Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is the dif between a columbian redtail and a Guyana? I am thinking about trying my hand with a boa. I would really like to get a bigger snake. Nothing over 12 feet but something bigger than 6 feet, maybe in the 10ft range.
It has to have a mellow personality as I will eventually be using this as a demonstration snake for school age kids..I have various other reptiles and critters that I will already be using but the biggest snake being a 3 1/2 ft ball python. I had a Jungle/coastal carpet but had to give it away because it was untameable and would bite everyone and everything...Anyway any help here would be great..Thanks

Below is a section from my website. I get asked this queestion a lot so I wrote this answer some time back and keep it on file for each time this comes up again. I also have quite a few other FAQ's answers posted on the web site. please feel free to browse through it and if there are any unanswered questions let me know...

Common Boa or “True” Red tail which is right for me?

In the Nov., 1996 issue of reptiles magazine Dick Bartlett authored an excellent article called “Red tail Boa, What’s In A Name”. That article was one of the best and most informative Articles written. {It was also in the best issue of Reptiles magazine ever (it was their Boa special), I also happen to respect and enjoy Mr. Bartlett’s extensive body of work .} There was a particular line in that article that has always stood out in my mind. Question, “ What’s the difference between a Red tailed Boa and a regular Boa?” Answer, “ About a $150.00!”
Now Mr. Bartlett line may have been a bit off the cuff but it did have profound meaning. Calling your Boa a red tail or a golden or a pastel or a super striped… well you get the idea, but a more descriptive name has always called for a higher price in the boa market. In today’s boa market we have, by popular use of herp lingo, determined that now there are red tailed boas and True Red tailed Boas. We have even gone further to decided that a regular red tailed boa is going to be some locality of Boa C. Imp. And the true red tailed boas are going to be Boa C. Constrictor.
The BCI group is huge and consist of Colombian Boas, Central American Boas ( of all localities), The Island forms of Boa c. such as Hogg’s Island and Crawl Cay, what was once referred to as the Mexican Boa (once know as Boa C. Mexicana). Also included in the BCI complex are most, if not all, the Boa genetic mutations. These commonly referred to as Morphs include, Albinos, Striped, Snows, Ghost, Sunglow, Hypo (both orange tail & Salmon) and the Anerys both type 1&2, Motley’s, Arabquse, Pastel…. Well again I hope you are getting the Idea.
In the true red tailed Boa group we have what is more commonly known as the purebloods or locality specific boas such as the Peruvians, Surinames, Guyana… these too can go on for an eternity.
What it comes down to how ever is that there is a BIG difference between BCC and BCI Boas. I hear beginner often ask, “what boa should I get a Colombian or a Suriname?” Well, I am here to tell you the difference so you can make an informed decision. Get a Colombian, end of story…………
Oh you wanted more? Well ok. As I go on here please keep in mind that I am a BCI/Morpher when it comes to Boas. I like the designer herps, so my view my be slanted a bit. BCI Boas are a snake that is designed with the beginner in mind. They are the Corn Snakes of the Boa world. The are more robust and forgiving for a novice keeper. They are also a bit more docile when it come to temperament. The BCI can be both a locality Boa (Mexican Boa, Hogg’s Island Boa) or it can be a Morph with the genetic makeup that would make your biology teacher proud if you could explain. BCI boas also tend to stay a bit smaller in size the BCC Boas. The Colombian, being the giant of the BCI can grow to an impressive 14’ long ( yes I have seen one! Chris Macquade with Gulf Coast Reptiles has a female that size) but more than likely the females won’t grow much more than 8’ and the males not much more than 6’.
Now on the other side of the table is the Naturally stunning BCC Boas. These guys don’t need Morphs, because there natural color is as close to perfection as one can get! However, these are not your beginner’s boa. They are much more habitat specific in their needs. Temps and humidity levels need to be closely watched to assure prolonged good health. These boas also tend to be a bit more aggressive than the closely related cousins. A bite from a 12’ long Suriname is going to require a few stitches to close back up and the larger size means that two people are going to be needed in the same room for even the most basic of chores.
Now breeding the BCC is a completely different thing. Many herpers, with dollar signs in their eyes, go after the more expensive BCC boas for breeding projects, thinking that in just a few years they will open up their own shop with the proceeds. To their dismay five years later they still have not produced the first baby boa and are working two jobs just to pay for all the snakes they have collected for their “future” shop (which is still way in the future).
So when you ask me “BCC or BCI which snake is for me?” Ask yourself, do I really know enough about the husbandry of a BCC or might I benefit from the learning experience that a BCI will Provide? When you know the answer to that question, then you will not need my advice.
Thanks for reading
-----
Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

Even though I'm not the one that originally posted...thank you anyway for sharing your thoughts...that reply was very informative... It is not too often that people spend the time to reply in depth to a post. Even if you cut & pasted it....it is still a nice little narrative on that subject. well done.
~Jason
-----
Northeast Snakes
www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes
-
0.2 Green Tree Pythons
2.2 Ringed Pythons
2.3 Ball Pythons
1.2 Hog Island Boas
1.1 Sonoran Desert Boas
1.1 Nicaraguan Boas
1.1 Argentine Boas
0.1 Solomon Island Ground Boa
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas
7.8 Corns (various morphs)
1.1 N. Pines (Pituophis)
0.0.1 N.Diamondback Terrapin

Over the past few years I have responded to several question over and over and have kept a file of the most commonly asked ones. Last year I added these answers to my website for any one to read if needed. I glad that you found it helpful,
Thanks
-----
Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

You're right on with the beginners. I've even lost a few sales after talking them into a B.c.i.. Better to have the people happy until they are really ready for B.c.c.. I don't think the B.c.c. are that terribly much tougher to work with though it does take a bit of dedication.

One thing I havn't figured out & maybe you can help me) is why people think think B.c.c. get so much larger than Colombian B.c.i.. Probably the top 20 longest boas I've personally seen in captivity have all been Colombians. Now granted that there are probably 100 times the number of Colombians but all-in-all I don't really believe the B.c.c. get that much bigger. Maybe 6" to 1' on average max. I've also seen a 9' pure Hogg. Captivity does weird things to boas.

Great pics from Coast Rica. I bet you had a blast. I keep thinking about doing a herping trip to South America. That will probably be after my Australia herp trip. Boy it's good to dream. Someday I'll make it happen. But I digress. I meant to say nice pic of the croc. I've seen them now in Ding Darling & Everglades City. Wouldn't surprise me if they filled in the gap in the next 20 years.

Lee

The size difference in BCC and BCI is going to be more locality then it is going to be Spps. The Central American BCI's will be smaller then the BCC from Suriname, but a true Colombian can attian great size as well, So it is normally a locality issue more then a ssps issue, also foos supply in captivity is going to be a huge issue with size. Many breeders just will not make that jump from Jumbo rats to Rabbits or Guinnea pigs to keep up the growth so many pet boas will max out at 7' or so. Once you make the jump to the larger prey it is almost like kicking the snake into over drive and they jump up to the 9-10 foot range. I also will supplement my boas with Chicken, turkey, game hens and all kinds of other poultry. It is a great way to add weight to the snake before and after breeding and they really seem to love it, but I would not use this as the base food in place of rodents, also I partially cook the poultry to try and kill as much potential bacteria as possible. I just started using turkey legs for a couple of my boas and they went crazy for them.
The Crocs that were in that picture were at the Torcoles River near Jaco Costa Rica, there were nearly 30 of them right at the bridge, hard to beleive that they are endangered when you see so many in such a large concentration. Our guide said that they have seen twice as many there in the past.
I have seen the crocs here in South FL near Wiggin Pass state park the everglades, Dingdarling, and near the power plant in East Ft. Myers. There are also pockets of them near the Neuclar Power plant by Plant City, and in the Fl Keys. They seem to be making a come back latley.
Thanks again
-----
Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

np