Red-tail or not?

[PaulieG13]

If you read my "check-in" post, you are aware of how I acquired this adult Boa. I was told that she was a Red-tail Boa. The more pictures I look at and more reading I do, I'm not totally convinced she is a red-tail. Her tail does have pink scales on the underside, but the top of the back two-thirds of her body isn't red as much as it is a bronze or copper color.

Can anybody give me your input on this? I don't care either way (she's beautiful). I just want to know for sure so that I don't sound like a "fool" and also to have an idea just how big she'll get.

thanks



edited for language - QK25

[PaulieG13]

I thought I attached a picture to the message. Images of her are in my user gallery. I'll get better pictures tonight.

[Heidi]

I think your boa (BCI) is going to be one of the controversial ones. In some pictures it looks dark and others it looks lighter. It is not what some technical people call a "red tail boa" in the sense that it is not a BCC. It is all a locality issue. To me it looks like either colombian, central american or a cross between the two. There will probably be opinions expressed as to which one. I have one like that and it depends on who looks at her as to what they think she really is. No need to feel ignorant on this because you'll find that a lot of very knowledgable people will have differing opinions. You know what they say about opinions.....

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

[Milky2005]

It looks like a BCI to me and I think it is a circle back looks of it.

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

[jjmetro]

I would say it is a bci which can be considered a "red tail boa" though it prob is not a bcc. the reason you dont see the brick red is that 1, its older and 2 it is an overall darker coloration. just like skin tone in people, boas can be lighter and darker and whatnot....

	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.

[DannyBoy]

I would also say that it is a BCI, again locality and different shades of the overall color discription is variable from snake to snake. I have a Peruvian that does not have as much red in her tail as do others of similiar size do. As said before shades of color vary, just like our exact skin color does.

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

[PythonGuy24]

Looks a little central american to me just cause the circles. I am pretty sure that it is a BCI cause of the saddles and darkness of it. But it is a beautiful snake.

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

[Dr.Oviparous]

"Red tail" is a common name. Nine times out of ten when someone gets a Red Tail form a pet store, they are getting a BCI (Which stands for Boa Constrictor Imperator, which are usually Colombian, but has a few other localities also). Red Tail is applied to every Boa Constrictor subspecies. Whether it's BCI, BCC, BCL, BCA, BCO... what have you, they are all considered Red Tails. Some people say "True Red Tail" to denote BCC. But, why not just use Scientific? BCC is easier to say than "True Red Tail" and it's specific . There's no mistaking when someone says BCC what they are referring to.

Anyway.. yes, it's a red tail, for sure. Probably a BCI from North Costa Rican decent (that's the locality her coloring suggests to me anyhow. But, like hbwright said about opinions.... )

Very pretty!!! I LOVE the colors!!

	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.

[Dr.Oviparous]

Wait.. I just noticed you said "how I aquired this ADULT boa". This is not an adult; it's going to get bigger. Depending on sex, it could get quite a bit larger.

[PaulieG13]

The previous owners said that she was a Columbian Red Tail. She is about 7 years old, which is why I called her an adult. I know that being female, she has a few more feet to grow now that she will be getting a steady diet.