Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

[insistent]

Hello, im alex, 22 from québec.

I have been looking for a snake for some time, i am looking for a snake that is not too active and not too much of a couch potatoes, i mean something that will like to move around my arms and neck, and something that is quite heavy bodies, and around 5-6 feet.

At first i was looking for a ball python, they are great however they are the couch potatoes themself, i dont like the color of the corn snakes and their skinny size, hognose is cute but too small for my taste.

And then boas, from what ive read, male colombian BCI will go 7+ foot easy, but some says its exageraqtion and they should not go over 5-6 foot, rarely 7+ foot, i dont know, there seem to be many factor.

And then Hogg island and Nicaraguans, i have been trying to find detailed infoes on them, but didnt really find much. Or maybe i should consider a carpet python? Dang i dont know, theres so many, however boas seems to fit my needs more.

I already have a 60 gals terrarium (40"x18"x19"), i know it will be too small for a 5-6 foot snake but it will do the job for some time as a baby.

I already have some experience with reptile before, i had a water dragon for 4 years, but i was forced to give it away.

Ill need help on this one, what should i take a look for?

Thanks

[Noelle7206]

Re: Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

I love all kinds of snakes, but rat snakes are among my favorites. There is a HUGE variety, but for a readily-available kind you need look no further than the many kinds native to the U.S. Most stay in the 5-6' range,
have lots of personality, are active but handle calmly once they know you. They get larger than corn snakes & come in all sorts of colors too, but keep in mind that for some, their colors evolve as they grow. There
are black rat snakes (I used to raise the amelanistic version that have an orange-red pattern over a cream or peach color background), gray or yellow rat snakes (I currently have 4 large adult yellow rat snakes, and the
females stay smaller than the males since every year they lay infertile eggs even though they've never bred...whereas the males throw all their energy into GROWTH...my males are hefty, a good 6'+ long) and Everglades
rat snakes (I used to keep & breed them too: they start off with a brownish pattern but gradually become a beautiful orange color!); if you like gray (with a little yellow/orange mixed between the scales) one of the calmest
rat snakes is the Bairds...absolutely wonderful pets. I've raised Bairds too, my last one is quite old at 24 years...& still very personable. He did many programs to meet & greet the public, always docile, but not dull. These
are just a tip of the iceberg, so to speak...and there are albino versions around too, as well as many other rat snakes too. I've not kept any Russian rat snakes before (& they are harder to find) but among the rat snakes
from other countries, they rate pretty high as good pets. (I have Korean rat snakes, similar to Russians but they are difficult snakes...very shy, even about food, and more like a racer to handle.)

Another perfect pet (IMO) are the (American) gopher- bull- or pine snakes...all in the same family, all get 5.5-6.5' with a sturdier build, & like the rat snakes mentioned, their care is straightforward. If you like albinos or variations,
you'll find those too. None of these are "couch potatoes" and they're not fussy eaters either...f/t is accepted happily (same with rat snakes). The bull snakes typically are the heaviest-built of these 3, with more diameter than
a rat snake (they are more terrestrial, whereas rat snakes are more into climbing) and they do a GREAT hiss! (mostly bluff)

There are some locality boas around that stay smaller...but from a reliable breeder they will cost more too. If you buy from the wrong source, they just might keep growing bigger than you planned. I've not kept carpet pythons,
so I'll leave that to those with experience with them. Hogg Island boas can get pretty big too, I think, but you might look into a Dumerils boa. Keep doing some research...you'll turn up the 'right' pet.

And welcome to the forum!

[insistent]

Re: Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

Alright thanks!

I have heard that male Colombian BCI, if not overfed, should stay in the 5-6 inch level. Is that true?

[Zaphod42]

Re: Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

Alright thanks!

I have heard that male Colombian BCI, if not overfed, should stay in the 5-6 inch level. Is that true?

There isn't anyway to guarantee the size of a boa, male or female. I would say on average a male BCI will stay in the 5-7ft but this depends on genetics as much as feeding. I have a 4 year old male who is slender and about 5ft long, I doubt he'll get much over 7ft. I have two males from 2014 who are almost as big as some of my 2013's, one of those 2014's was considerably smaller when I got him. I'm a fairly conservative feeder and everyone is pretty much on the same feeding schedule, and yet this guy is growing like crazy. So I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being 7ft+. But there wouldn't have been any way to know that from the beginning.

My point is there is no guarantees and whenever people ask me about sizes I tell them what the averages are and give them my spiel from above and tell them that a snake is a long commitment and they need to be prepared in case their snake is larger than the average sizes. Have you checked out Brazilian Rainbow Boas? They're probably one of my favorites. They're much smaller than BCI's both in length and thickness. They're usually pretty chill snakes, more active than a ball python, less active I would say than a BCI.

[Noelle7206]

Re: Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

....I have heard that male Colombian BCI, if not overfed, should stay in the 5-6 inch level. Is that true?

I think you meant to say "5-6 FOOT" level? (giggles) Male BCIs do usually stay smaller than the females, but no absolute guarantee they will stay a certain size. Also, there is a fine line between one person's definition

of "not overfed" and another person's definition of "underfeeding" or the snake's definition of chronic starvation. I have seen (& rescued) a boa that was chronically underfed (perhaps to keep it smaller?) and this messes

up their health forever...it causes (among other things) skin that tears like tissue paper...so please consider the health of your snake & always put his best interests first, no matter what size he attains, ok? I'm NOT saying

you would do that...but I want you to understand what happens. All snakes grow their whole lives; that growth slows considerably when they get older, but if they have good luck, good genes & good care, they might

live to 25+++ years. If a seven-foot boa is a deal-breaker, I'd urge you to reconsider your choices. It would be as if our parents said 'hey, these kids grow too much, & we're sick of buying more shoes & clothes...let's cut

back on their food..."

[insistent]

Re: Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

I can deal with the fact that it could be bigger than expected, but not this years or two, unless it grow more than 6 feet in a years or 2 from baby or juvenille, im fine with it

I did check those snake, but too small for my taste :\

[Noelle7206]

Re: Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

I think you're fine then...attaining 6' in two years would be awfully fast.

[Reinz15]

Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

There are no real concrete answers about snakes when comes to size, wt, colors, and other matters.

4-5 ft is not uncommon for the first two years of a Boa. Now someone will come along and say "mine was 6ft!". It's hard to pin down, too many outside factors: enclosure, care, feeding, exercise, and of course, genetics.

Boas generally are finished with most of their growing at 4 yrs. That can at least give you an idea at that point. You may consider buying an adult.

Some of the smaller Boas: Hog Island, Dumerils, and the smallest, the Mexican Tarhumara.

I would not recommend a Carpet Python as a first constrictor. These guys are very active, and diliberate in their movements. You can not take you eyes away for a second. If you do, they are gone or into mischief.


My 6 Ft BCI Girl, Elenore






My 7 FT + Coastal Carpet, Lizzy

[Noelle7206]

Re: Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

....Boas generally are finished with most of their growing at 4 yrs.....

I agree with you, except maybe for this ^ ^ ^ ^ ^. A female BCI that I took in as an unwanted yearling "rescue" stayed about 5' for a long time...about 7-8 years...then added another 2.5' to age 13. That's a pretty
hefty amount of growth, especially when you consider they may keep going for at least another 13+++ years? I think there's a lot of variation, as another posted.

I do think that it's often generalized that a snake is ready to breed @ 4 years of age, meaning that most have attained the minimal size to accomplish breeding with relative safety. If they are bred at that point (and
I'm referring to females only) they will likely stay smaller than they would otherwise, since they'll be devoting their energy to the task of reproduction rather than growing larger.

That might be a good idea, to buy an adult, and your input on carpet pythons mirrors what I've read elsewhere...not the most mellow choice.

[Pandorasdad]

Re: Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

The simple answer is a male BCI. They stay about 5ish feet. My male hypo meets every one of your requirements.

Sent from my HTC One via Tapatalk

[Pandorasdad]

Re: Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

Before someone decides to say it, yes, I know that males can and do get larger. But many do not and mine of mine have yet.

Sent from my HTC One via Tapatalk

[Reinz15]

Re: Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

I agree with you, except maybe for this ^ ^ ^ ^ ^. A female BCI that I took in as an unwanted yearling "rescue" stayed about 5' for a long time...about 7-8 years...then added another 2.5' to age 13. That's a pretty
hefty amount of growth, especially when you consider they may keep going for at least another 13+++ years? I think there's a lot of variation, as another posted.

I do think that it's often generalized that a snake is ready to breed @ 4 years of age, meaning that most have attained the minimal size to accomplish breeding with relative safety. If they are bred at that point (and
I'm referring to females only) they will likely stay smaller than they would otherwise, since they'll be devoting their energy to the task of reproduction rather than growing larger.

That might be a good idea, to buy an adult, and your input on carpet pythons mirrors what I've read elsewhere...not the most mellow choice.

Noelle, that is some story about that growth spurt! That's why I hate to make blanket statements about these guys. I have read two different top(?) guys say the 4 yr thing in my readings. Do you think your rescue snake, that it was malnourished, yet no physiological body damage? Then with your proper care the snake was able to pick up where it was left off? Thus, begin growing again? It just seems such an anomaly.

[insistent]

Re: Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

Alright, thanks guy, lots of useful info

Then a male bci is the way to go, i would rather start with a baby or maybe juvenille, but what species? Colombian?

[Noelle7206]

Re: Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

Noelle, that is some story about that growth spurt! That's why I hate to make blanket statements about these guys. I have read two different top(?) guys say the 4 yr thing in my readings. Do you think your rescue snake, that it was malnourished, yet no physiological body damage? Then with your proper care the snake was able to pick up where it was left off? Thus, begin growing again? It just seems such an anomaly.

She was approximately a yearling (@ 30" long) when I got her, but she came from a petstore & then changed hands a few times, due to her feisty & persistent self-defense (LOL!). She also wasn't the best feeder
for a while either, because she was very high-strung...but that was only during the first 6 months or so with me. She never appeared malnourished, even when I got her...she just seemed to stay around 5' for the longest
time. I had her for a total of 12 years (until she was roughly 7.5'), at which point she moved in with some friends of mine (they are into bigger snakes). I really wish she had stayed smaller- I never planned to have a large
boa, it was just that I knew I could "adjust her attitude" and did so rather quickly (& with permanence...she is reliably friendly with everyone now, I just saw her again recently...I have "visitation", LOL!)
To answer your question: had she been older when I got her, I'd have suspected that was what happened...but all I can figure is that she just grew slowly (& I didn't 'power-feed' her either).

[bcr_229]

Re: Looking for a boa, or something like that, but size matter.

Alright, thanks guy, lots of useful info

Then a male bci is the way to go, i would rather start with a baby or maybe juvenille, but what species? Colombian?

For species everything you'd be looking at is a BCI (boa constrictor imperator). There are some localities, such as Tarahumara where females top out under six feet, Sonoran, Nicaraguan, Hogg Island, etc. that stay smaller than the common BCI and morphs. Bear in mind though that these can be more nippy and defensive than their larger counterparts.