Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anybody know anything about Solomon Island ground boas? How are they to keep? What is the normal price on a red phase or a white phase? Thanks!
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1.2 Corns (2 striped and 1 okeetee)
1.1 Graybanded
2.1 Banana Cal Kings
0.3 Solomon Island Ground Boas

They are extremely easy to take care of. Keep them at 68-72degrees 24/7. Feed them 1 mouse every 3 weeks (adults) the younger ones 1 pinkie,fuzzy ect every 7 to 10 days. For lots more info you can get to my group page by going to kingsnakes "mailing list" area(pacific boas) or in Kingsnakes caresheet section will link you to Jerry Conways site (the Candoia guru)Prices vary on whether they are wild caught(cheap) to more pricey(C.B.) but really worth the price. Randy

On Jerry Conway's site the recommended temperature is around 80 degrees except when cooling for breeding...and even then he recommends daytime temps of 80 degrees.

Nope, Raven you are right I guess I was still sleeping when I posted sigb

Nothing wrong with napping while typing...do it quite a bit myself!

I knew I was forgetting somethingR.W.

I have had nothing but bad bad luck with Candoia. I have kept and bred all kinds of snakes (including some that are considered "challenging" over the past 20 years or so, so I'm no beginner. I have found that neonate Candoia carinata paulsoni are very fragile, finicky, and difficult to get started, even if they eat. I hate to admit it but I have lost 2 pairs of very expensive top dollar Isabels that actually ate for me in the past 2 years (ouch!). With other neonates, once you get them eating, it's all down hill from there. This was not my experience with these. One of mine ate every time but regurged 2 days later every time and eventually died. Another two just died unexpectedly. One of those was actually eating pinks regularly. Go figure. Another started eating O.K. but then stopped and wouldn't eat anything after that. Admittedly, I did not do mouse tail force-feeding (which I've heard works) and I did not pinky pump (which I hate).

I did keep a subadult pair and an adult female of normal C. c. paulsoni for several years many a year ago. Therefore, my experience with established specimens has been positive.

I've often wondered if climate may play a role in my bad experiences. I live is SoCal where it is very dry and the temps in the summer can get very hot. Of course, I took every measure in my power to ensure that my babies were protected from these extremes.

I've also noticed that Candoia are not popular out here, as nobody I'm aware of out here breeds them. This makes me wonder if these snakes are just much easier to keep in cooler, more humid climates.

Although I love the way this beautiful and interesting group of snakes look and behave, I think that my Candoia days are unfortunately over. I don't see myself struggling through the neonate Candoia thing (only to be crushed after much hard work) ever again.

In summary, I would strongly caution against acquiring neonate Candoia, especially for the inexperienced. Try to get well established captive-born yearlings if possible. I wish you much better luck that I've had.

Sincerely,

Crying over Isabel

Thanks, I have already had one that died on me without warning. The other three I have are alive, but that's about it. They never move. I've only seen them eat once, but I leave a fuzzy in there and it's gone later so they are eating. I live in Southern Cal too. Where are you at? What do you keep? Are you interested in trading anything? I'm looking for a nice male corn. Thanks again!
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1.2 Corns (2 striped and 1 okeetee)
1.1 Graybanded
2.1 Banana Cal Kings
0.3 Solomon Island Ground Boas

I hope you dont get frustrated and give up on these boas from the info on above responce. Some facts 1) no, your not going to get rich breeding these.2) Yes, the babies can be(are) difficult) thank our lucky stars the Grayband pioneers didnt think like that.3) once adults, they are the cheapest animals to keep. 4) no they arent very active, nore are 99% of snakes that you keep. 5) that the days are overis hogwash, please at least contact Jerry Conway(really good guy) he will tell you exactly what to do 6) at least check out my group.7)If you find yourself not liking them, send them my way I am a sucker for punishment Randy

Actually I am sending them out today via Airborne. Thanks for the advice but they are just not for me.
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1.2 Corns (2 striped and 1 okeetee)
1.1 Graybanded
2.1 Banana Cal Kings
0.3 Solomon Island Ground Boas

I currently don't have much to trade. I just sold all of my baby rosys that I produced this year. I might be willing to sell a couple of subadult rosys if you think you might be interested. I have a male Bay of LA and a male Chocolate that I might be talked out of.

I mainly breed erycines (i.e., sandboas & rosies) but also have Hoggs, Dums, jungle carpets and balls. Sandboas my favorite. I have many varieties of these including E. jakaryi (my absolute fav). In the past I've produced many rosys, balls, Kenyans, Conicus, graybands, redtails, and corns. I do not currently keep any colubrids however. Although graybands and hognoses have a special place in my heart.

Well I work in Riverside, but I am looking more for Colubrids right now. Would you ever be interested in some Cal Kings? I will also have some graybands and corns available in the future.
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1.2 Corns (2 striped and 1 okeetee)
1.1 Graybanded
2.1 Banana Cal Kings
0.3 Solomon Island Ground Boas

I also work in Riverside. I'm not interested in CalKings, however. I did the whole CalKing, Zonata, Pyro, Grayband, Milk thing years ago. I'm focusing on small biods at this time. I still love the Lampropeltis though.

What ever made you stop with the colubrids?
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1.2 Corns (2 striped and 1 okeetee)
1.1 Graybanded
2.1 Banana Cal Kings
0.3 Solomon Island Ground Boas

I'm not quite sure. I had quite a few at one time (i.e., many of the different tricolors including some rare ones). I think it was mostly the fact that many are hard to get started as neonates (i.e., graybands, mountain kings, and some milks). I got very tired of scenting pinkies, catching lizards, etc. Actually, almost the same reasons that I have given up on the Candoia as well.

Like I said, I still love all of these. Nice Blairs phase Graybands and Tangerine Hondurans are among the most beautiful snakes in the world in my opinion.

Who knows maybe one day I will return to the Colubrid world, but for now, I'm just basking in the boid love.

I understand. Right now I am starting a blizzard/striped project in my corns. I have two striped females and one of them is amel. And my mail is a blizzard but it looks like he has a faint stripe starting in his neck area and then it fades away to pure blizzard, so it looks like he has some stripe in his genes so it will be interesting to see what results! I would like boas if they didn't require such large food items. What do you have and how do you manage to keep their food expense down?
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1.2 Corns (2 striped and 1 okeetee)
1.1 Graybanded
2.1 Banana Cal Kings
1.1 Leopard Geckos (High yellow and Jungle)

Most of the boas I keep are small and only require full grown mice as adults. The only snakes that I keep that can eat rats are 1.1 dumerils, 1.1 jungle carpets, 1.1 royal pythons, and 1.1 hogg islands. I buy rats and/or big mice for these in bulk when I purchase mice from local breeders.

My remaining collection consists of: 2.1.1 rough scaled sands, 2.2 Indian smooth scales, 2.1 Kanyans, 1.1 Saudi Arabayan Reds, 1.1 Saharans, 1.0 Spotted sand, 1.1 Russian blacks, 2.2 Fan Felipe rosys, 1.1 San Ignacio Rosys, 1.2 Catavina rosys, 1.0 Chocolate, 1.0 Bay of L.A., 1.1 Joshua Tree. All fo these eat mice, which I either breed myself or purchase in bulk from a local breeder. I also trade some of my babies for mice on occassion. The babies I produce every year help pay the feeding/maintenance costs of my collection.

I also have 0.0.2 leopard torts, 0.0.2 desert torts, and 0.1 blue-tongue skink. That's about it for now.

So your babies only HELP pay? They don't pay completely? Do you ever make any money?
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1.2 Corns (2 striped and 1 okeetee)
1.1 Graybanded
2.1 Banana Cal Kings
1.1 Leopard Geckos (High yellow and Jungle)

That's correct. The babies I produce only really help pay for my addiction to this hobby. As I said before, they contribute to the purchasing of food as well as the acquisition of new stock. I've been doing this for about 20 years now and I really can't honestly profess to have made even one dime off of it. I just keep trying to fill in the large financial hole I've already dug. It seems that only the breeders of the super rarities have any real oportunities to make any real money.