Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all!! I am trying to find more information than I have found so far, on Solomon Island (and neighboring subspecies) Ground Boas. If anyone has them and would like to compare notes and share their experiences, I would be so appreciative!! I have only found Jerry's Candoia webpage, and so I think there just isn't a lot out there about people keeping them. I would particularly enjoy photos, too!! Please e-mail me at souldrum@pathwaynet.com with any responses. Thank you so much in advance!!

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Kathy, who apparently knows no limits in loving as many animals as possible!!

Hello! Yes, Jerry's site is pretty much THE site to get info on the Candoia group. And no, there aren't that many of us out here keeping them...at least, not that I've encountered. I have 1.2 Candoia carinata paulsoni (2 Solomon Island ground boas and one Santa Isabel ground boa), all juveniles. They are great little snakes, so variable in color and just neat to work with. Even my nippy wc girl, Jasmine, is a lovely little thing - time & gentle handling have calmed her a great deal compared to when she first arrived. She's the only one I have a pic of at the moment, and it isn't a very good pic at that. My male is quite dark, dark brown saddles on a brown background, and doesn't photograph very well...at least not with the borrowed camera I have access to. I'd love to swap stories on these little beauties. Feel free to drop me a line anytime.

Raven
raven_flstc@hotmail.com

I have an adult WC Viper Boa female and a baby paulsoni....who is finally big enough to take pinkies and does like MAD. Finally get fat and sassy. The Viper still prefers live rat fuzzys. Love them and going to get more.
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Sonya

This photo is one of 13 I had purchased from various people. It is the sole survivor. After talking for a while with a breeder who has had a trio for a while, I have concluded that they are quite possibly the most difficult snake in the world to keep.

I am not quite sure how nature did not select for their extinction by now. The one in this photo finally ate its first pinky mouse 2 weeks ago (with much force feeding effort). I was force feeding it guppies prior to that (which worked well since the scales on the fish prevent the snake from spitting them out).

A guy I talked to had like 20 out of about 100 survive since none ate. He said he even has one female still gravid going on 13 months now.

These are quite possibly my favorite snake of all time. I love their colors and variation, as well as their smaller size. I have spent LOTS of time searching for info on the web for them and Jerry Conway is the ONLY ONE. It is a shame to only have one person providing the source of information on any species...it sort of limits perspectives.

ALSO, I am looking for information on import/export of these animals. I 'heard' that they are no longer possible to import/export them. I am not sure of the laws and do not know where to find them. I was hoping to buy a group of imports or something one day. If anyone knows anything about this....PLEASE let me know.

Also, I would have thought that there would be someone doing research on them BUT I can't find anyone. My hope is to get a breeding group together someday and work on selectively breeding them for hope of producing young that take pinkies right away.

I would gladly chat with anyone that shares interest in this species since they are my favorite of all boas. Feel free to email me at northeastsnakes@aol.com
-carl3

I have had two male and one female Solomon Island ground boas, Candoia carinata for 19 years now. When I got them they ranged from 44 to 82 grams in weight, and from 18 to 23 inches in length. The largest is now over 1500 grams. They were all eager feeders on rodents from the start. Unfortunately, I have never been able to get them to breed and the female is now starting to go into a decline from an unknown cause. The males remain very robust, however.

Members of this species just seem so unsuitable for the pet trade due to their often irascible temperaments and the difficulty starting neonates on rodents that I’ve been amazed to see them grow in popularity. Probably the only growth in species popularity that has me shaking my head more over the years has been that of amazon tree boas.

-Joan

Thanks to everyone who responded!!! Joan, WOW - 19 years!! I don't know - I can only tell you why I got mine - they are so unique, and I had a very sad experience trying to "rescue" 3 babies who died, that now I feel I need to give a couple a good home to sort of ... make up, you know?? So far, so good - both of mine eat well, and are very sweet-tempered. I have one male, and one female. I also - believe it or not!! - have 2 Amazon Tree Boas!! Yes, I am one of those silly people you are shaking your head at - but no kidding, mine are great, and very good pets!!

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Kathy, who apparently knows no limits in loving as many animals as possible!!