Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
We have had a pet boa for about 6 years (well, as a married couple 6 years, my husband bought it 19 years ago)so I am now really new to owning a boa, but I am new to trying to understand all of the types out there. I have a small collection of snakes- balls, corns, jungle carpets, a GTP, the older boa and just recently got myself a Cay Caulker and a Nic. Love them! I've read info on several breeder's sites, also the Boa Constrictor Manual and a few others

I suppose I should get to the question. I LOVE the albino/hypo types of boa. I really like the coral, sunglow,lipstick etc.....but I also am partial to the "dwarf" boa because I am a shorter gal. That's why I really like the ball pythons and corns-easy for my to handle and enjoy. Do any of the "dwarf" boas come in those awesome reds, pinks and oranges? I am not partial to genders because I don't plan to breed, and know that males are typically smaller than females. So, are all of the albino/hypo types that are advertised (lipstick, coral, sunglow...) the typical BCI that can get really large, or are there any that are "likely" to stay under 5' (I know any snake can get larger than it's average reported size)?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated and welcome. Thanks in advance from a first timer on this forum!!!
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Cheers,
Jessica
10.15 Ball Pythons
8.9 Corn Snakes
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
2.2 Jungle Carpet Pythons
0.0.1 Boa Constrictor
3.0 Crazy Dogs
2.0 Cats
Some Tropical Fish
...........and growing!

Pick whatever Boa you would like to have color wise. Make sure it's a male and don't grow it any larger than you want it to be. My adult males don't grow past 5' because that's as large as I want them to be. They are perfectly healthy staying less than that too. Many males will stay smaller than 5' even if you wanted them to get larger. The world is your oyster! Pick what you like without worry of harboring a monster. Monsters are made in the Boa world, not born.
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I'd follow his advice. If you have no male/female preference then get a male morph of your choice and keep him small.

The dwarf morph varieties are typically more expensive (T positive albinos) or subpar (hypo nics) in comparison to the colombian based morphs.

There have been a few people that have done albino crossings into dwarf boas that are pretty sweet. It will take some patience / searching to find them though.

Nicaraguan boas come in hypo varieties...some of the super hypo Nics are outstanding...there are also T-Positive albino Nics as well...
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Heather Martin
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There are also people working with Kahl and Sharp strain Albino
Boas who have and are crossing them into smaller Bci Subspecies
like Cancun Mexican Boas and some other Central American types.
. . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz

Thank you to those that replied! Makes me happy.....will probably look into getting a sunglow in the future
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Cheers,
Jessica
10.15 Ball Pythons
8.9 Corn Snakes
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
2.2 Jungle Carpet Pythons
1.0 Cay Caulker
1.0 Nicaraguan BCI
0.0.1 BCC (almost 20 yrs old)
3.0 Crazy Dogs
2.0 Cats
Some Tropical Fish
...........and growing!

Don't forget Hypo Hogg/Hog and Sunset Boas.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

one other option (not that I'm biased in any way) are Brazilian Rainbow Boas. Rarely get much ofver 6 feet long and even then not as girthy as a BCI. Not as many morphs available in them (yet) but they already have intense color and patterning. A few of mine......

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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

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

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

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks for taking the time to reply. GORGEOUS rainbows! I really do like their pattern. I have heard they are a little more difficult to handle (more aggressive than some of the popular pet types). Is that true?
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Cheers,
Jessica
10.15 Ball Pythons
8.9 Corn Snakes
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
2.2 Jungle Carpet Pythons
1.0 Cay Caulker
1.0 Nicaraguan BCI
0.0.1 BCC (almost 20 yrs old)
3.0 Crazy Dogs
2.0 Cats
Some Tropical Fish
...........and growing!

I wouldn't call it more aggressive, just not docile. They want to move and explore, definitely not a "lap snake". I have dozens of BRB's and I don't see them as more aggressive than my Boas, if anything, they are easier to handle than the boas as they are smaller and therefore easier to pick up.

They do require higher humidity but that is easy with a proper cage.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

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

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

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats