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PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at kingsnake.com, I'm very pleased to welcome Jeff Ronne to our Ninth Annual Chat Week.

PHFaust: From the mouth of The Boaphile himself: "I have been breeding Boa Constrictors since long before Boas were cool. I have bred and produced babies every year since 1986. In fact in the late 80's and early 90's Boas were near the bottom of nearly all herpers' lists of animals that were cool to work with. Anyhow, I hung in there and NOW Boas are among the most popular of all herps kept today! I didn't get into this to get rich. I began breeding Boas because I have always been fascinated with them. I wanted to specialize in one thing and really loved the Boas. In case a visit to my site didn't make you realize it...I don't take myself too seriously. I do take my animals seriously though. I love these kids!

boaphile: It's my pleasure to be here tonight. These chats are great fun and a good opportunity for me to sort of babble about Boas. What can be better than that right?

PHFaust: Thank you so much for joining us, Jeff, and welcome!

TSUSnakeGuy: Do you think that boas will ever become like ball pythons? I mean in a way where there are so many morphs and begin to cost so much? I think that their size alone will help save them from getting treated like that but what do you think?

boaphile: Good question. I think it will take much much longer due to the fact that Ball are so much more prolific. But we are working on that.

TSUSnakeGuy: Well I just don't want them to get to a point where people treat them as dollar signs also like balls are treated. I love boas to death but I don't want to get to a point where they are going for $30,000 for one that looks slightly different.

boaphile: I think, or I should say I hope, most of the Boa people who are not in it for the love of the animals have already left for the Balls. The Boa whackos that don't have and Balls like me you can be sure are glutons for the humbling experiences that sometimes breeding Boas can be.

DemonFrog: What is a good comfortable size cage for a boa constrictor? What size do you use?

boaphile: I once had a Boa called the Demon Snake!

boaphile: I have about half 421D or 4' x 2'x 11.5" tall cages. This works well for Boas up to 8'

gapnda7: Jeff can you share any info on the Lucy boa project? Is there really one out there?

boaphile: Lucy was a female Pastel I bred for the first time in 1989. She is the producer of the original East Bay Vivarium Red Group animals. I still have many Lucy bloodline animals and het for Albinos from her bloodline as well. A really nice reddish Pastel bloodline.

boaphile: Oh, Lucy as in an all white snake? No comment.

Maximilian: Jeff I read on you web site about a colombian being bcc not bci. I was curious anatomically and physiologically what is the difference between a boa and a python?

boaphile: Boas are cool. Pythons are not. LOL

Maximilian: llmao too

boaphile: Boas give live birth and are primarily New World snakes. Pythons lay eggs. There are exceptions to these rules but that is the basic diff.

UnikHerps_CA_nr: What was your most rewarding experience while you breeding boas? Is there any new information about the Scortia Boa? Will you have any het sharp albinos boas available this year?

boaphile: The litter I had from this girl two years ago. I still have ALL her babies! They are so red!

boaphile: No Sharps I don't think.

UnikHerps_CA_nr: do you plan on working with the Scortia boa in the future?

boaphile: No Scoria for me. No plans to acquire any any time soon. Very cool looking animals though. I am the only one I believe to see all of them in the flesh by the way about a month after the last litter was born.

evertech11: I've heard a lot of numbers being thrown around, how big do Colombian red-tailed boas really get?

boaphile: Very few get over 9'. I have several that are past that length but most are not. I try to keep females under 8' and males under 5' for sure. A 6' female may be the perfect size for breeding.

DemonFrog: Sorry if I should know this, but do you work with other boa species? Things like Kenyans and rough scale sand boas?

Atrayu: Jeff are you ever gonna start working with T+'s and start producing some T+ Motleys,T+ Jungles etc?

boaphile: Just Boa Constrictors of various subspecies and morphs. That's all, oh and rats! GA

DemonFrog: You said no comment on the Lucy, this leads me to believe that you are trying to keep something secret, naturally I need to pry, are you breeding him/her? Is it inheritable?

boaphile: If, and I mean, if I did know something about one, or more, and that was a secret, I would not be a very good secret keeper if I said something here would I? Then again, I could very well just be doing a little shtick. You know having a little fun... LOL GA

TSUSnakeGuy: How large is your collection? Have you ever thought about maybe contacting dirty jobs on discovery channel to come out and spend a day cleaning cages, feeding and maybe see some births or something like that?

boaphile: The collection is too large. The only "Dirty jobs" we have are cleaning rats. Everything else is pure pleasure especially cleaning up fresh baby goo!!!

Maximilian: A friend of mine adopted a boa from a local breeder it was born with no eyes also no red what causes this?

boaphile: I am not sure. I think sometimes a blockage in an eye duct but I am not a Vet. Just speculation.

Kamps: When do you decide to pull your males from the females ? All my males are still aggressively courting, but the females don't seem to be cooperating after five months.

boaphile: As long as courtship is aggressive I leave them in generally. Also a factor is if the female appears to be thicker than normal. It is subjective and tricky to be sure. At some point you have to pull those boys and start back to regular feeding.

Sunshine: If you would/could rate the top 3 Hog Island breeders by the most credible to straight from the bland. You would they Be?

boaphile: I really would not want to leave anyone out. So I am afraid I better not say. I am not as closely connected with the Hogg as I once was either. Sorry for the non-answer.

ChristianC: How is the Boaphile DVD coming along?

boaphile: The DVD is on the back burner. I wish I had more hours in the day. I think about it all the time but can't seem to get people to quit ordering our cages and racks. Keeps me out of trouble I guess.

nickstone: What's the best advice or suggestions you could give to somebody whos about to attempt to breed boas for the first time?

boaphile: Good quesiton. I think the right set up is the most important thing. That can be accomplished with many different cages or tanks. But taking shortcuts or trying to breed in a 60 degree room is not the wisest thing you can do. Good solid husbandry and a great cage are very very important.

nickstone: thanks

boaphile: Something cool to look at while we wait for a question

Atrayu: Are you ever gonna start working with T+ Columbians and maybe start producing some T+ Motleys, Jungles, and may be some T+ Pearlescents?

boaphile: Maybe. It isn't a top priority for me with the Paradigm project now in full swing here. But those are things I would like to make some of one day. One step at a time.

Maximilian: Ok so i tried to count the scale rows on my young colombian red tail about 3 feet anyway halfway down I got dizzy and passed out how do you count them or I just wait till he is bigger?

boaphile: You might get cross eyed doing it. I recommend you do it before your close up vision goes like mine did a few years ago.

evertech11: Did you have any specialized education before you entered herpetoculture? What advice do you have to give to young people who want to end up building their life off of reptiles?

boaphile: Though some say I needed it, I did not take any "special ed" as a kid. No, seriously just the school of hard knocks and a genuine obsession drove me to learn all I could. I made a really nuesance of myself in those early years. Good stuff.

marksherps: Hi Jeff, do you have any plans to write another article for reptiles magazine?

boaphile: Go with what you are genuily intersted in. Going after the dollar for most will result in failure. GA

boaphile: Article? I wish I had more time. I would like to write more as I love to babble Boas and have lots to say as many know. I do not have a specific plan for the next article. Perhaps when those first Lucys pop out I'll need to write another one... Hmmm.

TSUSnakeGuy: How hard is it to probe a 7 foot female, is it possible without pissing her off to much? Also What is the best way to induce breeding? Do you have to cool them down? One more, what is the smallest size a female can be safely bred?

boaphile: That's four questions. If you can have an extra set of hands to restrain the head that's best. I hope someone is spell checking this stuff.

Reptidude_nr: Jeff, Im sorry I made it late this evening..Ive always been a big fan of your pearls, but I was wondering what it took to discover something of this nature? Also, how did you get your start with breeding boas? Also do you make caging for Tarantulas?

boaphile: Feed em and breed em. No cooling is nessesary. I would not try to breed any female less that 5'.

boaphile: We had the first one born in 2000. Just popped up. A very happy day for me but not as happy as when he proved genetic. Started breeding Boas a very long time ago in 1985. I had a BOa and thought it would be cool to make some babies. I didn't know anyone else that had done it and there was no intenet. I sought out a male and the rest is history I suppose. I do have an Aracnid cage. Not on the site yet though. Will be soon.

boaphile: Something else to look at while we wait.

loconorc: Have you ever kept boas in natural or semi-natural set ups? Any tips on that? Also, how long is your biggest boa?

boaphile: No I have not. I talked with a fellow that did so outside in Georgia! That would be great fun but unfortunatly it takes up a whole lot more space. The largest Boa I have ever owned as a female Peruvian Red Tail named Christina. She grew to 11'.

reidness: Jeff, hey its DR. reidness in VA. just wanted to say i love you MAN!! you do remember im your long lost son? I love your cages and i hope your back is holding up!

Kamps: Newspaper vs. aspen in 421d's? less mold with aspen? I remember reading that you brought your garden hose in the basement and really soaked your cages down

bboa: Jeff it looks like you stayed away from the glue fumes today. HOW DO YOU BREED BOAS?

boaphile: LOL to bboa. I use Aspen. The major soaking was a bit of a problem. Too much moisture and my guy who cleans cages almost quite over it. Didn't do that again.

McBrayerReptiles: I have a 10 foot albino female 50 pounds, my male albino has just started courting her, how many babys do you think she could have? this will be her third litter? thanks , LOVE YOUR WORK!

ChristianC: Your photography on the forums is AWESOME! You do a great job of capturing those amazing boas of yours. What gear are you using?

boaphile: I am using a two year old Olympus. WOrks perfectly well for me. Was top of the line in it's time. Not any more though. I also use Photoshop CS2. Thanks very much for the kudos! GA

Combs Reptiles: Have you ever had 2 boas together, never saw anything signifigant take place and still get babies? also, are you a vikings fan, and if so, will they ever make it back to the super bowl in our lifetime?

boaphile: Dr. Combs! I have not had that experience with Boas. I have heard of it but I always seem to see plenty of courship. I have several pairs this year that I wish would give me that experience this year though! LOL The Vikings are too disapointing to follow. No they will never win the World Series but then, what do I know about hockey! LOL GA

PHFaust: On behalf of Kingsnake.com, Jeff B, and myself, I want to take a moment to thank Jeff Ronne for being part of our chat week. Jeff, thanks for taking the time out to chat with us on Boas.

boaphile: Thank you very much! It's been great to participate again and talk shop. Tell Jeff B. Thanks as well. I have to go make my rounds now and see if anyone has ovulated today! Good night all!

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