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Perhaps the most compelling reason for purchasing a captive-bred baby boa is that by doing so you help to protect the species from being threatened in its own habitat. Buying
an imported boa can support an industry that continues to exploit wildlife for economic gain, contributes to the demise of a number of species, and has the potential to promote the decline of many other species. On the other hand, buying a captive-bred boa helps assure the boa's future in its own natural habitats.
Although captive breeding is now common, each year wild captured and so-called "farm raised" boa constrictors are imported into the United States. For a variety
of reasons, captive-bred boas are superior to these imported boas. First, a boa caught in the wild may have difficulty adapting to life
in captivity. Just as a dog, cat, or other animal caught in the wild would not be likely to make an ideal pet, neither is a wild captured boa likely to make an ideal pet. Because it is unaccustomed to
captivity, the wild-captured boa is likely to experience stress from being caged as well as from being handled by humans. As a result, the boa may be temperamental and refuse to eat. Captive-bred boas,
by contrast, are born into captivity and also are typically conceived from adults who were also captive-born. Consequently, the temperament of captive-bred boas tends to be well-suited to captivity and
handling. Moreover, with captive-breeding you can feel confident that the boas are receiving proper care and that they will be healthy.
So-called "farm raised" baby boas are often
nothing more than babies that are born from females captured in the wild and temporarily brought into captivity to give birth. Unfortunately, there are few if any laws in most countries that require
proper care for animals captured in the wild. Because of the lack of regulation of this industry, pregnant female boas who are captured in the wild may not be fed or treated for internal and external
parasites while waiting to give birth. Once the female's babies are born they are 'harvested' and soon sent out on an arduous journey to the United States or elsewhere. As for the female,
after giving birth she may be returned to the wild, or worse, killed and skinned to make belts, boots, and other snakeskin products. Unfortunately, imported baby boas, whether caught in the wild or born
of a captured female, are likely to spend their vital first weeks in transit during which they are fed sparingly, if at all. In addition, imported baby boas are rarely treated for parasites, injuries,
and bacterial or viral infections brought on by overcrowding and the stress of transit. Ultimately, months may elapse between the time the baby boa is 'harvested' and the time the snake finally
reaches a retailer.
The methods of captive breeding stand in stark contrast to those of importation. In captive breeding both male and female adult snakes are cared for year round. When babies are
born they are immediately put into their own enclosure with clean bedding and fresh water. What's more, the use of feeding charts helps to assure that babies and adults alike are fed adequately and
over appropriate intervals of time. From a simply visual standpoint, the imported baby boa and captive-bred baby boa are likely to look considerably different. An imported baby boa is likely to show the
signs of the stress it must endure to arrive in a retail store--it may appear relatively small and thin when compared to a properly raised captive-bred baby boa. Moreover, captive-bred baby boas tend to
have more attractive patterns and brighter colors than their imported counterparts since the breeder is able to consistently improve the snakes by breeding only the finest adult boas together.
While imported boas may be cheaper for pet retailers than captive-bred boas those savings are often not passed onto to you, the end consumer. Instead, cheaper imported boas often provide a larger profit
margin for pet retailers. Of course, in many cases a retailer him/herself may not be knowingly purchasing imported snakes--s/he may simply be purchasing baby boas at the best available price (which are
often imported boas). It is also important to note that imported boas may also cost you more in the long run since they may harbor harmful parasites, bacteria, or viruses that will require veterinary
care and may also be transmitted to other pets.
If you see a boa in a pet store ask if it is captive-bred and ask to see an invoice indicating that the snake was purchased from a captive breeder
and is not an import. If the retailer is unable to provide documentation which indicates that the snake is from a captive-breeder it probably isn't since most captive-breeders are proud of their work
and indicate that they are selling captive-bred animals on their paperwork.
Finally, if you compare the prices of snakes in a retail pet store with those of a captive-breeder you should find that
the captive breeder offers snakes for prices that are very competitive with those of a retail pet store featuring imported boas. Most of all, be an informed consumer. Don't support importers who
mistreat animals and threaten species with possible extinction. Consider the alternative of supporting captive-breeders who diligently care for their animals from conception to sale.
Sharon Moore
Captive-Breeder and Owner of The Boa Store
* May Be Reprinted Without Restriction
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