I took in a BCC a couple of years ago. She was young and neglected and I knew she would grow to a potentially large size. It’s been a while since I’ve weighed or measured her, but I would say she’s somewhere between the 9 to 10 foot mark, and somewhere between 20 to 30 pounds. Unfortunately, I have a muscular skeletal condition that has gotten worse, and I am no longer able to take her on reptile programs to schools as an educational ambassador as it exacerbates my neck pain. She is the nicest, sweetest snake I have ever owned, but I will be rehoming her later this year with a qualified individual.
I was given some consideration to adopting a blue tongue skink, but have decided I want to stick with a boa constrictor. I have absolutely fallen in love with them. I’m don’t know much about rainbows or Dumerils, although I’ve heard that Dumerils have good temperament. I could also go with a dwarf boa. I’m looking for a snake that’s a good larger than a corn snake but not topping out at 10 feet and 30lb. Out of a rainbow boa, Dumerils, or locality BCC/BCI, what would you recommend? Temperament is key.
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I think your standard BCI sounds like a good fit. My boy is 13 and he’s about 7’4”, but still very manageable and docile. If you look into stuff with Sonoran or Nicaraguan lineage, that’d keep them smaller as adults as well. Not to mention the number of different morphs they come in, if that’s something you’re interested in! Otherwise I know longicauda are a smaller locality boa as well, and I find to be quite pretty personally.
Dumerils are pretty awesome and usually chill, though I will say there are exceptions to the rule - I know a guy with a trio of adults where 2 are very ornery/defensive. Rainbows are a touch more difficult husbandry-wise can be similarly snappy, though ultimately each animal will have its own temperament.
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With your medical problem I would not get a Dumeril boa as they get over 8 feet and 30 lbs. I have owned two that where very tame but they would squeeze me very hard just to hold on to me but never in aggressive way.
http://mccarthyboas.com/Dumeril.html
I personally don’t like most dwarf boas. Most of the smaller dwarf type boas are naturally more aggressive, in my experience. So they take a little time to tame down. Most will tame down but I will never trust them 100% like I do with my BCI, BCC and BCA boas.
So I don’t know what locality of dwarf boa would be best for you.
But I am sure someone here that owns them should be able to help with what ones are more docile.
Now Brazilian Rainbow boas should work fine for you. They are very pretty, very manageable size but they are strong. There are also a few morphs to for you to pick from.
Don’t get the Colombian Rainbow boa as they are more aggressive.
http://mccarthyboas.com/BRB.html
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