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Jeff Ronne, Sr.
Boa constrictors
February 22, 2008

PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at Kingsnake.com, I sincerely wish to thank Jeff Ronne for being our part of our 10th annual Chat Week!

Jeff Ronne, AKA "The Boaphile", is the source for nearly everything we know about breeding Boa Constrictors. Jeff's writings have taken the mystery out of, and detailed nearly every aspect of the entire process. His "tunnel vision" efforts enabled him to observe the many previously undocumented little nuances that are unique to Boa Constrictors.

From the "Pre-Ovulation Swell", to the "Post-Ovulation Shed", to the "Heat Conservation Position", to the "Slow Motion Ovulation", to the "Yolk solidification syndrome", Jeff reveals all. He has always been willing to share what he has both learned himself and learned from others about breeding Boa Constrictors.

His, "I'm nothing special", persona and self deprecating manner make him an approachable regular guy. Jeff will be ready to discuss every aspect of the Boa Constrictor breeding process.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present The Boaphile, Jeff Ronne!

Sooo Jeff would you like to tell us why Boas Rule? ;)

boaphile: Thank you. Good evening Boa Whackos from wherever you are! Ask away... I just hope there are a few questions now...

boaphile: Boas are different from all other snakes and really variable. I just love them.

JungleDancer: sorry... couldn't resist.... seriously, when do you start cycling your boas?

boaphile: Very few. I don't "cycle" my Boas. I just take good care of them and introduce the males sometime between Oct. 1st and December 1st. Then they do their thing. GA

SmallScaleRescue: Do you have any tips on taming boas? they tend to be my more aggressive snake here!

boaphile: Repetition. Always do the exact same thing. I use a Styrofoam stick to touch the Boas upon entering the cages.

SmallScaleRescue: like the pool things?

boaphile: Gentle movements and no rough handling. You could use the "pool thing" if you cut it shorter. That actually would work great!

THESNAKEDEN: Jeff, today's 105 POS for my girl. She will be my first litter. The waxy turd occurred 4 days ago. She's still tightly coiled on the heat. Could I wake up to a surprise or must they start roaming and finding a place to deposit the litter. In other words do I have a few days left if she's not all over the tank??

boaphile: Probably but no guarantee.

THESNAKEDEN: Thanks, I can't wait

boaphile: Sometimes they roam a lot and sometimes they don't. Just keep watching. Generally longer is better.
THESNAKEDEN: Jeff do you have any gravid girls that don't stay coiled up in the HCP

boaphile: Complicated question. Depends on your cage temps.

THESNAKEDEN: My albino female tends to shoot 87 but doesn't stay coiled

boaphile: If you temps are really warm, they won't sit in the HCP a lot. If more like I recommended. They will be in the position.

Cleo_nr: What do you think of vertical caging for boas?

boaphile: You want 89 degrees.

boaphile: Vertical caging? Interesting concept.

Cleo_nr: Something with climbing ability, I was thinking of it, but I also have concerns with my female being too heavy...

boaphile: I have seen it in pet shops and it was used by the Boas I saw. The only problem is it does take up a whole lot of space. If space is not issue, do it! I think it would be great! GA

jeffb: The natural range of the boa constrictor is south & ctrl America stopping almost 100 miles from the US. Why did their range stop? Why are boas not native to the US?

boaphile: The climate is unfriendly to Boas except for a small portion of Florida. That's why Boas have not been established and won't be.

jeffb: The USGS appears to think that the climate is suitable for pythons in those areas based on their climate data. Are their things other than climate that can impact this?

boaphile: The cold weather inevitable anywhere else in the winter time in the US would kill off any roaming Boas trying to survive. I am not sure.

jeffb: OK thanks

boaphile: I don't know much about Pythons you know.

diggy415: I plugged in the UTH and it's been 30min and no heat?? how long do I wait?

Tracy Barker: Just wanted to thank Jeff for all the contributions he has made helping us to learn more about bc.

boaphile: Thanks Tracy. Nice of you to say and it's all great fun for me.

monkee_nr: What exactly is a red tail boa? or is it a generic pet trade term?

boaphile: Trade term used for marketing Boas years ago. Now almost all Boas are refereed to as "Red Tail Boas". The term really has no specific universally accepted definition any more.

monkee_nr: That's kinda what I thought.

THESNAKEDEN: Jeff, what is your min age and weight requirement for breeding?

boaphile: Most but not all. Argentine Boas are never called Red Tails. At least I haven't heard that.

boaphile: I'll breed a male at 16 months if he is willing. For males that usually means at least 36". Females I don't ever try until at least 2.5 years of age.

THESNAKEDEN: I've got a three year old female that is six feet and 9lbs. Is she ready?

boaphile: Most of my females are 5 years old and 5.5' when I first try them. Sometimes I'm in a bigger hurry than others. It's generally better to wait though.

boaphile: That female is ready but will do better if you can wait another year or even two.

THESNAKEDEN: Thanks

Froggydoggy_nr: How do you feel about a columbian as a beginner snake?

boaphile: Perfectamoundoe! Did I spell that right?

PHFaust: I think so

PHFaust: Care to elaborate on any reasoning behind that?

boaphile: A great beginner snake. Especially a baby. With the proper caging, (hint hint) that animal can stay with you for many years and can be kept pretty small as well. My daughter has a 13 or 14 year old female Boa that is less than five feet long.

SmallScaleRescue: What is the suggest min cage size you suggest for single adults?

boaphile: I keep females up to 8' in a 421D cage which is 4 x 2 x 11.5" tall. Bigger than that, and I use a taller cage with a shelf. This enables them to escape a mess if they make one on one or the other level.

Froggydoggy_nr: Is there a major difference with care between the localities? I'm looking at getting my first boa.. I have a ball python right now.

boaphile: For instance Argentines are more cold tolerant but still I have kept them and bred them with no "cycling" whatsoever.

boaphile: I don't think so. Minor differences has been my experience.

THESNAKEDEN: Jeff, getting back to my albino that shoots an 87. I believe her to be gravid. When she's on the heat she could be anywhere between 90-91 off the heat she's 86-87. Is that OK?

boaphile: It could be.

THESNAKEDEN: Also her POs was Jan 7 and she's shedding again. Is that normal??

boaphile: I would like to see her around 88 to 89. You may may not be getting an accurate temperature reading too.

THESNAKEDEN: Or could this be the POs? Maybe sperm retention?

boaphile: It's tough to know if your infrared gun is really accurate or not. I check by checking many thermometers for an average and go with that. An intermediate shed is not an indicator of anything negative.

THESNAKEDEN: 6 weeks later?

boaphile: Sure 6 weeks later is OK.

billowing_nr: I was sold a columbian boa that was het for albino and genetic stripe...what does that mean?

boaphile: It means that it carries the Albino and stripe trait which are both simple recessive.

billowing_nr: Is there anything I could look for to confirm that?

boaphile: You will see Albino babies if you breed that animal with another het for Albino or an Albino and same thing respectively with the stripe gene. You can't see anything to tell for sure. Only breeding trials can confirm.

SmallScaleRescue: What do you see as the single biggest mistake people make with boas?

boaphile: Wow! Good question...

SmallScaleRescue: I'm a rescue gal. I see a lot of different things.

boaphile: I'm not sure. I'll mull on that a bit and maybe have an answer later.

boaphile: Wait, I know... I think assuming Boas are like eggs. We can all time the making of a hard boiled egg correct? Boas are not hard boiled eggs. Profound I know. Most people do not pick up on the signs their Boas give them. The position of an animal can tell you a great deal.

PHFaust: That was something Kevin mentioned last week with the pythons.

boaphile: A Boa that always sits in the same place is doing so likely for a reason. If a Boa is always on the heat, it's not warm enough. If it never goes near the heat, it may be too warm. Watch your Boa and think about what you are seeing. Your Boa will tell you plenty by it's actions if you are careful to observe.

PHFaust: Would you like to comment on on USF&W?

boaphile: That's a large topic.

boaphile: We must all be diligent to follow the recommenced steps. Please let me spell check this later. We can't assume anything and must each do our part to protect our obsession(s) and hobby.

THESNAKEDEN: Jeff what's the percentage of your adult boas that you feel you can reach right in and take out as compared to those demons that you don't want to deal with?

boaphile: Another good question. I would say, after touching with the Styrofoam stick I use, probably 90 % are fine.

THESNAKEDEN: I've got 14 adults and there's two that are absolutely scary. Dread changing and dealing with water and what not.

boaphile: 5% I would still watch and 5% I can't trust at all.

boaphile: Crazy snakes aren't much fun. You have to smarter and faster than they are though

Snakesitter: Hi Jeff, this is Cliff. Good to talk to you again. Is it true that the best way to ensure your boas have a safe, productive, and happy life, as well to make their owners seem taller, smarter, and more attractive to the opposite gender, is to buy a certain brand of cage? Just wondering....

boaphile: Hey SerpentCity is in the house! This fellow is the first one to observe that some Boas ovulate two times. !!!

SerpentCity: Hey Jeff, that was you that suggested the double ov, not me...I think it's really how the female's laying around that makes it LOOK like a double ov...

boaphile: You are right on the money Cliff.

Snakesitter: ;-) OK: What would you regard as the most "intelligent," if you will, species of boa? And why? Any good stories to illustrate?

boaphile: Thanks for the plug but I am so busy now and I can't keep up. Almost...

boaphile: Another tough question. I think older Boas seem to be a whole lot smarter than the young ones. They have seen a lot and take life in stride. Younger ones are more anxious not knowing what's what yet. My oldest Boa is about 25 years old. She may be my smartest. She is a wild caught Bolivian I have had since about 1992.

Snakesitter: Thanks Jeff

SerpentCity: I'm not so sure about a double ov...

boaphile: I am sure that the double ovulation does occur. I have seen what could only be that many times.

SerpentCity: Well you'd definitely know, me not so sure???

boaphile: I would say that most do not give me two obvious ovulations that I have been able to document. But I have seen it enough times to believe it does occur.

SerpentCity: Maybe BPs have clouded my ????

boaphile: There are subtle differences between the pre-ov swell which is often mistaken for an ovulation. But I have seen enough to know an ovulation. Too lengthy to explain here but...
SerpentCity: Well I'm getting back into boas I'm sure you're glad to hear!! LOL

boaphile: href=http://www.boaconstrictor.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8542 I expalin ovulation in great detail at this link.

remreps: Mr. Ronne, when did you get your very fist boa?

boaphile: I got my first boa in 1984. A long time ago for many of you but remreps had his first Boa before I was born in 1958! That makes that Boa and antique I think!

boaphile: I haven't had a new baby Boa born since August of last year!

PHLdyPayne: How come there is such a size difference for red tails... or are the locales really that different in their sizes? I keep hearing boa constrictors or red tails ranging anywhere between 6' to 12' as to max size...or is that strictly a size difference between males and females?

boaphile: Thanks Mr. "G"!

boaphile: In captivity much of the differences we see are environmental. Some are genetically predisposed to stay smaller for sure. The 12' Boa is a very very rare animal. I have never seen one n the flesh myself. The biggest I have seen is just over 10' and I don't want mine to get beyond 8' any more if I can help it.

boaphile: Uh oh Mr. "B" again...

jparker1167: Not sure if anyone asked but how many boas do you keep and do you have other snakes or reptiles

boaphile: I knew someone would ask that.

PHFaust: Jeff and I are going to get retics together in august... SHHHH ;)

boaphile: I don't know. Too many really. Far too many.

jparker1167: cant even guess ? lol

boaphile: I have a Red Foot and a Star tortoise. One Pink tongue skink a dog and four cats. Here is a hint I guess. I had a litter last year from a Monster Tail Hypo bred to a Jungle Boa. 50 babies were produced. I still have all of them! It's a sickness.

PHFaust: LOL

jeffb: Is it true that you have been secretly gathering an army of ball python morphs and one day will rule the world?

boaphile: Did I put Mr. "B" to sleep again?

PHFaust: SNORT

boaphile: LOL

boaphile: I'll never tell... GA

jeffb: thanks for being our guest tonight

jeffb: ;)

boaphile: Thanks for having me.

PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us here at all the kingsnake.com, we want to thank you for taking your time to chat with us. Thank you Jeff!