Boa constrictor constrictor
The “true red tail” from Suriname has a very loyal following of devoted keepers. A boa aficionado has their choice of type they would like to keep and many keepers can’t be satisfied with enough different types in their collection. Large Peaks, crimson tails, connected dorsal patterns, lack of speckling, pink saturation, contrast, ladder tails and so many other qualities have been selectively bred for by herpetoculturists. Even a very average imported wild Suriname boa is a very impressive boa that will grab the attention of even those not in love with boas. I tend to favor more wild and natural looking boas from Suriname myself. There are many selectively bred Suriname Boa in culture now and some feel that is a bad thing, that perhaps we are losing our ability to appreciate the wild Suriname Boa. Fortunately outstanding and colorful boa are imported from Suriname each year. More average examples also find their way to the US. With these boa a person truly has their choice of type they would like to own.
While these boas typically get quite large, my female is the offspring of a Mark Damico female who is an ’01 animal and only about 6.5 feet long, a smaller size for a Suriname Boa that is well over ten years old. My female is an ’08 and barely five feet long. Update, she is now over six feet long. She is also rather calm, never posturing or striking at me.
My Suriname boa pair consists of a 2008 female produced by Mark Damico and of a wild caught Suriname that is dripping with red and pink color.
My Mark Damico female:
My very colorful male:
An outstanding import no longer residing in the TC Reptile collection: