New addition, Argentine boa?

subsentient · 01-24-17, 10:07 AM

Hi folks,
While browsing a local buy & sell page for good deals on supplies for my BCI I came across this little boa for next to nothing, tank and all supplies included. I couldn't resist checking it out, as I was still wishing for a boa that I could spend some more hands on time with, and introduce my kids to my love of reptiles. My other little lady is sure pretty, but taking her out daily is still an adventure to say the least. Long story short a few hours later, and ‘Gloomy’ had a new home with me. The PO did not know any details other than he had gotten it 4 months ago as a fresh hatchling from a guy he knew that bread boas. It has been treated well IMO as it is insanely friendly, calm, curious and has eaten well for me. Truly it has a wonderful personality. The only other thing he mentioned is that it had shed 4 times but never completely or well. I got right on dealing in the humidity and yesterday it did a perfect shed. I was wondering if anyone could tell me if this is an Argentine Boa, or perhaps a mix based on appearance? Initially I had thought it was just an interesting morph but when I started looking on the net I came across BCO’s.

also its tail has skulls on it so thats awesome!

**Tsubaki** · 01-24-17, 11:05 AM

Absolutely gorgeous, i'd say there's a big chance it's a BCO cross.

To me it doesn't look like a pure one, even if it did you can't call it a BCO without the proper paperwork. Doesn't change that I really like it, I can see why you couldn't resist! Wonder if he'll darken with age like a pure BCO!

GyGbeetle · 01-24-17, 11:57 AM

It's a pretty snake!!!!! I love that little face. So cute, whatever it is.

PatrickV · 01-24-17, 12:11 PM

very nice snake. I have no idea what it could be but i love the heavy freckling!

subsentient · 01-24-17, 02:42 PM

Some more googling for highly speckled boas has lead me to the possibility that it may be a Caulkers Cay or Crawl Cay Belize boa. Although yet again this is based only on trying to match appearances. Any thoughts on this?

daisymaisy · 01-24-17, 10:53 PM

I don't know boas too well, but just wanted to say great find! Congrats on the new snake.

**Tsubaki** · 01-24-17, 11:32 PM

I don't think it's either, at most a mix but it resembles a BCO mix more imo.. Again without paperwork it is a Boa , nothing more nothing less. It's a very nice looking boa though! If it really is a BCO mix, it might turn much darker as it grows up.

subsentient · 01-25-17, 09:23 AM

Thanks for your help everyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

I don't think it's either, at most a mix but it resembles a BCO mix more imo.. Again without paperwork it is a Boa , nothing more nothing less. It's a very nice looking boa though! If it really is a BCO mix, it might turn much darker as it grows up.

Very true. My only concern that if it does happen to be a Crawl Cay or Cay Caulkers boa, there seem to be very strict guidelines for feeding in order to prevent damage to the snake. I guess I will just go as carefully as I can just in case. I should be able to rule that out reasonably soon based on growth rate. Either way my absolute favorite part about this snake is its personality, its such an awesome creature to spend time with. It also makes a perfect counter part to my other boa who is such a spiteful little thing. They make a funny duo.

Captain837 · 01-25-17, 11:23 AM

I would agree that it is not a pure Argentine boa. I had a pair years ago and i have seen some since and they all were pretty much completely black and white.

bigsnakegirl785 · 01-25-17, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain837

I would agree that it is not a pure Argentine boa. I had a pair years ago and i have seen some since and they all were pretty much completely black and white.

As babies they look vastly different. This is a pure baby BCO.

As Tsubaki said, if it is a BCO cross (which I agree that is big possibility), it will darken with age and get at least a little spotty.

I wouldn't officially claim it as anything, though, since you don't 100% know its lineage. If you ever sell it, it should be sold like any other common boa of unknown lineage.

subsentient · 01-25-17, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

As babies they look vastly different. This is a pure baby BCO.

As Tsubaki said, if it is a BCO cross (which I agree that is big possibility), it will darken with age and get at least a little spotty.

I wouldn't officially claim it as anything, though, since you don't 100% know its lineage. If you ever sell it, it should be sold like any other common boa of unknown lineage.

I agree with that for sure. I think that it does look very similar pattern wise to the pic above, which is what initially led me to think it might be Argentinian. It is also quite variable in color and sometimes looks much more silver than it does in the pictures that I posted of it. I am not looking to sell it at all, never planning to. My main interest in identification has now shifted to identifying if it is, or isn't possibly a Cay Caulker or Crawl Cay - as I have learned that the feeding requirements are different and can be harmful if it were to be fed as I would a non dwarf boa. Time will tell of course, but I wouldn't want to be needlessly underfeeding it either. From what I can piece it would likely be much smaller at 4 months if it was indeed a dwarf species, however I have no way to confirm the age I have to be the truth.

bigsnakegirl785 · 01-25-17, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subsentient

I agree with that for sure. I think that it does look very similar pattern wise to the pic above, which is what initially led me to think it might be Argentinian. It is also quite variable in color and sometimes looks much more silver than it does in the pictures that I posted of it. I am not looking to sell it at all, never planning to. My main interest in identification has now shifted to identifying if it is, or isn't possibly a Cay Caulker or Crawl Cay - as I have learned that the feeding requirements are different and can be harmful if it were to be fed as I would a non dwarf boa. Time will tell of course, but I wouldn't want to be needlessly underfeeding it either. From what I can piece it would likely be much smaller at 4 months if it was indeed a dwarf species, however I have no way to confirm the age I have to be the truth.

The main differences here are that the diamonds (the patterns on their sides) are not connected and are of a different shape, the tail has too much red and the saddles are a different shape than a pure BCO, and the color has more of a muted yellow color. But overall there is a lot of similarity, hence why a cross is a possibility.

As far as Crawl Cay and Caulker Cay? No I do not think this boa is either of those. If it is, it isn't pure, but I agree with Tsubaki here that a BCO cross is more likely.

Honestly, I would feed a dwarf and a mainland the same way. It's better that the mainland grows a little slowly as well, but they'll still grow slightly faster than a dwarf eating in the same manner, especially after the first year.

Overfeeding could get even a dwarf above averages, so just make sure you have it on a conservative feeding schedule. I've posted the way I feed my boas in threads many times here so I think most active users are familiar with it by now. If you want, I can PM you in more detail about my methods.

subsentient · 01-25-17, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

The main differences here are that the diamonds (the patterns on their sides) are not connected and are of a different shape, the tail has too much red and the saddles are a different shape than a pure BCO, and the color has more of a muted yellow color. But overall there is a lot of similarity, hence why a cross is a possibility.

As far as Crawl Cay and Caulker Cay? No I do not think this boa is either of those. If it is, it isn't pure, but I agree with Tsubaki here that a BCO cross is more likely.

Honestly, I would feed a dwarf and a mainland the same way. It's better that the mainland grows a little slowly as well, but they'll still grow slightly faster than a dwarf eating in the same manner, especially after the first year.

Overfeeding could get even a dwarf above averages, so just make sure you have it on a conservative feeding schedule. I've posted the way I feed my boas in threads many times here so I think most active users are familiar with it by now. If you want, I can PM you in more detail about my methods.

Awesome, thanks so much for this. I would appreciate any tips on feeding for sure, if you don't mind sending me that pm. I will always jump at the opertunity to learn from someone's experience.

subsentient · 01-26-17, 09:50 AM

Just for reference, it was the following photos that lead me to think that there was a possibility it is a crawl cay or cay caulkers boa. The first one looks so similar so me, although I realize looks can be consistent across different types of boas.