How can I tell the difference between a BCI and the other?

[pappaleon]

I just bought a RTB and am learning about them as I go. One type (BCI)
is a shorter species if I understand correctly?
How can you tell which is which?
Also if anyone knows I've already fed him 3 times and he hasn't pooped yet? He shed about a week ago but thats it?

[muzixman]

I think you mean BCI (boa constrictor Imperator) which tend to stay smaller 6' to 8' foot average than BCC (boa constrictor constrictor) can get up to 12' plus . as for poo mine dont go sometimes for a month or so.

	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.

[muzixman]

Oh and welcome to RTB

[pappaleon]

Thanks!! your'e right so how can I tell which is which?

[muzixman]

Saddle Shape (BCIs will have saddles that form a nice oval between them wher BCC saddles are widow peaks and form more of a inverted diamond or bat wing between them)
BCIs have 253 ventral scales (or less) and a midbody scale count of 55-79, While BCCs have 234 to 250 ventral scales and a midbody scale count of 89-95
BCIs have 21 or more dorsal blotches (saddles), while BCCs have less than 20 dorsal blotches

	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.

[Kent K25]

Another notable difference is the coloration. BCI tend to have more orange/brown tails with darker bodies. On the other side BCC have red/dark red tails in general and quite frequently have light colored bodies with dark contrasting saddles.

p.s. I edited your post to say BCI rather than MCI for others to know what it was from the title.

	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.

[ChrisBallPython]

Wow, very nice explanation...i know how to differentiate them now. THX, even though this topic isn't my topic.

[SnakePool]

The best way to tell is to buy them as such. Get your animals from a reputable breeder and make sure you get what you pay for.

STOP SUPPORTING PET STORES!!!

[Silvermoonfox]

Hmmm, a pet store that I frequent has there boas classified wrong then. How interesting.

[JuliusSqueezer]

Colors, saddle shapes and saddle counts are a vague indicator but ...many BCI have low saddle counts. Many BCI have some widows peaks. And colors are all over the board on all of them. Also, not all boa constrictors are BCI or BCC. These are just 2 examples of the many different subspecies. Most boas in the US pet trade are BCI...probably 90% or better and most of those are from Colombia. Anything else is mostly kept and bred by the type of people who make people quite aware of what they are purchasing to justify the cost difference. Surely a large pet chain like petco would question why wholesale prices jump from 15-20 dollars for a baby BCI to over 100 or so for a BCC or a BCL or a BCO as would anyone. So it is unlikely you will ever purchase a baby boa from a petstore that is anything other than BCI without it's locale or ssp name mentioned.

To see many examples and descriptions of all the different ssp of Boa constrictors, check out www.boa-constrictor.com . Kromer and Stoeckl have put together a pretty nice site that should answer many of your questions...and probably some you wouldn't think to ask lol.

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor