Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok I have been thinking about getting a boa constrictor. I have seen the many diffrent types and I know there are BCC and BCI. Now I like the Columbian Red Tail, which I understand is the BCI. I want to know some differences between the two types. I know there are tons of post like this but I want to know certain things. Price being one big thing, are BCI's usually cheaper. I also am wondering if the BCI is calmer than the different BCCs. I have seen that the BCCs seem to be larger is this true as well. Any input you can give me on the two as pets and stuff would be great.
Thanks

BCI-cheaper, easier to maintain, easier to breed, better temperment.

BCC-more expensive, harder to maintain, harder to breed, not quite as calm in general. A lot of the available BCC are wild caught and that is something you shouldn't even consider being new to boas in my opinion.

For roughly the price of a nice captive bred/born BCC you could probably pick up a hypo BCI, an anerythristic BCI, het albino BCI pair, etc. I personally would not recommend "true red-tails" to beginners. Good luck on your decision.

Thanks that was great advice

Every time I want to get a new annimal,be it a snake,python ,dog or bird I buy a book.The one I suggest is only around ten bucks.The boa constrictor manual.You can get it at any pet store or even cheaper E- BAY.Yes b.c.c. get at least six feet bigger as adults.B.c.i. are alot tamer and are more hardy,so you can make a few mistakes(not that you should)and the snake will be able to adjust or bounce back a lot quicker.Good luck man boa's are beautiful creatures and you won't be dissapointed.

This is a response to this question that I wrote up a few years ago and post it on my FAQ page of my website, I hope it helps

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
Hopkins Holesale herps
-----
Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

no post
-----
Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com
.

You seem to have it figured out, so the thing you must considder is... What space do you have available for a snake 4',6' 8' cage?
What snake really grabs your desire? Colombian , Suriname, Guyanan, Hogg Island, or the smallest of the bunch Nicaraguan?
Temperment is also diffferent between all snakes but the Colombians have been the pet trade #1 since they have been imported, The Hoggs are great, they are not as large as the Surinames or Guyanans, and a bit smaller than Colombians, Nicaraguans are nice as well because of their full grown size just under 6'. Cost is another thing you must consider not just for the snake but the caging and feeding. Larger snake obveously need larger housing and larger feed. Also you must consider what you want the snake for? a pet or an investmaent? Colombians,Hoggs , and Nicaraguans make great pets as do Surinames and Guyanans but these would bring you more return on your investment if you were to decide to breed them.
Temperments are also depending on how much time you spend with the animals if you never handle them they will not be as tame as one you take out of the cage every other day.
Hope this helped.
Nick

You've heard some good advice from these guys, but let me add a few comments.

#1 - most important thing - buy a captive bred and born animal from a reputable breeder, preferably someone who has several years of experience with the type that you want - when you decide what type of boa to buy, post a message in the forum asking who breeds them. You'll find that there are guys that specialize in exactly what you want, whether it be a Columbian Bci, a Surinam Bcc, an Insular (Island) Bci, one of the many Bcc morphs out there, or the various locality boas. These breeders are typically much more knowledgeable of the boas they sell and are always willing to give advice or answer questions. That's more than I can say about the staff at Petco or many of the online retailers.

#2 - Ask lots of questions before you buy: "Does the animal have any health issues?" - mites, respiratory problems, scars, etc. "Is it docile?" - does it hiss, strike, or act nervous?

#3 - Don't let the initial price be a big factor - Decide what you want, then do whatever is necessary to get that boa (unless it requires selling you car or house). These animals live a long time. If you have to settle for your second, third, or fourth choice, you'll always wish you had waited until you could have afforded your first choice.

Now, about the generalizations regarding the differences between the various Bcc and Bci:

Don't think of a Common Bci as a beginner SNAKE - think of it as a beginner BOA. If you've never kept a snake before, consider a corn snake, king snake, milk snake, etc. They are much easier to maintain and don't get nearly as big. However, as a first BOA, you probably couldn't make a safer choice.

If adult size is a primary issue, buy a male - they don't get as big as females. In general, Bcc do get larger than Bci, and some localities of Bci are smaller than others, but growth can safely be regulated by feeding. A boa fed two mice/rats every 7 days is going to grow quite a bit faster in those first couple years than one fed one mouse/rat every 10 days. A lazy PET snake in a cage that hardly moves doesn't need as many calories as a wild animal or one that a breeder is trying to grow to sexual maturity as fast as possible.

If temperament is a big issue, Common Bci are generally your best bet. However, there are always exceptions. Talk to your breeder and other boa owners. There are nasty Common Bci, and there are docile Bcc. Personally, I have owned two Common Bci and two Peruvian Bcc. None of them have ever hissed or struck at me, and my Peruvians are as calm as any Bci I have ever been around.

Looks are a personal issue. I happen to appreciate the natural beauty of a perfectly patterened and colored Bcc redtail more than anything else. If you put a Common boa next to a true redtail boa, there's no comparison. But that's just me. Others see one of the spectacular Bci morphs and their jaws drop in awe. And yet there are others that are fascinated by many of the more rare Bci locality boas. When it comes to looks, go with your gut instinct, not what other people think.

That's all for now. Good luck!

Tyler