Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi guys/gals
I've owned 3ball pythons for over 6yrs a1500grm albino m ,a1750 grm het albino female and a 4-500 grm yellow belly male .
I'm looking into stepping up to something a lil bigger my wife finally got used to snakes in the house .
I'm interested in boas as a step up are they pretty much the same temperament as a b/p??
I was interested in trading for my yellow belly but haven't a clue what morph if any would be a fair trade!?
Are boas care any different from a ball if so in what area ??
How much bigger if any does housing need to be ??
And I hope this isn't a stupid question but will a boa get along with a b/p I have no idea and don't want any stress on either thx for the help

Attempting to fast-track your self into owning a boa isn't the way to go.
Taking the time to research the massive volumes of information avalible
on every reptile site will do you and your choice of animal much better in the long run.
BPs are liken to pet rocks compaired to BCI/BCC,they are raised and used
for feeders here.

Boas are incredible pets. I suggest reading up as much as possible and educate yourself. The reptile fool is nothing more than a radical activist( i dont think it owns a snake). Welcome to the great world of boas and disregard the hater.

Agree! Dan is right, there's tons of info out there, absorb it the come back to a forum for whatever you don't comprehend. Your thread is too broad for now you should research...boas are in a league of there own is the only comment about them I will leave you with....

Some notable concerns between boas and ball pythons:

1. Ball pythons love smallish cages, whereas boas will roam a bit more. So you will need 4ft cages minimum for adults boas, unless you concentrate on the smaller Central American boas. Cage prices are fairly reasonable but do need to be factored into your plan.

2. Ball pythons can withstand cool background temps better than many boas, especially adult boas. Because boas are often larger mass than BPs, heating becomes a big concern. No tiny heat pads for adult boas. And you do have to have some control over the ambient temps.

I think the above is important to be aware of. It is not cheap to house and heat large snakes. Not all boas get as big as others, but the potential is there in many lines.

Or opinion rather.. the boa constrictor is probably the best pet snake in the world. Nothing beats a tame boa. Just need to have the right setup so they do well.

I would advise you to decide whether you want a less massive boa or a "normal-size" boa as an adult. You do have choices now, and they are great. I happen to like Central American boas because you can usually count on the adults being a good deal less massive than an average Colombian boa. And they come in some neat patterns and colors now. Not as varied or colorful as the Colombians you can get currently, but the size factor is important to me at least.

If eventual adult size is not a concern for you, then the world is your oyster with Colombians. They come in outrageous patterns and colors these days if you can spare some cash.

a couple of things that I would say --
.
BP's are a heavier-bodied snake , and so some BP owners will have a tendency to over feed a Boa to give it that look . Boas are a leaner , more squared shaped snake.
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Boas , as babies can have quite the attitude , and most outgrow it. Some never have it , and some (few) will always keep you on your toes.
.
4 x 2 cages work great for most adults.
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keep a heat gradient of 80-90 degrees.
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Don't neglect humidity . Too dry of an environment will result in a sinus infection, which will quickly become a respiratory infection.
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BOAS ARE AWESOME ! ! !
.

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Snake room janitor