What kind of boa is this?

[icedtrip]

I bought my first "red-tail" about 5-6 months back from a pet shop in the area that I felt was a good pet shop. I found out later that their snakes were not from breeders, but rather reptile trade shows. To be fair, they never led me to believe they were captive bred, I was just too ignorant to pose the question.
The snake was simply labeled as a "Red Tail Boa." Since then, I have scavenged the internet for boa information and have learned a ton. I also have a friend in another pet shop (didn't know of the pet shop until after my purchase), where I buy my food, that is very knowledgeable on snakes, but there is still one question that I have not asked yet, and it should have been the first.
Is this a BCC or a BCI? I called the shop I made the purchase at and asked what kind of Red-Tail Boa I bought, and all they said was "uuhhmm ... Columbian" (should have expected that!). Now, it very well may be, but I am not very good at determining the type by looking at the markings, etc.
Also, BCC or BCI, what area is this snake from? If it is a BCC, I am leaning towards Brazilian, but if it is a BCI, I am actually leaning towards Columbian. This is simply from photos I have looked at. Thanks for any and all help.

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor Red Tail Boa Constrictor (Boa constictor constrictor). Refers to "true" red tail boas such as the Guyana and Suriname locales.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[Cristina]

i would say bci...but i dont know anything

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[dhonaker]

bci maby a cross but most likeley bci

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[RioBravoReptiles]

That nice boa is Boa constrictor imperator and from what I can see is (at least mostly) a Colombian boa.
.
Congratulations!

[LdyDrgn]

Looks to be a very nice Colombian Bci. Has a very Pastel look to it, too, with the washed out medallions. Nice find. Ought to be a stunning adult.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[smash_57]

Very pretty!!

[icedtrip]

WOW!! I am impressed. I didn't think I would have time to hop on tonight, but got a chance to look for responses.
5 responses in 12 minutes from posting? Nice job guys! Very active crowd here.
I can definitly see the BCI Columbian in him/her (don't know yet) when comparing to other pictures, but how is this determined? The tail not being blood red (slightly orangish tint)? Number of dorsels (?is that the correct term?)? What jumps out as "BCI"? I read something about scale count is the only "real" way to tell. I am thrilled either way, as I don't care BCC or BCI as this is my first, just curious. I am in what you might call the "learning" process for boas trying to fill up on as much knowledge as possible.
Thanks for the help guys!

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor Red Tail Boa Constrictor (Boa constictor constrictor). Refers to "true" red tail boas such as the Guyana and Suriname locales.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[icedtrip]

Well I came home tonight to find that my friend's eyes are clouded over. I'll snap some nice shots of the shiny shiny once the shed is complete.


The posted photo is 4-5 months old, so it is time for updated photos anyway.

[LdyDrgn]

You get to know what you're looking at after a while. Had a guy bring a boa into the herp society meeting some time ago and asked what it was. I told him it was a Bci/Bcc cross. He asked how I could tell. *shrug* I just could. Later found out from the breeder I was right.

Another time we were offered a very nice boa at our local expo. Donnie called me over to look at the nice cross. I told him it wasn't a cross, but a pure Bci. He wasn't so sure... found out again, I was right.

It's hard to explain how to tell the difference. We have a cross here. I'll get pics of him so you can maybe see what I'm talking about...he is a Guyanan x Central American.

*edited to add* Pics:

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.