you can't feed them as much.

Yes. I agree with both previous opinions.
It's a matter of genetics and a matter of feeding regime, regarding the head in relative proportion to the body.
jsc

The term "pin head" in original reference/context was used to describe over fed Boa that displayed exaggerated growth in body mass compared to head mass in overall uniformity of the animal.
Nothing to do with genetics.Granted some animals could likely fit the term as well as the label,but that wasnt how/why the term originated.

>>Yes. I agree with both previous opinions.
>>It's a matter of genetics and a matter of feeding regime, regarding the head in relative proportion to the body.
>>jsc
>>
-----
TnK

Maybe I wasn't clear. I was speaking of 2 different circumstances. Two completely different reasons for 2 completely different head/body relationships.
One being genetic and one being husbandry practices.
jsc

Guess not ..... personally it doesnt matter.

>>Maybe I wasn't clear. I was speaking of 2 different circumstances. Two completely different reasons for 2 completely different head/body relationships.
>>One being genetic and one being husbandry practices.
>>jsc
-----
TnK

..
-----
Best regards,
Darren Hamill

thanks - I don't own them anymore but I thow in old pics to make my posts better.

Deron who has them snake's now?

Those top two are of the same snake and she is with Floridaredtail.com, along with this male, her brother.

WOW!! Thats nice..

The animals with the larger heads are usually in their mid-later stage of their lifespan. I've seen this in both wild caught and captive bred/raised animals. Ever pick thorugh a shipment of imports and wonder why some animals are the same size, but have different muscle mass? Go with the animals that are younger ( smaller heads, different proportions ) and you'll have a 10x better chance at acclimating them.

Sex of the snake has everything to do with it too once they mature. Mature females will always have bigger, thicker heads than males the same size/age. I would be willing to bet the animals you are seeing with the gigantic heads are all females.

Billy

>>I have a 5 year old BCC, and whenever I go to these snake shows or a reptile exhibit I always see some boa with a GIGANTIC head. When ever I ask how old no one seems to know. I'm guessing that the head takes more time to "fill out" than the rest of the body. Anyone with a really old boa observe this? Or is it just genetic?

I think that applies to most all females regardless of species

>>Sex of the snake has everything to do with it too once they mature. Mature females will always have bigger, thicker heads than males the same size/age. I would be willing to bet the animals you are seeing with the gigantic heads are all females.
>>
>>Billy
-----
TnK

Most species of boids yes, but not snakes in general. Rat snakes for instance, males get larger than females with bigger, boxier heads.

Billy

>>I think that applies to most all females regardless of species

I have two BCCs from the same litter (produced by Ben Siegel) that I adopted at 3 years of age. One female, one male. The female is a foot larger than the male, but her head is nearly twice the size of the male's. From the previous owner's records, they have always eaten similar sized prey (just more prey items for the female when she would take them, the male refused food a little more often).

So, I wouldn't think it was prey-size related, but genetic and/or sex-related... Though I don't have another adult female to compare with right now. The other adult female I had was a hog island, and her head was only slightly larger than the male hog island I have, when she passed away. My hypo BCI is 2 years old right now, but I wouldn't consider her an adult yet, and her future mate is only a year, so not worth comparing those two quite yet
-----
Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.1 Ball Python, 1.0 Hog Island Boa, 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 1.1 Saharan Sand Boa