0.1 Gray-Calico

As the name suggests, the Haitian boa (Epicrates striatus) is a Caribbean island-boa, which is partially highly endangered in its natural habitats. It´s not only the progress of human-driven urbanization of the islands and the fear of the local people against large snakes, but also because of imported animals. Dogs, cats and especially for the control of rats exposed mongooses make it difficult for the local reptiles to survive. Haitian boas grow slightly over 2 m while the males remain smaller than the females.

This species behaves very relaxed to handling. You can take it without any problems and clean the terrarium. This animals have never attacked my hands!

I take care for a small group of the Haitian boas, including a Gray-Calico female and a spectacular yellow-coloured Calico male. Both animals come from two different litters of unrelated parents; there are probably only a handful of individuals of this morph in the world. These two mutations appear to be located in different gene loci, so that I have bred both Gray-Calico hets and double-hets by now. Offsprings of the male Yellow-Calico show a conspicuous light yellowish drawing under the chin – perhaps a way to clearly identify hets.

The coming years will show what possibilities lie within this breeding project. In any case the babies are growing very well and I hope to decrypt the inheritance of the two calico forms very soon. First offsprings are then offered in the "for sale" category.