| One of the most popular and common domestic | | | | as to take advantage from the light color of the tail, |
| snakes lately is the Hog Island Boa. It is found on the | | | | ignoring the vital importance of keeping the snake as |
| Hog islands in Honduras. These snakes are | | | | original and unique as it is. |
| hypomelanistic, which means that they have lower | | | | The care of the Hog Island boa is not at all different |
| levels of melanin in their body and they are less | | | | from the other common boas (boa constrictor |
| vividly colored than most of the other boas. The | | | | imperator). They are relatively easy to care for, if |
| color of their tail ranges from pink to orangey and | | | | you are aware of the particular needs of the species. |
| they have the ability to shift colors depending on the | | | | They are small for boa constrictors, reaching 5-6 feet |
| time of day. During night their color becomes lighter, | | | | the most, which adds to their popularity as pets. |
| while the head and neck becomes almost white. Their | | | | They need temperatures close to 75-90F and they |
| body takes a unique bluish tint. | | | | need to live in a relatively humid environment of |
| The Hog island boa is very common among reptile | | | | around 50 - 60% relative humidity. They are easily |
| lovers and collectors, but wild populations have seen | | | | kept on a diet of defrosted rodents in captivity. As |
| a dramatic fall in recent years. It is actually reported | | | | with all snakes, the size of the prey should not be |
| that the Hog Island Boas have not appeared on the | | | | bigger than the girth of their body. |
| island the last two or three years, and are feared | | | | The Hog boas are quite docile and they are usually |
| extinct, but luckily they are readily bred in captivity. | | | | reluctant to bite. While babies they might tend to be |
| Although some of them might still be free in the wild, | | | | a little nippy, they settle down quickly with regular |
| the importance of taking proper care of the | | | | handling. If you take a proper care of them they |
| domestic ones is significant. It may well be that the | | | | grow up to be really dependable and docile snakes. |
| specimens kept by hobbyists are the only remaining | | | | Hog island boas also experience a slight color change |
| Hog Island Boas, and that in time they could be | | | | as they mature. As babies they are more grayish, |
| reintroduced if captive breeding continues to be | | | | and get their pinkish hues as they grow older. |
| successful. | | | | They are a superb snake, and while not common, |
| Experts also say that it is crucial, for the survival of | | | | they are usually not too difficult to find on the pet |
| the species, to maintain the blood purity of the | | | | trade. They make an excellent 'first boa' or snake for |
| snake. There are numerous reports that some | | | | someone who is daunted by the idea of owning 10 - |
| owners tend to cross them with red tailed boas so | | | | 12 foot snake, or anyone with limited space. |