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I was looking for a not too big boa and on this one site I found, it said that the Common Colombian boas (BCI) grow to about 1.5 meters. How big is that in feet? It also said "have a reputation for being docile". Is all this true? If 1.5 meters is not too big (6-10 feet)I think I'll get one.

Most BCI can get 4-14 feet, with the average being 7-10 feet, the island BCI boas about 4-7 feet.
But, keep in mind, 10 feet can be fatal to adults, even tame boas have been known to kill. I would encourage most people to go the Island boa route, as they are easier to hold, cage, and feed. Some can be nippy as babies, but mature nice, some are always aggressive. I would definately handle before purchasing.
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StarlightSpecialties.com

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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

What are some of the Island boas called? Thanks

Hogg Island (Cayos los Cochinos), Corn Island (Isla de Maize), Honduran, Tarahumara Boa, Sonoran Boa, Pearl Island, CanCun, Nicaraguan, Central American, Cay Caulker, Crawl Cay, and surely others.
You can find out more about the medium sized boas at: http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/index.htm
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StarlightSpecialties.com

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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

There has never been a recorded case of a boa killing a human. Anacondas arethe only member of the boas family that has.

I recall reading somewhere where it is quite possible. I would rather error on the side of caution than to be the first. Just because something is not recorded does not mean it has NEVER happened. I'm sure quite a few things go unmentioned. I'm not saying that I know someone it happened to. I cannot even recall exactly where I read the info pertaining to 10 pound mark, but after seeing the size of my 8' female, I would not discount the info. But, again, I would rather error on the side of caution. I will not keep any boas over 10 feet, and would certainly not handle one that alone.
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StarlightSpecialties.com

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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

1 there has never been a recorded death caused by a boa Constrictor. 2 A 2 foot mamba can kill you faster. 3 without proof of killer boas why say it to some one new. 4 most captive pet boas won't get to 10 feet more like 7 to 8 if there lucky. 5 false info is the worst info to give anyone. Yea i flipped when i read your post , my first thought was your with pita or peta or what ever the initials are of that dumb organization. Paul

I am just a concerned mother with children. One is mentally disabled and will be child like even as an adult. She doesn't understand the concept of danger in any form. I wouldn't want my 15 year old daughter to handle my 8' w/o supervison, and she is as mentally stable as any teenager can be. I am a mother, forgive my protective instincts. It was not my intent to offend you or anyone else.

Of course venomous snakes are far more deadly. I've seen some gorgeous venomous snakes, but couldn't own one, not even a venomoid, because I've heard their venom ducts could possibly grow back. Because of that possibility, I will not own one. I can not afford to take chances that I don't feel I need to take; there is no one else to raise my daughter. My husband couldn't handle her and would give her up.

But, I think anyone new to something should be aware of any possible danger, even if it was only possible. I was not trying to talk anyone out of a large snake. There are some very beautiful large snakes. But, again, I am a mother and want to know the possible danger to anything I have or do. It doesn't mean I won't have it or do it, it only means I am aware.

But, many newbies get larger boas as babies not understanding what they will eventually become. I didn't want to see someone having to give up their boa because it got too big: whether it be caging space, food, handling, or possible danger to children & pets.

I am not saying don't get a big boa or python, if you have the space, the money, and they are legal in your area, by all means do get one. If I didn't have my children and had more space, and didn't love bunnies so much, I would get a big snake. I've seen some amazing pythons I wish I could own.

I'm sorry if you feel I'm implying that big snakes should be avoided. That wasn't my intent. Since I can not find that article I read, I'm sorry I even brought it up. I thought I was being helpful; obviously not. My appologies.

Ignore that I mentioned any danger of owning a large snake; apparently, there is no danger and I mispoke. My apologies.

Focus instead on the requirements of each. Do you have the space to house and feed a large snake? A minimum 3X2 cage can handle most 6'boas. 4X2 is best. A 6 foot snake will eat large rats, probably one every week or three. A 10 foot snakes needs at least a 5X2 cage, preferably 5x3 or 6x2. It will eat several jumbo rats per feeding or a rabbit. You can easily hold a 6' snake, even if you are a more petite adult. A 10 footer you can comfortably hold if you are Rambo, a big biker dude, or it is very thin. When it comes to cage cleaning, I get help to clean my 8' female's cage, but can do the smaller boas myself.

Let these be the focus points that determine what sized boa fits best with your lifestyle.

There are also 3' boas, such as Rosy boas, rubber boas, and sand boas.
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

Also, 9-10 feet seems to be pretty common with my friends' boas, but then they are not breeders and probably feed them too much. One even brought one nearly 12 feet to a local pet store to show off...of course, it took several people to hold her. As far as they were aware, she was a Columbian. So, if it is a rarety for a BCI to reach 9-10 feet, than I wouldn't know by what I've seen. There was even a huge 14 foot BCI at a zoo I went to. But, that is neither here nor there, as I know that is a rarity. So far my largest is an 8' female. But, I only feed her a maintainance diet, I don't want to risk her getting any bigger. It is my belief that 7-10 feet is a pretty accurate, descriptive average. But, through selective feeding, you should be able to maintain a boa's size to 7-8 feet.
Ok, I will stop for now, because I'm sure I'm digging my self a deeper hole and I'm probably offending someone. Again, sorry, that is truly not my intent.
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StarlightSpecialties.com

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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

Well thank you all for your help. The more I read,the more I realize that no boa is right for me.I LOVE the look of a Suriname redtails but way too big for me and I have a very small room. My room is 9X9 and I curently have 2, 3X2 tortoise tables and a 30 gallon tank,aswell as an entertanment center,stereo,coffee table,a bed and a chair!! I have room for one more 30 gallon tank and a full grown ball python would be perfect. I'm aware of the feeding problems that they have and I think I can handle it. I have a bearded dragon that is a picky eater too. I'm just trying to see what my options are. Maybe after the ball python I'll get a boa. Thanks again for all your help.

Adam

I didn't want to put you off boas, I love them...Someone is going to call me a boa nazi or something...I didn't mean to put you off. Have you considered a small boa, like a Rosy? They come in beautiful colors - even bright orange and white like a creamcicle. They have much more personality than most balls.
They would fit in a 20L just fine. Or your 30 with some climbing branches.
Try:
http://www.rosyboa.com/breeders.htm
http://www.rosyboa.com/randywright.htm
http://www.rosyboa.com/desertboas.htm
http://www.vmsherp.com/ViewRosies.htm
Before deciding on a Ball, check them out. You may just fall in love.
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StarlightSpecialties.com

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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

Oh you didn't put me off at all. It just that I would feel uncomfortable around a snake that is 7- 10 feet!!! I already checked out rosy boas before I posted here.They don't really appeal to me. I REALLY like the ball python/redtail boa type look. You know what I mean? I got another question tho. I heard that if your boa gets to a certain length you can stop it's growth by feeding it less or smaller meals. Is this true and safe?

Look into the CA spp. they dont get as large, are rather beautiful depending upon locale and just as easy to care for as a columbian. Hog Isles are the same way and they change colors!
Cheers
B

OK, what is "CA spp" mean? Can you give me the name I would understand? Is that a pic of one? Are they nippy as babies? How much? Thanks

It was one of the ones I mentioned in the list of Island/Mexican boas I wrote up for you.
But, as someone else mentioned, I think the Dwarf or Tarahumara Mexico Boa would be the best boa for you and may well be able to fit in your 30g at adulthood. I doubt this snake will ever get more than 4' and may well stay 3'-3.5' - just be sure to get a male. Rio Bravo at http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/boas_mexico.htm sells them. Others may too, but off the top of my head, he's the one I know of.
Good luck with whatever choice you make.
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StarlightSpecialties.com

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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

There are pleanty of boas that stay under 4.5 feet I own a 2000 tiger male that is 4' and could easily be maintained at this size its entire life; infact I've been tring to power feed it and get it larger so as it can breed larger females but he seems to have reeched his max size. The Corns(great red & orange collors),Cays (realy grey base collors,almost anery looking)and the Techumuran (very dark, melanistic boas) are all BCI and should all stay under 4.5 -5 feet (I've seen larger calubrids!!!); especialy if you get a male which on average are 1/3 smaller than the females of the same type.
And any central American breed should stay in the 5-6 foot range for example the Hogs,Nics,Honduran,Coasta Rican,Panama,and Mexican are all BCI also.
But I think that the Tetchumuran is the smallest I've seen pic's of a gravid female coiled up on a 1 foot by 1 foot square napkin!!

Kevin

I mentioned above a lot of different island and mexican boas that get 4-6.5 feet, but he mentioned only having a 30g tank. I would not think that would be large enough for a boa of that size. Even 4' would be a bit cramped, I would think. That is why I mentioned the Rosies. If he could go 3x2 caging for the middle sized MALE island/Mexican boa types and fed a maintainace diet once he reached 4', that should work, that way he may not get much larger than say 4.5'- 5'. But, he would need to be sure to get a male, since they do not tend to grow as large.
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StarlightSpecialties.com

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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

he needs something doesn't take alot of floor space so he can also look at tree type boas. They just need height to climb on. I've never owned any of them but mayby someone that has can chime in here with some info on them. Just a thought Paul

I didn't mention them because I thought they were on the nippy side. I was unde the impression he wanted something docile. But, they are very pretty nonetheless. I would love a dog tame Emerald...perhaps someday...
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

Well my dad could possibly build me another cage. He already has built 2 3X2 tortiose tables so I can't see why he couldn't make a 3X2 boa cage. Anyone have any plans to make a snake cage? Also I just wanna to say thank you to everyone that is helping me out. I really appreciate all you're doing for me.

There is a male Tethumuran for sale RIGHT NOW om kingsnake Boa classified, it would be hard to find a smaller BCI; and I've seen it,it would do fine in a 30 gall for awhile. Good price too (175$ or 200$ shiped I think).

Kevin
PS Once you go Boa you never go back..LOL. Good luck

1.5 meters is about 9 foot and yes most are docile. They are a great snake to own and have as a pet. there are diff types of morphs that have different patterns and colors. Of course they have a varied price range. Hope this helps Paul

that while there may not be any recorded case of a boa constrictor killing a human, I think it would be very foolish for anyone to believe that they absolutely could not. I love my boas just as much as anyone on this forum, and I would not try and turn any capable keeper from owning them. but I think that every one needs to remember that they are wild animals, there is no way to anticipate these animals actions or thoughts. and when a boa gets up to around the 10 foot mark they can surely have the muscular strength to kill, especially if they get a coil around the neck.

you are correct but is it common practice to put a 10 foot snake around your neck ? I hope not , a 10 foot boa does have the power to injure or kill. How long does it take a boa to get 10 foot as being in pet mode , weekly feedings from baby to adulthood. Bye the time he or she would get that big you would understand the power the posses and know what you can and can't do with them. Also the common mistake with size exsists everywhere from private collectors to zoos , whats more impreeive sounding a fat 8 footer or a monsorous 12 footer that people look at and go ahhh man that can eat my kid , thats what sells tickets. For example theres a pic of a boa at my local rep shop thats draped over a guys back , its impresssive but its 8 feet long from a string measurement and block count as she crawled along side a block fence. People commonly guess it at 10 to 12 feet and there way off. Thats why i took the one post to heart cause how many true 10 foor columbians are truly out there in captivity. Sorry so long i'm hitting the 90 hr mark this week and i'm feeling rambly lol good nite Paul

be able to understand their capabilities when owning large boas, but unfortunately not every one does. for the most part boas are fairly calm animals and it would be very easy for someone who has a "dog tame" boa to underestimate the animal and become dangerously relaxed around them. I have meet folks who think its fun to have contests with their buddies to see who can get this 9 foot boa that one of them ownes to bite them the most times. unfortunately I know that there have to be plenty more people out there who would do such dumb things as that, or dumber, with their large snakes.

YOU ARE PREPETUATING FEER!!!, this is a child thiking of getting a Boa; give good advice..teach responsable handling but for heavens sake stop this.
If treated with respect; cared for properly, and a healthy understanding of the animals temperment and capabilities. There is minimal danger (allot less than say crossing the street)
Further more I dont know if any one has been killed by a Boa but I do know most attacks are the fault of the Human not the snake.
Help get the child started with somthing you know HE/She can handle then teach Him/Her to handle anything!! HUMANS ARE THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN NOT SNAKES, because we have advanced brains, help teach the child to use His/Her brain; for god sake please USE YOURS!!
The most important thing to understand that with reptiles as with any other animal there are all individuals with ther own attitudes and demeanors; but unlike mamals they dont live in social groups,they don't particularly care for attention like a dog would(how many children are killed by dogs every year?),reptiles rely on instinct alone any time you cross those instincts your in danger.
As a father and a reptile lover this whole convesation has hit a nerve. When my daughter was just learning to crawl she used to eat bugs ants,spiders any thing that crossed her path. My doughter instinctivly knew where she stood on the food chain then her mother tought her to fear insects through her reactions to bugs. It has taken me 5 years to recondition my child back to her proper place in the animal kingdom. Fear leeds to pregudice predjudice leeds to the holocost; OK so now Im ranting.Sorry

Kevin

I do not see how this is "perpetuating fear". I do not think it would be apropriate to soften the truth, boas do have the potential to seriously harm. no matter how small the chance or how experianced the keeper, it can still happen. I think that is healthy information and it needs to be in the back of every keepers mind. the original poster doesn't seem to be put off of boas from theses comments, to me. he doesn't think he can handle a snake that size so he is exploring other options.

Well said jonathan-m and you're right, I am exploring my options. I never knew there was so may sub-species of boa. I've always wanted a boa but the size put me off. Now that I know some species are some what smaller, I'm deffently getting one! Thank you to everyone who is helping me out.

Adam

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Davey Giltner

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