Peruvian Rainbow Boa's

[hollycadle]

Today I brought a Peruvian rainbow boa, and on the advert the guy said he had never come across one other than at a reptile expo. This is in the UK by the way and I was wondering if someone can tell me how rare they are? Also, if I got ripped off by paying £270 for the snake including a thermostat, a ceramic bulb and a really sh*t viv (by sh*t I mean it's a home made one and looks tacky)? And, this is my first snake other than a royal python or milk snake/king snake (I consider those starter snakes) that requires a lot more care and effort and I was just wondering if anyone has any tips or pointers they would like to share as I want a healthy, happy snake, more importantly an alive snake. Lastly, can someone tell me a few ways how to identify this snake is definitely a Peruvian and how long it will get? To me and my sister it definitely looks like one but I just want to make sure as the guy we brought him off is leaving for Canada soon and I don't want to be cheated out of the deal and him not be in the country any more so I can't do anything about it. Thanks!

[Snakesitter]

Hollycade, nice score! That said, be careful…I have heard of rainbows misidentified before as Peruvians.

By way of background, Peruvians are currently (officially) regarded as Brazilians, meaning that the last classification expert who researched rainbows did not regard them as different enough to warrant separate subspecies status. There are many professional keepers, however -- myself included -- who think they are special, and for that reason treat them as a "locality." The classification could always change again and restore their subspecies status, so we want to preserve the remaining bloodlines.

Their appearance is very similar to Brazilians, though they tend more towards reds and have thicker black markings. Their scale count is also slightly different, though it takes some practice to get an accurate count. Care is almost identical. Pricing varies, but is usually similar to Brazilians…though I’ve always thought it should be higher, especially if genetics can be proven.

Probably the reigning expert on Peruvians is a US breeder named Jeff Clark. You might want to track him down and see what he thinks.

At any rate, good luck!

[hollycadle]

Yeah I've heard about them basically being mistaken for Brazilians, and I'm really worried we've been sold a BRB instead as me and my sister aren't experts and not too sure the best way to tell!

I also think they're special and hopefully I can find a female in the future when I gain more knowledge on PRB's and breed my boy with her as I think they need to thrive more, especially in the UK and I can't find any more for sale over here and if he is definitely a Peruvian I think it was a rare/good find to be honest!

I'm going to need all the luck I can get really considering I've spent loads of money on a sh*tty tank and a snake that's possibly not what it's meant to be haha

[marvelfreak]

Hello and welcome! Cliff hit the nail on the head. I actually have a Jeff Clark BRB that a buddy got just around the time they change the classification. Me and my buddy both think she looks more like a PRB than a BRB. They are much darker red and way bolder markings. What can make it hard to tell is the age. PRB get darker with age as babies they pretty much look like BRB's.

After 5 post you can post pictures. I really love to see some pictures.
How old is it and how big? PRB also stay a bit on the smaller side than BRB's.

[hollycadle]

Hello and welcome! Cliff hit the nail on the head. I actually have a Jeff Clark BRB that a buddy got just around the time they change the classification. Me and my buddy both think she looks more like a PRB than a BRB. They are much darker red and way bolder markings. What can make it hard to tell is the age. PRB get darker with age as babies they pretty much look like BRB's.

After 5 post you can post pictures. I really love to see some pictures.
How old is it and how big? PRB also stay a bit on the smaller side than BRB's.


I might see if I can track down Jeff clark and send him a few pictures or get someone experienced to identify him for me as me and my sister are unsure and have no clue how to tell, the colour inside his top circles is just a little lighter than his main body colour but I have no idea, I kind of think I got into the deal a little quick to be honest! What's this scale count thing that you can tell with them? I've heard that's a good way to tell but have no idea what you have to do. I'll post some pictures as soon as I can, he really is a beautiful snake whether Peruvian or Brazilian!

[marvelfreak]

Check this out it show the two side by side. iHerp : Member Blog : Peruvian vs. Brazilian Rainbow Boas (http://iherp.com/Public/Blog/Detail.aspx?uid=10497)

[hollycadle]

Check this out it show the two side by side. iHerp : Member Blog : Peruvian vs. Brazilian Rainbow Boas (http://iherp.com/Public/Blog/Detail.aspx?uid=10497)

Turns out he's a Brazilian! Got ripped off big time to be honest, only found out because I brought some terrariums off a local lady and she happened to see him, telling me he was her snake before the guy had him and that she only sold him to him for £70, and she knew it was her snake because he has some damage done to his scales and she recognised them. Any advice on what I should do? I guess there's nothing I can do really though, is there? I'll have to be more careful next time then, so gutted he's not a Peruvian though

[Snakesitter]

I'm sorry to hear that, Holly.

You should take three steps.

One, make sure the original owner is not the one who was wrong. In other words, contact an expert to verify which locality this animal falls into. The seller has a chance he was right.

Two, if it is a Brazilian, call the seller and *politely* ask for an explanation and a partial refund. I'd even take the route of playing it as if he made an honest mistake...and maybe he did. At any rate, it offers him a chance to correct the situation, and with a much better chance of success than going in guns blazing.

If that does not work, step three is to post the incident on the Fauna Classifieds "Board of Inquiry." It serves as a central location to report buying experiences, both good and bad. Document carefully, and see if you can get an e-mail from the previous owner to post as evidence. Note you will have to name names...but this is how justice is served, and it may well prevent another person from being victimized like you were (if it was deliberate).

Good luck, and please let us know how it goes!

[hollycadle]

I'm sorry to hear that, Holly.

You should take three steps.

One, make sure the original owner is not the one who was wrong. In other words, contact an expert to verify which locality this animal falls into. The seller has a chance he was right.

Two, if it is a Brazilian, call the seller and *politely* ask for an explanation and a partial refund. I'd even take the route of playing it as if he made an honest mistake...and maybe he did. At any rate, it offers him a chance to correct the situation, and with a much better chance of success than going in guns blazing.

If that does not work, step three is to post the incident on the Fauna Classifieds "Board of Inquiry." It serves as a central location to report buying experiences, both good and bad. Document carefully, and see if you can get an e-mail from the previous owner to post as evidence. Note you will have to name names...but this is how justice is served, and it may well prevent another person from being victimized like you were (if it was deliberate).

Good luck, and please let us know how it goes!


I've messaged him, and he got angry that I had accused him of such thing. I'm just going to take it as a lesson learned and only buy from reputable breeders when it comes to something like this again(the whole being rare thing). He's moving to Canada and he's either gone by now or is soon on his way so I'm not sure there is much that I can do. I kind of want a refund or partial refund as I'm struggling with money as it is, but I'm not even sure if it's worth the effort as I don't think much is going to come out of trying to be honest. Thanks for the help though, it's good to know that I can do something if it were to happen again in the future- Which I hope won't, but you never know!

[Snakesitter]

Understood. I hope it all works out for both you and your new pet snake!

[carpets4life]

keep the humidity high