Are these two snakes the same?
It certainly can seem like it. But they’re not.
So what are the differences between the boa imperator vs boa constrictor?
Even that is hard to say, because people keep using these names interchangeably. And often completely incorrectly.
But we are going to help you make sense of it today. Because they are different. Keep reading to learn exactly how.
Table of Contents
Boa Constrictor Vs Boa Imperator
Boa constrictor constrictor (B.c. constrictor or BCC) and Boa constrictor imperator (B.c. imperator or BCI) are two popular exotic snake species kept as pets.
The B.c. imperator (BCI) is one of the six sub-species of the boa constrictor. It is also known as the common northern boa. It has a dorsal pattern and coloring similar to the red-tailed boa (BCC), which is why people often mix the two up.
The main difference between the two species is that B.c. constrictors or BCC, are generally larger and more colorful than B.c. imperators (BCI).
Pure blood or true BCCs are considered “genuine” boas. Their tails are more vivid red than BCI’s tails and they are also a lot larger than BCIs. Due to their rarity, they are more expensive to buy and their care is also more stringent than that of boa imperators (BCIs).
Let’s take a closer look at the main differences between BCCs and BCIs.
Size
Boa constrictors are larger than boa imperators. Most grow up to a size of 10 feet, although some species can grow up to 13 feet. On the other hand, boa imperators max out at around 8 to 9 feet.
Habitats And Locations Found
Boa constrictors are native to Central and South America. They can be found in various habitats, like rainforests, open savannas, swamps, wetlands, cultivated fields, deserts, etc.
Boa imperators mainly prefer rainforests because of the humidity. They live in tropical forests with dense vegetation and are found in Mexico, Ecuador, and the Andes Mountains.
Colors And Patterns
Boa constrictors have some of the most unique and beautiful patterns and colors seen in snakes. Based on the habitats they want to camouflage in, you will find them in green, orange, brown, black, tan, or yellow colors.
They may have patterns like ovals, saddles, rosettes, stripes, diamonds, jagged lines, or circles.
Boa imperators are found in shades of red, brown, tan, and black. They have a more consistent and uniform appearance than constrictors. Imperators also have a darker tail than constrictors – typically dark brown or dark red.
As Pets
Boa constrictors are larger than boa imperators, so they need a larger tank, more food, and more careful handling. They also need appropriate humidity and temperature levels.
While most boa constrictors are docile, they need regular handling to keep them tame. Neither of these species are the best pet boas for first-time owners, but they make great pets for those with some experience handling snakes.
True or pure blood BCCs are also more expensive to buy as pets. The rare varieties, like Colombian red tail BCCs, are often sold for thousands of dollars by reputable breeders.
The boa imperator is smaller in size and consequently needs less space and food than the boa constrictor. Imperators also feed on smaller rodents than boa constrictors. Our article detailing what boa constrictors eat has more.
However, you still need to maintain the right temperature and humidity in their enclosure. Being smaller, they may be slightly easier to handle than their larger counterparts. The price of BCIs is generally lower than that of pure-blood BCCs, too.
That said, neither boa species is the best type of snake for beginners. If you’ve never owned a snake before, the ball python might be a better choice. Read our comparison of the boa constrictor vs ball python for more.
Is The Colombian Red Tail Boa A BCI?
Colombian Red Tail Boas are known for their striking appearance, which includes a red or reddish-brown tail. Hence the name Red Tail Boa.
In the past, the Colombian Red Tail was the name used for the Colombian boa constrictor imperator (Colombian B.c.i), and many pet shops still use the same. However, they are not genuine boas, which are known as True Red Tails.
The authentic Colombian red-tail boa constrictor (BCC) or True Red Tail, is extremely popular among reptile enthusiasts and highly desired as a pet.
However, a true red tail boa (BCC) is expensive. In Europe, each one is sold for thousands of Euros. True red-tail boa constrictors are extremely rare in the United States and very few breeders keep them.
Unscrupulous breeders have been interbreeding BCIs with BCCs and selling the progeny as true boas. In reality, there are very few pure-blood, true red tails left. Identification of true boas is also difficult due to such interbreeding.
If you see an advertisement for a common red-tail boa for sale, it is more likely a boa constrictor imperator. Boa constrictor imperators, or BCIs, are more commonly available and less expensive.
Is A Red Tail Boa The Same As A Boa Constrictor?
As mentioned above, most snake keepers or herpetologist-breeders sell BCIs, which are more commonly available and also less expensive. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous breeders market them as true red-tail boas.
But, in reality, they are BCIs, and they do not display the intense and consistent red tail coloring seen in the true Boa constrictor constrictor (BCC) subspecies.
Note that true red-tail BCCs tend to have more striking and consistent red coloring in their tails than other subspecies. For this reason, they are highly sought after by enthusiasts. They are also larger than the Boa constrictor imperator.
What is The Friendliest Boa?
One of the friendliest boa constrictors is the Central American boa, which is an imperator. It is a medium-sized boa that grows to a length of 5 to 8 feet. It comes in various earthy tones and beautiful patterns.
This boa is a great beginner-friendly snake to keep. It is calm and docile and it can tolerate handling well. The Central American boa quickly gets used to human interaction and displays less stress or defensive behaviors than some larger boa species.
What Is The Rarest Boa Snake In The World?
Cropan’s boa (Corallus cropanii) is the rarest in the world. It was first seen and described in 1953, after which it remained absent from documented sightings. By 2011, it was estimated that only five of these boas were alive.
The beautiful boa is only found in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. It has an olive-beige color with dark brown spots from neck to tail. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has classified this boa as endangered because it is only found in one location.
In 2017, a team of researchers photographed the elusive Cropan’s boa (a female). They managed to capture her alive and release her with an implanted radio transmitter. Hopefully, we will get more answers about the possible number of Cropan’s boas alive today and how they survive in the wild.
BCI Vs BCC: Final Thoughts
I hope this article cleared up the confusion surrounding these two snake species. They are very similar, so it is easy to confuse the two. In fact, the imperator was once considered a subspecies of the constrictor. It also doesn’t help that there are so many different species of boas.
But today, it is seen as a separate species of boa. In the end, the main difference between the boa imperator vs boa constrictor for you, if you want to keep one of these snakes as a pet, is the price difference. The imperator costs considerably less.
The reason is that the BCC is quite rare. So much so that many snakes sold as boa constrictor constrictors are actually boa constrictor imperators. So if you see one at a price that is too good to be true, it almost certainly is exactly that.
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