Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm almost afraid to ask this question because I don't want to start any big debate. However, here goes:
I want to start breeding boas. But, I am currently quite confused. I would like to breed Surinams because they are just gorgeous snakes. Columbians seem to be more popular (and cheaper). Also, I love my Columbian girl. Are there pluses and minuses to breeding each? I have looked high and low, no one seems to have an albino Surinam. Do they exist or do people just not label them? (And how the heck can you tell?) What are the morphs of Surinams - or are there any? I want to breed 'pure' normal phase Surinams and also have the option of doing morphs. Should I get Columbians as well, or should I just hang it up and breed ATB's instead? All the input I can get will be hugely appreciated.

Yes there are pluses and minuses to breeding BCC and BCI, some of which you touched on. IMO BCC are nicer than BCI but are more difficult (from what I am told) to breed. Also, it may be more difficult to sell BCC than BCI (speculation on my part) because it seems these days many people will not buy unless they can be garunteed that the BCC are pure... not only pure BCC but pure locality. If you can't trace your lines back to the original wild caughts you can't prove this.... and even if you can... how can you prove that the wild caughts were actually collected from where you think they were. But... thats another can of worms that I'd rather not open right now.

Albino Suris? Yes there are a few that exist (can probably count them on one hand). Tracy Barker has one, and I know of another person who'd name I cant recall right now. You probably won't get your hands on one for quite some time as one was rumored to have been sold at daytona for $50K. Of course there is speculation as to whether or not they are true suris or if they are intergrades. The only way to find out would be to breed one to a sharp and kahl strain BCI ***Cringe*** and see if albinos result. However, even if they did it is entirely possible that a true suri could posess the same albino gene as a BCI. Therefore the only thing that could be proven is that if no albinos result it is definately not linked to the BCI morphs. If albinos result, no conclusion can be drawn. Sorry getting off topic.

Other Surinam morphs? Well, there are variations in BCC appearance, so you will see striped BCC and hypo looking BCC etc. However, to my knowlege, no traits have been proven genetic in BCC. Perhaps because for the most part BCC breeders are not interested in gentic morphs? Maybe it is too early in the game?

So, I would recommend to try and find a nice striped suri and see if you can prove it codominant. Could be fun. If it is important to you to play with the genetic morphs, then go for BCI. ATBs? Well I can't comment on them but what it all boils down to is that you have to get what YOU like the most. No one can tell you what to get. Hopefully my comments on BCC morphs will help you with your decision and hopefully others will offer some more info.

Good luck and Have FUN!
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