| Viper Boas are a wonderful species of snake to look | | | | provide plenty of cover and hiding areas. A hiding |
| at. They are very robust, with tough 'keeled' scales | | | | place can be anything from a tupperware box with a |
| and an arrow like head. They are usually a fairly dull | | | | hole cut out to a naturalistic piece of cork bark. |
| brown, although can be a wonderful bright red or | | | | There are many brands of fake plants and |
| orange. They do however, change colour with | | | | décor you can use which is both safe for the |
| seasons, temperature and perhaps mood changes. I | | | | animal and pleasing to the eye. Cork bark is available |
| have had wonderful orangey specimens turn a dark | | | | from almost any reptile pet shop in the UK, and can |
| brown with time. Nearly all Viper Boas are wild | | | | be ordered in if they do not have it in stock. This is |
| caught, in fact, I have not heard of any successful | | | | excellent cover for any reptile and is 100% natural. |
| breeder who has bred and reared these. Gravid | | | | One thing you must consider when thinking about the |
| (pregnant) females are often imported and have their | | | | size of the vivarium, is the bigger you go, the more |
| young in captivity. However, most of these die within | | | | hiding areas you must provide. I recommend at least |
| 6 months for little or no apparent reason. In time, we | | | | one hiding place per foot in length of the enclosure. |
| can hopefully learn more about this species and | | | | NOTE: Never use sticky tape in an enclosure; this is |
| successfully reproduce it in captivity. Viper Boas are | | | | an accident waiting to happen. Believe me; removing |
| fairly calm snakes, but when handled incorrectly can | | | | sticky tape from any snake is no easy task! |
| swipe from side to side with lighting speed. Although | | | | Heating |
| they are non-venomous, they have quite a nasty | | | | Viper Boas are found on dense forest floors and are |
| bite. Adult females can reach 80cm; males are less | | | | exposed to a fairly constant air temperature. They |
| than half the size. | | | | do not bask in the sun and so it is not as important |
| Housing | | | | to provide them with a dedicated hot spot. Instead, |
| When keeping any snake as a pet, you generally | | | | having a fairly constant air temperature of |
| want to be able to view the snake from the outside | | | | 85-90ºF during the day and 80-85ºF |
| of its enclosure, in the most natural surroundings you | | | | during the night is fine. A large water bowl should be |
| can offer. This will be more aesthetically pleasing and | | | | offered for the snake to fully submerge if required. If |
| also aid in the general condition of the snake. If the | | | | your viper boa does this constantly, the vivarium is |
| snake likes its surroundings, it will have a better | | | | most probably too hot and should be cooled down |
| feeding response and generally grow quicker. A larger | | | | slightly. |
| vivarium also offers more interest to the snake's life, | | | | In my opinion, the ideal way of heating a Viper Boa's |
| and by adding branches and other natural products | | | | enclosure is to use a power plate. This is a small thin |
| you will enhance the quality of life the snake has, and | | | | square plate, about 25mm thick which is screwed into |
| stop it from becoming lethargic and overweight. Also, | | | | the top of the vivarium. It does not need to be |
| being stronger it should have more of a resistance to | | | | protected, as there is no way a snake can grip onto |
| any viral infections or any other problems that it may | | | | it. It is almost invisible to the eye as it simply sits on |
| encounter later in life. | | | | the ceiling of the vivarium. The only brand available in |
| For an adult Viper Boa, a vivarium 60cm Length x | | | | the UK is HabiStat Reptile Radiator; it is 75 Watts and |
| 45cm Width x 45cm Height is ample. This is a timid | | | | is sufficient for any vivarium up to 4ft long and |
| species; many specimens when bought into captivity | | | | possibly larger. It produces no light and therefore in a |
| can go for many months without feeding. It is | | | | vivarium you will need a form of lighting as well. A |
| important that this transitional period is as stress-free | | | | power plate should be used in conjunction with a |
| as possible. A small, confined enclosure with no added | | | | HabiStat Pulse Proportional Thermostat, which will |
| lighting, away from human 'traffic' may be needed. | | | | stop the power reaching the power plate as soon as |
| Once the boa is feeding on a regular basis, a larger | | | | the temperature goes above the setting, and turn |
| vivarium with lighting may be offered. | | | | back on as soon as it is too cool. This is one of the |
| Snake enclosures can be made from a number of | | | | most accurate thermostats on the market today. |
| materials. Most commonly used is a melamine coated | | | | Ceramic heaters, spot bulbs and heat mats are also |
| wood which covers all sides except the front, which | | | | ways of heating a vivarium. These all have their |
| has glass sliding doors. Aquariums can also be used | | | | advantages and disadvantages, but in my opinion, |
| for Viper Boas, although a specialist lid should be | | | | none quite weigh out to be as good as a power |
| bought or made rather than the original aquarium lid. | | | | plate. |
| It is essential when thinking about what type of | | | | Lighting |
| enclosure you use, you think about these 6 'SSSHHH' | | | | Viper Boas are primarily nocturnal, meaning they |
| factors: | | | | venture out in the dark of night. This is when their |
| 1) Safety - Can the snake or owner injure itself from | | | | main predators are sleeping, and their prey is awake. |
| the enclosure or any appliances held within? | | | | Lighting for this species is not important. However, |
| 2) Secure - Can the snake escape through any small | | | | having artificial light in a vivarium is aesthetically |
| hole or cavity? | | | | pleasing to the owner, and is a good addition to a |
| 3) Size - Will the enclosure be appropriately sized? | | | | snake's enclosure. They will use this as a |
| 4) Heating - Is the enclosure able to regulate the | | | | photo-period, and their regular time clock will generally |
| temperature properly? | | | | adjust to the settings on which you have your light |
| 5) Humidity - Will the enclosure last well in humid | | | | set to. |
| conditions? Is there enough ventilation for the | | | | They do not require any form of special lighting, such |
| moisture to escape? | | | | as a D3 Ultra-Violet light commonly used for diurnal |
| 6) Hygienic - Will the enclosure build up a lot of | | | | species. An Arcadia Natural Sunlight Fluorescent Lamp |
| bacteria in small cavities? Is it easy to clean? | | | | is a good form of lighting. This comes in lengths of |
| By following the steps above, you can have a | | | | 12" up to 48" and I suggest you use the largest size |
| suitable enclosure made from a variety of materials. | | | | able to fit inside your vivarium. |
| Décor | | | | Humidity |
| Décor in your tank serves two purposes. First | | | | Viper Boas occur over much of New Guinea and |
| being extra cover for your snake and second, | | | | surrounding Islands and therefore are exposed to a |
| allowing for a more natural and pleasing appearance. | | | | high humidity. This should be replicated in captivity to |
| When choosing décor, think about the safety | | | | aid to the general health and well-being of your |
| of the snake. Make sure that whatever you decide | | | | snake. A 80-90% humidity range will allow to snake |
| to use, it is securely fixed and that no rocks, wood | | | | to slough it's skin properly and become less prone to |
| or anything heavy can fall and possibly injure, or even | | | | any problems such as respiratory infections. |
| kill the snake. You must also make sure that | | | | Feeding |
| everything used is parasite free. If anything has been | | | | Juveniles or males should be offered fuzzy or small |
| picked up from outside, or has originally come from | | | | mice, and as they grow the mice or rats should |
| outside, such as cork bark, you should either boil it, | | | | become larger. An adult female viper boa should be |
| or place the item in the oven at 200 degrees | | | | fed on weaner rats. One of these every 2 weeks is |
| Fahrenheit for approximately 30 minutes. Freezing | | | | ample. An adult male may take fuzzy rats or large |
| works for some parasites, however others have | | | | mice. Juveniles should be fed on a regular basis, |
| been known to survive months in freezing conditions. | | | | every 7 days is ideal. Their metabolic rate is higher |
| Some parasites found in English conditions last winters | | | | than adults and as they are growing, they need a lot |
| in minus temperatures, so it is not entirely effective. | | | | more food to keep them going. Viper Boas have a |
| Once all your décor is parasite free, it is then | | | | low metabolism compared to many snakes, they |
| safe to place inside your enclosure. As a general rule, | | | | move very little and do not require the same |
| if you can put pressure on an item to knock it down, | | | | quantity of food that many other species do. Snakes |
| a Viper Boa is certainly capable of doing so. When | | | | have the capability of building up a huge fat reserve, |
| positioning rocks or heavy objects, make sure they | | | | and become obese very easily. Taking the weight off |
| are completely secure. If it is still uneasy, screw them | | | | however, is a much more difficult task. Obese snakes |
| or use superglue to fix them securely. If it is not | | | | will not live nearly the length as a healthy snake |
| possible, the rule is simple: Do not place the item in | | | | would due to liver and kidney problems. If you are |
| the vivarium! | | | | unsure about your snake's weight, check with a |
| If you decide to go for a larger enclosure, you must | | | | reptile veterinarian. |