The BCI "mutt" I had as a kid in the 60's-70's was great to handle and would happily perch on my shoulders and just hang out without trying to escape. My Dad picked her up as a yearling from some hippies on a houseboat in Sausalito for $20 for my 8th birthday in '68.
Yes, the common pet store type boas typically make excellent very handleable pets. $20 seems pretty inexpensive but that was a lot of money back then...
I totally agree with you about b.c. amarali. I have had an adult female for four years, she's gorgeous, and definitely intelligent. In the beginning I used to put a piece of newspaper over part of the substrate, as I thought she might ingest substrate. The second time I did this, she lunged forwards, clearly she associated the presence of newspaper with an expectation that food was coming. So I stopped using the newspaper! She's wonderfully docile, and, yes, she often wakes up when I approach her enclosure.
"Gentle to mental." I like it! I had a related experience once, back in my young and stupid days. For two or three years I had an eastern chain king that was wild caught. She tamed down really well in captivity. But one day I came home and she had managed to break out of her cage and into the cage of my ball python (this was before there was much in the way of dedicated reptile enclosures and we mostly used aquariums with crappy screen lids). I'm sure you can guess the tragic end result of that. So since I wasn't really interested in kingsnakes at the time, and didn't want any more "accidents," I decided to release her near where I caught her. I took her out in the woods and put her down, then pretty much immediately decided to pick her back up again -- I'm not sure why but I think I decided to take her deeper into the woods. But she was having NONE of it. It was like a switch flipped and she was instantly wild again, hissing and striking at me. I was glad, though. I worried she had lost her fear of humans, but it came right back! I wonder if your boas that become aggressive outside are experiencing the same sort of call of the wild.
Thanks for sharing. I've had similar expereinces with captive bred boas that are docile but go apesh@# when I take them outside to photograph. It's the call of the wild beckoning to them.
My baby BCI is great. Doesn't bite or hiss. She just wants to smell everything she sees. She doesn't try to run away. She seems to like coming out and climbing every human She sees.
You are the Boa G.O.A.T! I've been into snakes since I was a kid. I have learned so much about Boas from you. Thanks 👍🏾 for your dedication and education. Take care.
Cool Brian ,,,, Your selections are on fire ,,,,, Amazing Greatness that u have and i know u love what u do because it shines bright ,,,,, Thanks for sharing fellow snake mannnnn '
Such beautiful animals, in and out. Do you happen to have experience with belize boas (mainland boas, not island variety)? Would you say they are generally temperamental or chill?
If you spend time with them and make every interaction a positive experience for them, I bet just about any snake will calm down and act tame. Years ago I had a ball python I adopted as an adult rescue. Her previous owner never socialized her so she was a grump. I had a rose haired tarantula around the same time that hated men and loved women. She could have been teased or abused by her previous owner.
All those are beautiful boas. The Bolivian boa is interesting if it recognizes the handler which is indeed sign of intelligence. however I like the big boas (maybe that's wrong but I do) and the large morph boa was very interesting. all those colors of all those boas were interesting I especially like the darker colored ones. But the lighter ones with vibrant patterns were amazing as well.
I love handling my Tarahumaras, though I have to say that the most easy-going Boas I have experienced in terms of handling are my Dumeril's (I know you don't keep ground boas). I'm just glad I don't have to choose between them!
I love this video so much! The best boas for handling indeed. I loved all of them. If only locality boas were bred more. I am torn between tarahumara, short tail amarali, and Barranquilla Colombia boa. They are all so beautiful and personable. How hardy are the three to fluctuations in humidity?
I would add Argentine Boas to this list, although my pair may be unique. My BCO's are easily smart and interactive as a Bolivian, calm as a Tarahumara, and anery as a longicauda. I've lived with all of these localities, agree with your descriptions, and compare from personal experience. I see how the size of an Argentine might be a negative for some people, though for me it's a plus. (And your comment at 05:30 is hilarious, and right-on-point).
Come on Brian, losing some blood is part of the fun in handling boas!!! 😂 JK!!! Some great choices, and as always beautiful examples of boas that are more beginner friendly.
I probably have the best behaving bcc's none of them ever strike at me (at most they would hiss when i try to pick them up) but i agree with you that they're not the best handling boa. They hold on like they're afraid of falling and squeeze real tight. Top tip don't let your snake wrap around your neck espescially a big bcc, one of my suriname bcc nearly choke me out unintentionally (i hope?).
