Your one stop reptile community - heavy-bodied snakes

smellati · #1 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 08:00 AM

Hi guys. I'm shoping for a new snake. I want something heavy-bodied, and as big as possible, while still keeping it a one-man job. I don't like having to depend on others to care for my babies. Tameness is also an issue. Any input is greatly appreciated, but please don't abbreviate, since I'm a retard and will not be able to understand which species you are talking about.

buck2003 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 10:49 AM

Hi, I'd have to say a normal boa then as they grow large-ish yet can still be handled by one man! Given time and good care there heavy bodied, and are much better natured than some other snakes.
Why do you want a heavy snake though? just being nosey lol.

rachel132002 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 11:19 AM

Boas are pretty good and hardy snakes but out of curiosity why does it have to be as big as possible, is it not better to know what the maximum size animal you ALONE can care for and research what it needs before deciding on something rather than just going for size. Size well ya could have anacondas, retics, burms, boas but what does you state allow and can you guarantee that when it's 10-25ft depending on species you'll be able to manage? Just wondering.

Rachel

lethargiic · #4 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 11:37 AM

as rachel said, im a little curious as to why u want a heavy-bodied snake....all boids are pretty much heavy bodied..but if u want something big but you can still handle...well that would probably be a BCI (colombian).. they max out at 8-6 feet at best..unless u want to go bigger then it would be the BCC (suriname/guyana/peru/colombia) as they reach 12ft max if that... and even argentines can get up there.. the biggest i have seen is a 7ft female..

but i will forewarn you..if u want a tame snake? lmfao good luck in finding one..there are some tame ones but they are by nature wild animals and should not be taken lightly..

smellati · #5 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 05:05 PM

Sorry for being vague guys, let me clear some things up. I want a big snake yes, but start from a hacthling. I want it to be around 9-11' long at most. Why heavy-bodied? Because I'm not a big fan of slender snakes. I would like to have it be as tame as possible, and be able to adapt to captivity pretty well. I have a ball python, which is as tame as a puppy, and would like a bigger snake now. I say heavy-bodied, rather loosely. I just don't want someone recommending squirmy snakes, or something like a garter snake. And of course I will be doing research before I buy. I just wanted to get some ideas of what to look at.

lethargiic · #6 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 05:16 PM

BCC then... boa constrictor constrictor

heavy bodied...tame for the most part and get to be up to 12 ft max but avg about 7-10 ft

LdyDrgn · #7 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 06:30 PM

bcc are a bit tricker to keep than bci. They are also more temperamental.

Get a regular Colombian boa constrictor, easy to keep and generally calm. It may not get to 8 feet, but the other giants out there get too big or are not calm animals as a general rule.

buck2003 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smellati

Sorry for being vague guys, let me clear some things up. I want a big snake yes, but start from a hacthling. I want it to be around 9-11' long at most. Why heavy-bodied? Because I'm not a big fan of slender snakes. I would like to have it be as tame as possible, and be able to adapt to captivity pretty well. I have a ball python, which is as tame as a puppy, and would like a bigger snake now. I say heavy-bodied, rather loosely. I just don't want someone recommending squirmy snakes, or something like a garter snake. And of course I will be doing research before I buy. I just wanted to get some ideas of what to look at.

Sounds to me like you have thought this through quite well! Of course a bci is no ball python, and as you know temps and other husbandry issues are different, but from what you said A Bci sounds about right for what your looking for, I'd get a captive bred one so there wont be the issue of it adapting to captivity mentioned above. Good luck and when you get your new baby post some pics!!!!!!

smellati · #9 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 07:37 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. This is great stuff. So most of you seem to agree that columbian is a good choice. If I do decide on one of those, I'll probably get a female, to reach my desired size. What about guyanas? They are so freakin pretty. But I have heard they don't adjust well to captivity, and won't eat. Is it possible to get them to adjust well, if bought at a very young age? Don't stop making other suggestions though

. I also like the argentine boas. How are they? God, soo many snakes out there that I want

.

pathfinder36 · #10 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 07:45 PM

It's not so much that they won't eat. As babies, many people try to feed them like their BCIs. They just can't handle over feeding like BCIs can. Guyanas will regurge at the drop of a hat, so you hav to be very careful with what you feed. BCCs tend to be much more flighty then BCIs. In that, their regurge problems may be partialy attributed to stress, but it's hard to say. I'd stick with your Colombian BCI. They're virtually bullet proof compared to Guyanas. Aside from that, BCIs tend to have a much calmer temperment. They aren't nearly as flighty or nervous.

ChicagoCubs22 · #11 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 07:54 PM

ive had my columbian since she was 4 months old and she's so awsome. She grows like a weed, and eats like a monster. Hasnt ever regurged or rejected a food offering. Columbians are very tame and have good temperments as stated before. being 2 feet shorter then BCC your not really loosing much. Columbians rule! Plus if you shop for a hatchling columbian you could get a lot of cool colored ones for the same price. Mines got pinkish orange and i got her for 75$ a while ago. good deal...lots of fun.

ginevive · #12 (**permalink**) 05-17-2005, 08:08 PM

I have to agree with everyone thus far; a BCI is a great choice. I got mine as a youngster, and he is now roughly 4 feet in length.
Mine has the best appetite of any snake I have ever seen! I feed him f/t rats and I do not even have to bother ehating them up as much as I do for my BPs. The motion and scent alone are enough to get him to eat it within 5 minutes. Great snakes they are!
Heres a pic of Apache after his meal, two weeks ago. Granted, it was a tad too big for what I usually feed him, but he took it and digested it.

Advertisement