Rainbow vs BCI

[Caitlin]

I can't possibly improve on the excellent feedback you have gotten so far. I'll just chime in with my personal experience.

I don't have BCI at the moment but had them when I was growing up. I currently have two Boa Sigma (Tarahumara Mountain Boas), which are dwarf locality Boas whose temperament I've found to be very similar to the BCI I had in the past, and two Dumeril's Boas which again are not BCI though similar size and temperament-wise.

I also have a four year old Brazilian Rainbow Boa that I've had since she was just a few weeks old.

The BRB, once I nailed her humidity requirements (meaning at least 85% as an adult and 95% or higher as a hatchling) has been just as easy to keep as my Boas. Great appetite from day one, was never nippy as a baby and has never been nippy as an adult - but I use very specific and very gradual habituation methods with my snakes so they tend to be pretty serene overall.

The BRB is also exquisitely beautiful - she has a deep blue/purple iridescence and her colors and pattern take my breath away. When I see her, that is. She is happiest living her life as a beautiful earthworm and prefers to stay under her deep substrate most of the time. She'll sometimes be out and about late at night, or will VERY occasionally do some cryptic basking (throwing just a coil out) under her UVB lamp. She is quite gentle but it's also clear to me that she is a snake that prefers not to interact with me and would generally rather not be handled. That's fine. I love her and am content to leave her to her own devices even thought that means I almost never see her.

All of the other Boas I have had, including my current crew, have been far more confident and outgoing. Both Tarahumara regularly 'ask' to come out of their enclosures, and spend time on activity stations or in screened portable pet playpens that I use for enrichment. The Dumeril's live up to their label as the 'lap dogs' of snakes and if you ever wanted a snake that's into 'Netflix and chill', I'd recommend a Dumeril's and/or most BCI/Boa Sigma.

I very frequently encounter new keepers who have understandably become enchanted by the beauty of a Brazilian Rainbow Boa and who want one as a pet. I have to say that I just don't recommend them as an 'only' snake, and especially not for someone who wants an interactive snake that may even be interested in engaging with their human.