Are Red Tail Boas fine for a beginner, despite their size?

[Jolseen]

I've kept a few reptiles in the past and currently owned one, and have cared for a few snakes for friends. However, I have never kept a snake of my own; I've never had to worry about cage set-up and maintenance of the snake- only feeding and handling occasionally.

I talked to a breeder who said, despite the size of red tail boas (boa constrictor imperator) they are docile if handled on a regular basis and would be fine for a beginner who could manage the snake's size.

I'm looking for personal opinion: are red tails fine for someone who has cared for other reptiles in the past, but is looking for a first snake?

 

[Richie_ELP]

In short, yes. BCI are generally even tempered.

 

[pythonloose]

In short, yes. BCI are generally even tempered.

i agree, although theres always exceptions.

 

[chloe]

u can get exceptions with corns and royals too.
id say yep. get a hatchling and grow wth it. awesome snakes.
x

 

[Sylvias]

Yes for temperament and ease of care but no for cage requirements and feeding prices.
If you can provide a large enough cage and afford to feed it the XXL rats or sometimes even rabbits that it will have to eat some day then you are good to go. They are great snakes and generally very calm and relaxed.
You can also look at hog island boas which are very similar but stay a bit smaller if you don't want to be lookin at a potentially 12ft snake

 

[ScatMan]

you might want to look around on craigslist for someone that has a nice one for free or call your local spca, these guys end up being given away a lot!

handle it regularly or else it will very likely become mean, like mine, lol! as stated earlier, there are some animals that are just always mean, so be prepared for that too.

 

[jnk22]

I'm getting two here shortly as with any snake they all have their own personality that's part of the fun but with regular handling you should be just fine, Good luck

 

[Juxtaroberto]

Definitely in terms of temperament. It's not like the emerald tree boas, or white lipped pythons, which bite so often you'd think they think they're venomous. They eat and poop like big dogs, though, and they get pretty big.

Also, there's inclusion body disease to worry about with boas and pythons, would that apply to "ease of care"?

 

[Jolseen]

and why does petco sell their boas for so much?

 

[ScatMan]

^ because they can, they also have way more overhead to pay for than a basement breeder.