Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got a 4 foot female cuban boa 7 weeks ago at the last Hamburg,PA show. The guy I got him from told me she was feeding fine on frozen rats. Well, I tried that about 10 times and all she did was strike and run. So I finally tried live mice the other night. She'd downed 7 in the last 3 days. I loved this snake to begin with but now that she's feeding and so fat and healthy looking after eating so much, she's just amazing.

I have no idea why these snakes aren't more popular. She's also a master killer. I never would have thought because of all the trouble I had getting her started but she's perfectly accurate when she goes after mice. The last snake I had that took live was a retic and he was so clumsy about it. And always got bitten. Which is why I hate feeding live. But with this cuban there's nothing to worry about. She hits them right on the face everytime and wraps them right up.

And they're also the largest boas, besides anacondas. But there are a total of 2 pictures on the entire internet of animals that are about 12 feet. And one doesn't load. There's so little information out there about them. I'm just getting started with Epicrates. I also have a baby pair of BRB's that I'm equally fascinated by. I'm not a big boa fan, but this Genus is awesome. I've always liked them but never had any until now. I've also always been into Haitians and would like to get some of them soon. I'd really like to find a male cuban to breed to the female in the future. And if I can produce any, I'm going to sell them for alot less than they normally go for. To maybe spark some interest in them. It seems a little odd to ask $300 for a snake that's not popular at all. But should be. Also, from observing her, I think they evolved very similarly to African Rock Pythons. Most noticably is their pattern. But everything else too. Well anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts and experiences thus far with Epicrates Angulifer. I figure this is a good place to do it but no one here even keeps them, it seems. WHY? And this is about the fifth time I've said this but if there happens to be ANYONE out there with something to share about this species, I'd love to hear it. I'd also love to see pics of big adults. The only pics I can find are of young ones. Thanks.

Kottonmouthking,
. "The Natural History of West Indian Boas" by Tolson and Henderson has several pages on the Cuban Boa including a PIC of a big one. There is also information about the two different pattern variations of angulifer. There is also information about the other insular Epics and the Trops too.
Jeff

>>I got a 4 foot female cuban boa 7 weeks ago at the last Hamburg,PA show. The guy I got him from told me she was feeding fine on frozen rats. Well, I tried that about 10 times and all she did was strike and run. So I finally tried live mice the other night. She'd downed 7 in the last 3 days. I loved this snake to begin with but now that she's feeding and so fat and healthy looking after eating so much, she's just amazing.
>>
>>I have no idea why these snakes aren't more popular. She's also a master killer. I never would have thought because of all the trouble I had getting her started but she's perfectly accurate when she goes after mice. The last snake I had that took live was a retic and he was so clumsy about it. And always got bitten. Which is why I hate feeding live. But with this cuban there's nothing to worry about. She hits them right on the face everytime and wraps them right up.
>>
>>And they're also the largest boas, besides anacondas. But there are a total of 2 pictures on the entire internet of animals that are about 12 feet. And one doesn't load. There's so little information out there about them. I'm just getting started with Epicrates. I also have a baby pair of BRB's that I'm equally fascinated by. I'm not a big boa fan, but this Genus is awesome. I've always liked them but never had any until now. I've also always been into Haitians and would like to get some of them soon. I'd really like to find a male cuban to breed to the female in the future. And if I can produce any, I'm going to sell them for alot less than they normally go for. To maybe spark some interest in them. It seems a little odd to ask $300 for a snake that's not popular at all. But should be. Also, from observing her, I think they evolved very similarly to African Rock Pythons. Most noticably is their pattern. But everything else too. Well anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts and experiences thus far with Epicrates Angulifer. I figure this is a good place to do it but no one here even keeps them, it seems. WHY? And this is about the fifth time I've said this but if there happens to be ANYONE out there with something to share about this species, I'd love to hear it. I'd also love to see pics of big adults. The only pics I can find are of young ones. Thanks.

Never actually seen it though. I'm gonna have to find it. A pet store near me probably has a copy of it. I'd be really interested to learn more about different color patterns. I wasn't aware of that. Thanks alot Jeff. You really seem to know what you're talking about with Epicrates. I've been talking about this cuban on here since I got her and you're the only person who ever responds.

That is not an easy book to find in a pet store, try Barnes and nobles.com or amazon.com, I bought a used copy by Barnes and nobles, I paid like $46 for a used copy, the quality of the book is not great, but the information about Insular Epicrates is the best you can find in any book I know.

I just looked it up on Barnes & Noble and Amazon. B&N doesn't have it at all and Amazon has a used copy for $100. I've actually been familiar with that book for a long time. And there's a pet store near me that has a great selection of books. I seem to remember looking at it there before I was really into the West Indian Boas so I didn't really retain what I read. Looks like I'm gonna be searching for it now. I'm about to try Ebay. It would be nice if I could find it locally though to avoid shipping and all that comes with it.

Albinoman, since you have the book, and went to such extremes to get it, which species do you keep? Any experience with Angulifer at all or related species? I'd love to hear some other people's experiences or perspective on them. So far, I've heard zero about them from other keepers. And the only websites about keeping them are from like Germany and written in German, obviously. Except for Hiss N' Things, but that's not real thorough. Either way, thanks alot for the heads up on the book. I hope I can find it.

I really like all Epicrates and I would like to get into insulars, righ now I'm just keeping cenchria, maurus and alvarezis, I have heard some breeder from Canada working with some insulars This is the e-mail one of them I kept it because i know I will be buying some pairs maybe next year insularway@aol.com his name is Jay, contat him i'm sure he could help you more than me, The only experinece I have with insulars is reading West Indian Boas book and this book has info of all insular Epicrates so do not expect too much info about just abgulifer, it has 3 pages but it is a must have for Insular Epicrates

Jay just post I list of Insular epicrates his working with in the boa forum, just e-mail him

Larry does Hamburg,Pottstown,HarveDeGrace & a few other locale shows. He sells lots of books look under the adoption section I think he is in there still. If not wait until the next show Oct. 2 isn't far away.

kottonmouthking,
. I had no idea the book was so hard to find. I have had my copy for years. IMO it is not worth $100. Good book but not really a whole lot to it. If you do not find one for a reasonable price let me know and I will scan and email or slow mail the 3 pages about Cuban Boas.
Jeff

>>I just looked it up on Barnes & Noble and Amazon. B&N doesn't have it at all and Amazon has a used copy for $100. I've actually been familiar with that book for a long time. And there's a pet store near me that has a great selection of books. I seem to remember looking at it there before I was really into the West Indian Boas so I didn't really retain what I read. Looks like I'm gonna be searching for it now. I'm about to try Ebay. It would be nice if I could find it locally though to avoid shipping and all that comes with it.
>>
>>Albinoman, since you have the book, and went to such extremes to get it, which species do you keep? Any experience with Angulifer at all or related species? I'd love to hear some other people's experiences or perspective on them. So far, I've heard zero about them from other keepers. And the only websites about keeping them are from like Germany and written in German, obviously. Except for Hiss N' Things, but that's not real thorough. Either way, thanks alot for the heads up on the book. I hope I can find it.

I have 1.1 epicrates angulifer. The only person I know that is breeding them is Terry from captive born reptiles near my house in Columbus Ohio. Go to captivebornreptiles.com and get their phone #. Just call and ask to talk to Terry. Talk to him about Cuban boas, he will let you know when he will have more babies. I want to get at least another female. They are very endangered, so I think it would be great for them if more people started breeding. I should have babies in the spring of 2005. They are great animals, they are the sedond most tame snakes I own behind ball pythons. My male is eating like a pig on rats or rabbits, whatever i throw in. The female has a preferance for mice, she hammers them. Both have eaten f/t from the time they were babies. I am thinking of buying that copy of natural history of west indian boas on amazon, but $100 is a little high for that book. I have called every local book store, none of them have it or even have it on their list. Here is a pic of my male cuban. He is almost 3 years old.

>>I have 1.1 epicrates angulifer. The only person I know that is breeding them is Terry from captive born reptiles near my house in Columbus Ohio. Go to captivebornreptiles.com and get their phone #. Just call and ask to talk to Terry. Talk to him about Cuban boas, he will let you know when he will have more babies. I want to get at least another female. They are very endangered, so I think it would be great for them if more people started breeding. I should have babies in the spring of 2005. They are great animals, they are the sedond most tame snakes I own behind ball pythons. My male is eating like a pig on rats or rabbits, whatever i throw in. The female has a preferance for mice, she hammers them. Both have eaten f/t from the time they were babies. I am thinking of buying that copy of natural history of west indian boas on amazon, but $100 is a little high for that book. I have called every local book store, none of them have it or even have it on their list. Here is a pic of my male cuban. He is almost 3 years old.
>>

He is almost 5 feet long right now. I am not breeding Haitians, I am also looking for them. If I find a breeder I will let you know. Thanks for the compliments everybody.

my female looks EXACTLY like that. How big is he?

If you’re interested in the captive husbandry of any of the insular Epicrates and are willing to do a little searching, a good place to start is with the writings of the late Tom Huff. He was the director of (and founded?) the Reptile Breeding Foundation in Picton, Ontario. Here are a couple of citations to get you started:

Huff, T.A. 1977. Captive propagation and husbandry of Epicrates at the Reptile Breeding Foundation. Proc. 2nd Ann. Reptile Symp. Thurmont, MD. Pages:103-112.

Huff, Thomas A. 1980. Captive Propagation of the Subfamily Boinae with Emphasis on the genus Epicrates. Reproductive Biology and Diseases of Captive Reptiles. SSAR Contributions to Herpetology, 1:125-134.

Where these boas are concerned, you won’t find one book with all the information you might want. It is scattered throughout various books, journals and proceedings. Peter Tolson has also published on this subject since at least 1980. The book he wrote with Bob Henderson which Jeff mentioned would point you toward much of the primary literature.

Good luck with your search.

-Joan

Below is a thirteen-year-old female Haitian boa which I produced in 1990.

n/m

>>If you’re interested in the captive husbandry of any of the insular Epicrates and are willing to do a little searching, a good place to start is with the writings of the late Tom Huff. He was the director of (and founded?) the Reptile Breeding Foundation in Picton, Ontario. Here are a couple of citations to get you started:
>>
>>Huff, T.A. 1977. Captive propagation and husbandry of Epicrates at the Reptile Breeding Foundation. Proc. 2nd Ann. Reptile Symp. Thurmont, MD. Pages:103-112.
>>
>>Huff, Thomas A. 1980. Captive Propagation of the Subfamily Boinae with Emphasis on the genus Epicrates. Reproductive Biology and Diseases of Captive Reptiles. SSAR Contributions to Herpetology, 1:125-134.
>>
>>Where these boas are concerned, you won’t find one book with all the information you might want. It is scattered throughout various books, journals and proceedings. Peter Tolson has also published on this subject since at least 1980. The book he wrote with Bob Henderson which Jeff mentioned would point you toward much of the primary literature.
>>
>>Good luck with your search.
>>
>>-Joan
>>
>>Below is a thirteen-year-old female Haitian boa which I produced in 1990.
>>
>>

Even harder to find though. I love Haitians. Ever since I almost had my face taken off by one when I was about 10, they've been on my list. They're basically never offered though. Do you happen to breed them? If so, I'd be very interested in a few of them.