The general public is more familiar with boa constrictors (Boa Constrictor) than with any other tropical snake. For many first-time snake owners, boa constrictors are the snake of choice. In the late 1960s, as a teenager, I will never forget the day I saw my first exotic reptile offered for sale at a Des Moines, Iowa, pet shop - a 4-foot long boa constrictor. I couldn't believe my eyes! It was beautifully colored in gold and tan with prominent dorsal saddles. Its well-defined head, black vertical pupils and complex colored irises gave it an even more mysterious aura.
That fateful day, I had to have that boa. In the blink of an eye, I laid my money down and became the proud owner of one boa constrictor.
I immediately took it home and provided some temporary housing. I proceeded to build it a large enclosure, complete with a specialized heating system and a sunken pool of water for its drinking and bathing needs. I took enormous pride in showing my boa to my friends and especially in watching it eat. We were always amazed at its capacity to maneuver with extreme dexterity on a taut piece of clothesline.
Perhaps no other event in my life solidified my interest in keeping and displaying reptiles more than acquiring that initial boa. Today, 40 years later, as fate would have it, I am a private breeder specializing in boa constrictors and providing educational presentations throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area.
This article is copyrighted by Reptiles Magazine ©2002 All Rights Reserved.