Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm sure I'm not the only one that has to do this from time to time... my boyfriend said in order for me to get new snakes I had to sell off some of what I already have.
So... I sold a pair of cremecicle corns, and I sold this guy... Irontail, my '98 BRB male. I bought him in '02 simply because I wanted a rainbow, they are so beautiful! I am very sad to see him go but he is going to live as a pet so I know he'll have a good life.
I had to take get some pics before I said goodbye.

This one shows his colors really well...

I am keeping this girl in my collection tho... '01 normal BCi with lateral striping "Vegas". I've had her since she was about 4-5 months old. Just had her out for about 45 minutes when I was watching tv, when I put her back in the tank she decided to pose for me.

Her tail has gotten a pretty dark overlay on it over the years, it was bright red as a yearling.

happy herping!
April

Hi, I know how you feel. Two weeks ago I sold the last of my colubrids. My 3 year old cal king and a 2 yr old corn, both females.
I must say I did not know how much I loved my cal king until she was gone. I've been sad every time I think of her. I want to work with just boas. I hope when I get a couple of new baby boas I will think it was worth it and that I make the right decision.
Good with your new project.
Sincerly,
Chuck

Hi Chuck,

It is hard, I think out of all snakes I have ever sold this
BRB is the hardest one. I wanted a BRB for years before I
finally got one and now already I am saying goodbye.
I deffently just try to keep looking forward to the excitement
of seeing something new.

I bet you will enjoy your new ones too!
-April

Keep the snakes - Lose the boyfriend.

Irontail is a beautiful animal.
What are you getting in his place?

lol
I have given thought to giving up the boyfriend before.

I am hoping to get a nice anery boa for giving up my BRB. I am
possibly going to pick up a female hog isle today from a local
breeder for giving up the pair of corn snakes. I also did a
trade and have 2 new additions coming in on tuesday, not boas
but something just as neat. I'll post pics when they get here.
Take it easy!
-April

Hi April,

I have known Betsy for the last 3 years. So don't worry about Irontail he is going to a very nice lady in Chicago. Irontail will be spoiled rotten. LOL I have made several cages for Betsy and we are taking about making a new one for Irontail.
As of now he is going to live in a 3' cage. She is thinking about having me make a 5' long cage for him. She is just not sure yet if she want a new cage of him or her ball python. I told her the 3' cage would be fine for him as she does take her snakes out for exercise every few days. Here is a picture of the 3' cage Irontail will live in for now.

Take care,
Tom

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McCarthyBoas.com

Irontail certainly will make a beautiful pet but when I see exceptional animals it would be a shame not to breed them because otherwise the gene is gone for future generations. I hope he can be a pet as well as a breeder. It would be the greatest tribute to Ironside to carry on way after his eventual passing.

Sorry about the Ironside misnaming. Comes from my New England thinking of "Old Ironsides" in Boston which is the oldest commissioned Naval ship in the USA. Talk about heritage! I got his name right the first time around lol.

Ironsides/Irontail, still a strong sounding name and that is the point.
I do agree with you tho, he is so pretty I do wish he was
going to be a breeder to pass on his coloration. The only
time I have seen adult BRB's that keep good coloration has been
on the forums. All of the adult BRBs I have seen at pet stores
have been very dark/drab, so he is something special I think.
I did have a nice red female BRB that I wanted to grow up more and
breed with him, but she died when I moved to Vegas due to my
husbandry error.
I think the new owner does only plan to keep him as a pet, but if he
does ever get a shot at making some babies I hope he can.

thanks for the nice comments,
April

When Betsy told me she knew you I was so surprised! That is
so cool, I am really glad to know he is going to such a good
home. She sounded really nice on the phone but it's nice to
have that extra reasurance! He is going to love that cage,
right now he's in a 3x2x2 reptarium with bark and logs and hides
so he is going to be very happy in his new home!
I will miss him tho.. maybe one of these days you will have
a chance to snap a pic of him there.

thanks so much for the pic!
-April

Your BCI has a very "BCCish" tail to it. Are you sure it's a BCI? eigther way it looks great! That BRB is awsome too.

-Dylan
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True Redtails

Vegas' is all BCi according to the breeder.
She was produced by "Bloodlines" here in Las Vegas from a normal
BCi x normal BCi, half the litter came out with some awesome lateral striping, she was a pick of the litter for the amount of striping she had. I think that may be part of what makes
her tail appear BCC? She has some striping on both sides that really exagerates the red area of the tail... drags the sides of the tail saddles down, here she is at about 8 months:

Saddle shape (except one saddle near the neck) is very classic BCi and saddle count is 22 (I know that is not proof or anything but points towards BCi bloodline). Her belly is clear except for some small grey flecks near the edges *but* at the tail the underside gets very speckled.

At just over a year old...

Here she is showing off the longest stripe

Can see head shape good in this one

overhead shot

When I first got her, notice the crappy quality of picture haha

She used to be so small!

Anyways, at this point I believe she is BCI, I only have my beleif that the breeder was honest with me, I did not see pictures of the parents. I am not sure if I still have the email addy for Bloodlines, I bought her before I moved here to Las Vegas. What do you think?
-April

Wow That boa is awsome. It does look like there is some BCC influence in her but as you said the really red part of her tail could be from the striping. Dont let that one go, she has a great tail. Later

-Dylan
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True Redtails

April, I gotta say that I agree with the "simple solution" response...but a woman has got to do what a woman has got to do. Nice snakes and best of luck

np