Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok now that I have your attention, back to my earlier question with no responses. I have not seen any tiger boas for sale. Is anyone working with them. I am expecting tiger babies shortly and am wondering what the going rate is. Would not mind seeing some pics either.

I have seen and owned lots of similar animals in my time and have heard of several working with them.
At this time I can only think of 3 names.

When you say Tiger, people think different things.
I've seen many different characteristics on many different ssp of boa constrictor being referred to as 'Tiger', yet appearing totally different.

On one extreme, any boa missng a saddle or two has been called Tiger.
Sometimes the boa has what can be descriped as 'side saddle striping' where the saddles are missing. These seem to be more 'Tigerish' than the former.

I've seen 'Patternless' animals referred to as Tigers, although i'm sure they share some genetic anomolies, the genes obviously work a bit different here.

The new pink patternless... what, an extreme tiger?

For that matter, reverse striping on tails, can probably be related to the reverse striping on the body.... yes/no? hmmm

I think there is still quite a few years of working with these animals before anyone can even call them Tiger's, atleast IMHO.

I know I bought a group of animals from someone's 'PROVEN TIGER LINE', only to find out they were the result of one normal central american, crossed with another different ssp central american that was actually someone ELSE's aberrant 'Tiger' line!

I think some central americans, primarily Hondurans and Costa Ricans, exibit some aberrancies and 'Tiger-like' qualities on a regular basis. This has come to be expected of some offspring, yet others right away call them 'genetic tigers'.

Personally, what I would call Tiger, is perhaps a Colombian Boa, with reduced or missing normal saddles, that will probably have some 'side saddle-striping' (along dorsal edges, not side of body) AND, the saddles they DO have, will be quite different in shape, composition, color, cleanliness, and position, usually more like bands that are off-shape, not exactly parallel to the body. I hope I didn't confuse you too much with that description.

I would call the patternless boas patternless boas, and I would call the central americans aberrant central americans. until proven otherwise.. correctly, through several generations.

In closing, the animals I listed above would be worth, TO ME, between $50 and as much as $5000 or more.

I think when you know what you have, what locality or ssp, and the way the gene works, only then can you put a price on it.

Best wishes.
Joe Rollo - Bci Joe

Pic of aberrant import Honduran Boa

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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

Let me know what you think!
Thanks
Tom Stokes

Tom Stokes

This one is my favorite

Well to answer your first question and by going by the looks of the photo alone it appears to be some sort of BCC/BCI cross that has an aberrant pattern and is either Anery or the photo is slightly washed out? The snake appears to be a bit over fed but other then that is a really awesome looking Boa.
As far as being a tiger Boa? If it was sold to you as one then ok, but they were originally from a specific locality of BCI until the name was bastardized like the Jungle Boas are, by others who bred aberrant boas and wanted to call them the unreasonably popular names such as Jungle or Tiger Boas. The boa in the picture appears to be prettier then most of the Tigers that I have seen. The saddles appear to be more peaked and it does not look (in the photo) to have that Central American locality burnt orange color.
Of course a lot depends on the color and quality of my screen, your camera and the flash of the picture, but I would guess that this boa was originally an aberrant baby from some one’s breedings or imported that way and if it has proven to be genetic may be much different then the tiger name would suggest.
It is a beautiful snake either way, but to answer your second question, I have no idea what the tiger babies will sell for this season the only thing I can suggest to you is that you set price for your babies based on what you would be happy to get for them and not worry about what others are selling them for. If you are too high, your babies won’t sell and you can adjust the price then, if you are too low then your babies will sell out quickly the price you had sold them for was what you were happy with anyway and you don’t have to feed and care for an entire litter of babies for several months.
Good luck on the babies
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

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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

Sorry the pic was just a lure to get you guys to answer my question. Joe was very informative and I agree with most of what you said. The babies are coming from a Honduran tiger crossed with normal colombians. My guess is I'm gonna either have a great year or a normal season depending on how my genetics line up.Obviously if i'm lucky the gene will prove out and I'll get some interesting paterns some of which I'll hold back some I'll sell. I'll let you guy's know what pops up (anyday now fingers crossed).As for the pictured boa, from what I've gathered she's a Mcsherry Bolivian. I first thought she might be anery also but when she arrived she had a phenomenal pink lateral line all the way down her body. I haven't been able to take a picture that really shows that in detail.
Sorry for the RUSE and appreciate the comments,
Steve Beamer
Primeval Beauty

I hope the Colombian blood fused into the Tiger line will sharpen it up a bit and maybe add some pinks into the mix. The one issue that I always had with the tigers (other then the stealing of the name for other uses) is the Honduran Color and temper. Now a Honduran Boa is a beautiful animal in its natrual form but for morph breeding I personally prefer the lighter pinks, blues and reds of other localities, and that disposition of the hondurans (the snakes not the people) always seems to be on the angry side.
Thanks
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

exactley, but there is no doubt in my mind that that animal is a Bolivian Amarali. The tail is a dead give away. Brilliantly beautiful animal either way.

-Justin