Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, last time I tried posting, it didn't work. She is just over a year old and eats pinkies right out of my fingers every other week. She has shed a second time in the year that I've had her. This species is so CRAZY, I love it!...I don't know how more people don't get addicted to them. Oh well, their loss, our gain (I hope). ENJOY!

(I'd post her on our yahoo group but don't know how so if someone wants to do so...please feel free!) - Jason

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www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes

Isn't it amazing that people will pay 1000's of dollars for this kind of stripping/zig-zag pattern in red tail boa species...LOL

Here is her photo from 6 months ago...not much noticeable difference unless you see her in person. They are so prehistoric.
ENJOY!

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www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes

I saw Candoia in a magazine and they look cool! Are they docile to handle? How big do they get? How much do they cost? I would like to have one someday just because they look different.

They are very cool boas...even if I am biased. How docile they are is going to depend on whether they are wild caught or captive bred as well as the age they are when you get them. I've not encountered any captive bred so far that were nippy at all, regardless of age, but my wild caught female tolerates almost no handling what-so-ever - just the absolute necessities of moving her from her cage to a tub for cleaning and back again. My wild caught male has always been very gentle and docile, however he was much younger than the female when he was captured, so that may have something to do with it. He was also a very picky feeder and had to be force fed for almost a year because he refused any and all food offered, despite me trying everything recommended and then some. Generally the captive bred snakes are healthier and already feeding on rodents, though some still prefer geckos, anoles or frogs as prey - especially if they're younger snakes. Most of the Candoia stay under 4-5 feet in length - probably the most common in captivity is the Solomon Island Ground Boa (also known as the Solomon Bevelnosed Boa for those dealers/breeders who've switched to the new name classifications written up by Howard Smith of Colorado University). Male Solomon Island ground boas are typically 2-3 feet in length with females typically reaching 4-5 feet in length. Viper boas are probably the second runner up for Candoia species available, but it is my understanding they are a bit nippier in dispostion (hopefully someone who keeps them will chime in here on them for sure). The price ranges vary - wild caught animals can be had for as little as $20-$30, as can some of the more prevalent natural color phases of captive bred babies, though prices can run anywhere from $40-$125 depending on color and whether it is feeding on rodents. The more attractive and rare the color, the more it will cost...the same goes if the breeder has switched it to rodent prey (more than worth spending the extra money for). For Candoia, the Santa Isabel ground boa (a white phase of the Solomon Island ground boa found exclusively on Santa Isabel island) is probably the most expensive with babies starting at $100 and going up from there. If you've kept other snakes and have good husbandry practices, I'd say these are a good snake to try. But for those with little or no snake keeping experience, I'd recommend they pass on Candoia until they get some experience with a species more forgiving of husbandry errors. They can be difficult feeders, especially the babies, and proper husbandry is a must...temperatures too hot can cause death as they are not forgiving of extreme heat and temperatures too cold can lead to respiratory infections and possible death. Even so, they're a great snake - very unusual in appearance and relatively easy to maintain once you've met their requirements. Hope this answers your questions. I've also provided the link to Jerry Conway's Candoia page which gives a rundown of the different types of Candoia as well as their care requirements.

Welcome to the board!
Raven
Jerry Conway's site

Wow. Thanks for all the info!! I have never seen one only in photos in magazines. They look real cool. I have 2 corns, a milk and a Jungle Carpet Python right now. Sounds like they are a bit of work, getting them to eat an all. But I like the fact that they are on the small side (under 4-5 feet). Maybe in the future a Candoia will be for me. Thanks again. :0)

If you've got all those, you should have no problem with the Candoia. Basically I just don't think they're a good first snake, but once you know how to keep snakes they should do well. Getting them to eat can be a challenge (tying to figure out what my newest one wants right now). If you can buy one that's a little older - say a year or so - then you should have less of a problem. Jerry Conway sells them that are feeding on pinkies already, as does Central Florida Reptile Breeders...they cost a bit more than the gecko, frog or anole eaters, but it's worth it IMO. They are very neat little snakes and worth the trouble getting the neonates to feed in my book. Their size also makes them attractive to a lot of people as they generally won't require any more room than your corn snakes. All in all, the perfect pet boa.

Hello-----Candoia are fantastic Boas! Ravens answer was right to the point so I wont add much to her post.I will agree to keep an adult first if your not ultra experienced with snakes. There is another place to get info. Its at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pacificislandboas
Kingsnake can link you there also in their "mailing list" area. Hope you join the rest of us in this much overlooked species
Randy