| Boa constrictors are among the most rewarding of all | | | | changed frequently. Boa constrictors will occasionally |
| snakes to keep at pets. While they do reach a | | | | bath, especially when shedding, so a bowl which is |
| substantial size as adults, in general they are easy to | | | | large enough for your boa to coil into is advisable. |
| handle, docile, and a pleasure to keep. | | | | At least 2 hides should also be provided, one at the |
| All boas give birth to live young. New born boa | | | | warmer end of the vivarium, and one cooler. Hides |
| constrictors will be approximately 15 to 20 inches in | | | | can be bark, hollow logs, artificial plastic caves, or |
| length. Adult females can reach 8 - 10 feet, with | | | | even cardboard boxes. |
| exceptionally large specimens being even larger, and | | | | Feeding your boa |
| males tend to be a foot or two shorter and less | | | | Juvenile boas should be fed weekly, larger specimens |
| muscular. While they are a relatively easy snake to | | | | less frequently. A single prey item so larger than the |
| care for, without any hugely demanding | | | | girth of the snake should be offered. Newborns are |
| requirements, they are potentially a dangerous animal | | | | started on pinkie (day old) mice, and work up |
| due to their size. For that reason, adults should only | | | | through small to large mice, rats, and even rabbits for |
| be handled when another person is close to hand, | | | | large adult boas. Most captive bred boas will feed |
| and they should always be given the respect they | | | | happily on frozen and defrosted food. Be careful to |
| deserve. | | | | ensure that prey items are fully defrosted before |
| Boa Constrictor Care | | | | offering them. |
| These snakes are best kept singly, in a glass fronted | | | | Handling your boa |
| vivarium. While youngsters will climb, and therefore | | | | One of the reasons for boa constrictors being so |
| appreciate some height to their enclosure, adults tend | | | | popular is that they are very tolerant of handling. |
| to be quite terrestrial. A floor area of approximately | | | | Young snakes may take a little time to learn that a |
| 5 x 3 foot is adequate for an averagely sized adult. | | | | human hand is not a threat. Give a newly acquired |
| An ambient temperature of approximately 82 - 90 F | | | | snake a few days to settle in to its new home |
| should be maintained through the use of heat mats | | | | before handling. Start by gently holding the snake for |
| and/or bulbs controlled by a thermostat. A thermal | | | | a few minutes at a time. With time your boa will learn |
| gradient is required with a basking area a few | | | | that you are not a threat, and most adults boas are |
| degrees warmer, and a cooler area so that the boa | | | | very docile and will be quite happy for you to handle |
| can thermoregulate. Bulbs, whether ceramic or | | | | them for longer periods. Care of course should be |
| incandescent, should always be protected with a | | | | taken not to allow a large animal to wrap around |
| guard to prevent burns. Since they are mostly | | | | your neck as they are very strong and powerful |
| nocturnal animals, no special lighting is required. | | | | constrictors. Always have another person close by |
| The floor of the vivarium can be covered with | | | | when handling a large snake. |
| newspaper, paper towels, or bark/wood chippings. | | | | Boa constrictors can live for 20 - 30 years in captivity |
| While a natural substrate such as bark looks nice, it | | | | so please do some research before buying a boa. |
| can be harder to keep clean so paper towels are | | | | Learn about their habits and requirements before |
| advisable particularly for juveniles. Care should also be | | | | making a commitment to care for an animal for such |
| taken when using loose substrates that they are not | | | | a long time, but if you do decide to keep boas you |
| ingested with prey items. | | | | will find them a fascinating and rewarding snake to |
| A water bowl should be provided at all times, and | | | | care for. |