Your opinions on Common Boas?

[anubis]

If any of you keep these would you recommend it as a beginner snake? I've been mostly thinking of a ball python but if I come across a common boa that can be adopted I would like to take it. Are they fairly docile?

[reptilianmaster]

i would yeah as they are very tame and if you get a male get 8-9ft
i got 4 are the moment(3 common boas and a sonoran dwarf)
sonoran dwarfs,crawl cay and other dwarf boas are great too and only get 4-5ft
as long as you get their set up right your set
a adult male boa would be comfortable in a 5x2x2(oviously bigger if you want to get them more space)
you do get exceptions of nippy specimens like every species.....but tame down as get older
lee

[Marie]

I have been also told that corn snakes are good starter snakes and they don't get as big.

[Steven]

Cornsnakes and kingsnakes are the best starter snakes, thats how I got into snakes. Boas can be alittle harder to take care of with the humidity and size of the snake.
Cornsnakes only get 3-5ft, they are more of the long skinny snake and the boas are long and fat, and the ball pythons are short and fat.
But there are different requirements for each species so make sure you do a lot of research on the snake you are possibly getting.

[reptilianmaster]

yes they are good starter snakes and any suitable sized colubrid such as the ratsnakes and milksnakes are too but hes asking opinions on common boas
there are alternatives to the size of the commons as i suggested such as the sonorans,crawl cays and nicariguans which get to 4-5ft but do come with a higher price($100+)
in my opinion if he starts off with a neonate itll get as tame as a cornsnake and will give a chance to research future housing plans and consideration of eventual sizes
the best thing you can do is get yourself a good book or caresheet googles full of them and make your assumptions from that
all the best wit your boa constrictor when you plan to get it,they are great snakes to have

[Marie]

Lee,

This is in place of the previous response I had.

We appreciate all your varied knowledge of snakes and your participation on our forum. But each member has a right to respond to a post. Yes he asked about common boas as starter snakes. But originally was strongly considering a ball python. We were just suggesting other maybe (or maybe not) more suitable starter snakes. He asked if the common boa was a suitable starter. Well some thought other snakes were more suitable than the common boa. That is an indication on the degree of suitability of a common boa. Just like you mentioned sonoran dwarf boas--he didn't ask about them either. Please do not tell people how to respond. As long as someone is being civil, is not abusive, nonflaming, and friendly they can respond--even you.

Thank you

[anubis]

I'm just trying to get as much information as possible on snakes right now. I've researched ball pythons for longer than half a year and cornsnakes for three months now. Same with kingsnakes and milksnakes. I have also had some experience with colubrids but right now I am wanting a heavy bodied snake. Most likely I will use a large sterilite container for a few months. All of your repsonses were helpful and I appreciate them.

[Marie]

I'm glad you are researching. The information Lee gave you on boas should be helpful. Good luck on finding just the right snake for you to start with.

[zachbaker]

Marie,
Rosy Boa's are the perfect starter snake. Most likely the easiest boa to take care of too.

[Marie]

Thanks for the input Zach.

[anubis]

Yes I've also been looking into Desert Rosy boas. I'll just see what happens. Whatever is available for adoption I might get, except of course burmese pythons and retics.

[reptilianmaster]

empoyner said:

Lee,

This is in place of the previous response I had.

We appreciate all your varied knowledge of snakes and your participation on our forum. But each member has a right to respond to a post. Yes he asked about common boas as starter snakes. But originally was strongly considering a ball python. We were just suggesting other maybe (or maybe not) more suitable starter snakes. He asked if the common boa was a suitable starter. Well some thought other snakes were more suitable than the common boa. That is an indication on the degree of suitability of a common boa. Just like you mentioned sonoran dwarf boas--he didn't ask about them either. Please do not tell people how to respond. As long as someone is being civil, is not abusive, nonflaming, and friendly they can respond--even you.

Thank you

sorry if it was percieved that way marie,i didn't mean to cause any offence,was just saying hes asking about common boas but yes i agree corns and such are perfect snakes for beginners
sonoran dwarf boas are BCI but locality dwarfs which means they live on certain islands which includes the hogg island boa which get to 7ft maximum which is another good choice
again apoligises
lee

[Marie]

There is no problem. We just like this forum to be an open one. We try to encourage everyone to participate . The more participation the more we can learn while maybe enjoying ourselves.

[loulou]

if you are concerned about the size i will agree with someone else rosy boas are lovely to keep having 6 myself i find them interesting and unusual and have grown very fond of them, they may be worth a concideration

[Patrick Kubeja]

Wow I missed this Whole thread dang!

But if I could have another Snake I would consider a Ball Python