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New to owning boas

gypsy1dragon Aug 16, 2008 08:31 PM

I have recently acquired a mature female "red tail boa." Now in reading this forum I notice the terms BCC and BCI thrown around. In researching I learned what the terms mean and that the BCI is generally smaller with a darker tail, but that doesn't tell me a lot.

The big girl I just got is over 7 ft and weighs a little over 20 lbs. Was told she was rescued and was extremely obese, but refused food for 6 months and then slowly has steadied out. She seems to have good muscle tone now.

Now I don't know what to classify her as, specially when I want to breed her. She is a dark brown with very dark tail, almost black instead of red. Very irredescent. I was told she was a red tail when she was given to me.

Just curious, any insights will be welcome.

Thank you,

Gypsy
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1.2 Ghost Corns, Beetlejuice, Casper and Spooky
1.1 Charcoal het pewter, Smokey and Flame
1.1 Hypo het lavender, Rosy and Rocko (RIP Rosy)
1.0 Anery, Goku
0.1 Amel, Sunny
2.0 Tabby Cats, Daddycat and his son Brat
0.1 Australian Shepherd, Angel (RIP Angel)
0.1 Blizzard Corn
0.1 Snow Corn
1 Ball Python
1 WC Yellow Rat
2 WC Normal Corns
1.1 Dumerils Boas
0.1 Redtail Boa
1.0 Dwarf Reticulated Pyton

Gypsy

Replies (5)

gypsy1dragon Aug 16, 2008 08:33 PM

Just to clarify, this is the first boa I have owned, but I have been around them and handled them for years. I am comfortable with the care and handling and housing. I did want to start with a baby and let her grow on me, but this girl needed a home. It is all about the animals after all.
-----
1.2 Ghost Corns, Beetlejuice, Casper and Spooky
1.1 Charcoal het pewter, Smokey and Flame
1.1 Hypo het lavender, Rosy and Rocko (RIP Rosy)
1.0 Anery, Goku
0.1 Amel, Sunny
2.0 Tabby Cats, Daddycat and his son Brat
0.1 Australian Shepherd, Angel (RIP Angel)
0.1 Blizzard Corn
0.1 Snow Corn
1 Ball Python
1 WC Yellow Rat
2 WC Normal Corns
1.1 Dumerils Boas
0.1 Redtail Boa
1.0 Dwarf Reticulated Pyton

Gypsy

beastie Aug 16, 2008 09:37 PM

a picture would help a lot!
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www.bryansboas.com

gypsy1dragon Aug 16, 2008 11:41 PM

I know, I know. I wish I could. I can't post pics from this computer and my computer at home is broken. Would be nice too, kind of had a "snake party" the other day, 3 people from work came over to meet everyone and I got some pretty good picks. I want to post them sooo bad, but you know, somethings aren't meant to be. Maybe I'll go to the library and see if I can post from ther.
-----
1.2 Ghost Corns, Beetlejuice, Casper and Spooky
1.1 Charcoal het pewter, Smokey and Flame
1.1 Hypo het lavender, Rosy and Rocko (RIP Rosy)
1.0 Anery, Goku
0.1 Amel, Sunny
2.0 Tabby Cats, Daddycat and his son Brat
0.1 Australian Shepherd, Angel (RIP Angel)
0.1 Blizzard Corn
0.1 Snow Corn
1 Ball Python
1 WC Yellow Rat
2 WC Normal Corns
1.1 Dumerils Boas
0.1 Redtail Boa
1.0 Dwarf Reticulated Pyton

Gypsy

Slithering_Serpents Aug 19, 2008 02:01 PM

Put the pic up elsewhere and post a link to it.
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Caden Chapman
slithering.serpents@gmail.com
http://slitheringserpents.com

Slithering_Serpents Aug 19, 2008 02:22 PM

Gypsy,

BCIs are smaller than BCCs but the range of BCIs is enormous, and their size varies a whole lot from the tiny insular boas to giant Colombians. I keep BCCs and BCIs and my biggest boa ever was a BCI.

"Red tail boa" means nothing. It could mean the tail is red! Technically it means BCC but every pet store I have ever been in marks their BCIs as "red tail boas." They don't want to scare people with that big nasty word "constrictor." So never go by that. BCIs are most common, and yours is likely one, but we really need a pic.

I respect you for taking a mature rescue, but know you job is going to be much harder. That boas is set in her ways, used to someone else's care and conditions, has had weight issues in the past. When you raise a baby they are completely used to you and your ways. The way you use a hook, they type of cleaning products you use, what substrate, the temps you run, are familiar to you by the time they are 7 feet. Now you get to do all that with a big boa that doesn't know you or your ways. In my whole collection I only have 3 boas I got as adults, and there were boas I knew for years before they were mine. They are super nice too. Hope yours is as nice.

Why would you want to breed a normal anyway? The babies sell for what 40 bucks (?) and rescues are full of them. The reptile rescue where I live has over 10 normal boas all the time. Think about getting a male with a codominant trait like a hypo or a Motley. Btw hypos are not a good idea either, too many now and they have no $ value. Or better yet, use this girl to learn all the subtle and not so subtle things about keeping boas, then buy a pair of better babies to breed and raise. You are not going to find a good breeding prospect in a rescue. If they were that good looking and that interesting a prospect, someone like me would have taken them already. There's no shortcut to babies. And your description, dark brown with a dark tail, unless it's some locality boa, wow you'll have a really hard time getting homes for those babies. It's also not the right normal to breed if it's all dark brown and black. I really would like to see a pic, so we can determine if it has value as a locality boa. But from her size and color description she sounds like a Colombian that is undersirable for breeding. But it's just possible she's a BCO (Argentine) or something else.

Hope you have some good hook skills, good luck!
-----
Caden Chapman
slithering.serpents@gmail.com
http://slitheringserpents.com

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