My new girl and ?'s

[JHMills]

Hi all! I have a few questions about my new girl. She is 4years old in November, 6.5-7' long, and 11.6#. Is this a good size for her? I believe it is but I don't have any experience with boas with the exception of another 1.5yo female I bought about 6 months ago. What sub-species is she? BCI, BCC, or ??? Is she a morph? I think she meets all the requirements of a pastel. However she is just stunning and I think there may be a chance something more is going on. Any comments would be greatly appreciated!

She shed today and so I got my b/f to hold her while I took a few pics. Hope they show enough detail.

 

[evilcowboy420]

Looks like a good size to me for a 4 year old.

As for BCI and BCC the only real way of telling is scale count. But you could also use dorsal saddle count. BCC have less than BCI's Something like 18 to 21 for BCC and over 24 for BCIs but dont quote me on those numbers.

If she is a BCC then expect her to get to be quite large from what I have read. I am just regurgitating what I have read from more knowledgeable people than me.

Alsp if you decide to do a scale count you will have to look the numbers up it is somewhere in the upper 200's but I can't remember and the count ends at the vent scale.

 

[JHMills]

Hm... Is it the belly scales that are counted or total scale period? LOL If its total, I think I'll never know!

 

[evilcowboy420]

Just the belly scales. But like I said counting dorsal saddles is a quick way of trying to determine. So you could just give those a count to get a base. I know that counting belly scales can be a pain to count on a moving snake.

Here is some information below to tell the difference. But I have heard the most reliable is the ventral scale count.

B.C.C:
234 to 250 Ventral scales
89 to 95 Mid-body scale rows
43 to 62 Caudal Plates
20 to 25 Supra-labials
16 to 20 Circum-orbitals
2 to 3 Lori-Labial rows

B.C.I
Less then 253 Ventral scales
55 to 79 Mid-body scale rows
Exception to this:
The Columbian BCI can have a slightly higher mid-body scale count of 80 to 84
47 to 70 Caudal Plates
17 to 23 Supra-labials
14 to 20 Circum-orbitals
1 to 2 Lori-Labial rows

 

[evilcowboy420]

Also forgot to add the numbers on those dorsal spots are

14-22 BCC

and

22-30 BCI

 

[JHMills]

Thanks again!!!

The ventral scales have about the same count though... One is 234 - 250 and the other <253. I don't understand how you could determine which is which. I'll try to count saddles and maybe the Supra-labials or Lori-Labial(once I figure out which these are).

 

[Jt80]

Appears to be a BCI.

 

[Jt80]

Also, I believe I have read that counting scales can be wrong. Only way to know for certain is to know where the snake came from.

Pretty girl!

 

[JHMills]

So far she has been great! Trying to decide if we should keep her. We are more into balls. She's just too sweet though! I know I'll never know where she originated from. A kid in a city about an hour away had her and all he could tell me is "she's a redtail".

Thanks for the input!!!

 

[Lee Herps]

looks like a beautiful pastel BCI to me. Nice catch!

 

[JHMills]

Thanks!