Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all! First of all let me start of by saying that I have never owned a boa before. corn snakes and ball pythons yes but no boas. After reading about the "mini boas" in Reptiles magazine I because interested in the Nicaraguan boas. I was wondering - let's say you are at a herp show...how can you tell if the little boa you are looking at is truly one of these "mini boas" or if it is a baby red tail / Columbian / etc. boa who will grow up to be huge?? (I know that I should buy from a reputable seller so I know what I am getting, but I was just curious about how to distinguish these boas from their bigger relatives?)

Also then how do you distinguish between the different "mini boas" ? (Nicaraguan, Caulkers Cay, Sonoran Desert, etc) Besides purchasing from a reputable seller of course, is there a way to tell these boas apart just by looking?

One more thing - if someone is advertising "central amercian boas" what does that mean?

thank you!!
Traci

Tracy,

"Central American Boas" usually refers to boa constrictor imperator, which is often called the common boa and does not get as big as its cousin, boa constrictor constrictor.

Think of it this way:

Island boas: small
Boa constrictor imperator: medium
Boa constrictor constrictor: large

With that said, they are all reasonably manageable in size, especially when compared to the behemoth pythons out there.

As far as distinguishing their appearance, it's fairly easy to tell island boas from mainland boas. Do some searches on the internet for each type, and when you look at enough of them, it'll be easy to tell.

Some island species are harder to tell from other island species, though. Corn Island boas, for instance, look a lot like Hog Island boas to the untrained eye.

To confuse things further, there are island boas out there that are being crossed (bred) with mainland boas. Thank goodness there are still people like Gus Rentfro (Rio Bravo Reptiles) and Vin Russo (Cutting Edge Herp) who strive to keep their island bloodlines pure.

As you've stated, the best way to be sure of what you're getting is to buy from a reputable breeder. Either of the aforementioned breeders would serve you well. I'm not sure if they're breeding Nicaraguans this season, which seems to be your preference, but don't discount those wonderful little Hog Island boas!

I hope this has helped you. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Brandon Cornett
www.nosnakeban.org

First off the "mini" boas from the article were all from the ssp imperator. With your lack of exp it will be hard for you to be sure an animal is what it is just by sight. I have seen crosses that could fool the best of 'em. Buying from a known and reputable breeder is usually the best way to go. Do some research and figure out which form is best for you then start looking around. If you dont find it right away be patient, in the coming months their will be plenty of new baby boas to choose from. Good luck and let us see some pics of your first boa when you decide. Take care.

Tom

>>Also then how do you distinguish between the different "mini boas" ? (Nicaraguan, Caulkers Cay, Sonoran Desert, etc) Besides purchasing from a reputable seller of course, is there a way to tell these boas apart just by looking?

With Sonorans and cay caulkers, its easy to tell. Here's a few photos for examples

Adult female, with belly shot:

Cay Caulker (no belly shot), 2002 female:

Sonorans tend to be more of an overall dark brown/black with a salmon colored belly. They also don't get much larger than 5 feet. Both my adults are either at 5' or just under.

Cay Caulkers are more of an anerythristic coloration, with very little pink, and lots of grey/white. Max size I have heard of in Caulkers is also 5 feet for a very large female. My '02 is only at maybe 2 feet.

-cat
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My collection and herp photography

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

Questions for you Chaos...

I love the look of your Cay Caulker. Beautiful snakes!!!
At what age or size did it lose it's nippy temper. I have found them to be quite nippy and hissy as juveniles but everyone tells me they mellow out incredibly with age.

Also, is your Sonaran a Tarahumara Mt or Sonaran Desert and how nippy/hissy is it. From what I've read they get in moods every once in a while.

Thanks

>>Questions for you Chaos...
>>
>>I love the look of your Cay Caulker. Beautiful snakes!!!
>>At what age or size did it lose it's nippy temper. I have found them to be quite nippy and hissy as juveniles but everyone tells me they mellow out incredibly with age.
>>
>>Also, is your Sonaran a Tarahumara Mt or Sonaran Desert and how nippy/hissy is it. From what I've read they get in moods every once in a while.
>>
>>Thanks

I bought my caulker last year from CFRB (she was their holdback, and has stripes along the side of her upper body) and she was really nippy for about a month, then she finally calmed down. Handle yours regularly, and they WILL calm down in most cases.

My two adult sonorans are relatively calm, although the female has taken a shot or two at me before-with no hissing or other warning. My male has never attempted to bite, but has hissed. My third female (who is believed to be a Tarahumara, but I'm still looking into her ancestry) is so calm, has never hissed or bit-and she's only 3 feet at 3 years old, where my two adult sonorans at 4-5 years old are at 5 feet or smaller, in the male's case.

hope that helps!

-Cat
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My collection and herp photography

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

>>.
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>>Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
>>'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

Unfortunately, although there is some A info on his site, it doesn't list the specific differences between Bci localities.

-cat
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My collection and herp photography

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

What specific differences are you refering to? Since you are an expert who owns 4 or 5 of these animals and has limited breeding exp with only one of them, please share with us your knowledge of locales you havent kept or bred. Gus' site (along with Hermann's) is/are the best sites period for Boa c. ssp. All info on Corns and Caulker Cays pretty much has been derived from the hard work of Gus Rentfro. I look forward to the info being posted on your site.

Non expert keeper and breeder of Boa c. ssp who doesnt think he knows more than those who have put in the years to make it easy for me to enjoy these animals,

Tom

>>What specific differences are you refering to? Since you are an expert who owns 4 or 5 of these animals and has limited breeding exp with only one of them, please share with us your knowledge of locales you havent kept or bred. Gus' site (along with Hermann's) is/are the best sites period for Boa c. ssp. All info on Corns and Caulker Cays pretty much has been derived from the hard work of Gus Rentfro. I look forward to the info being posted on your site.
>>
>> Non expert keeper and breeder of Boa c. ssp who doesnt think he knows more than those who have put in the years to make it easy for me to enjoy these animals,
>>
>> Tom

What a way to jump the gun, where did I ever say I was an expert? Re-read the entire message, before going nuts over it.

There is more information out there, I am sure. Just most of it has not been put out on the internet. Remember, not everyone owns a computer.

-cat
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My collection and herp photography

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

>>>>.
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>>>>Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
>>>>'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin
>>
>>
>>Unfortunately, although there is some A info on his site, it doesn't list the specific differences between Bci localities.
>>
>>-cat

I hate this keyboard. I meant A . No wonder why tommyboy went all ape over my message, I can't type on this thing!

-cat
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My collection and herp photography

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

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