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Boa
Constrictor
(Boa constrictor constrictor)
Adult Size: 10-12 feet
Lifespan: 25-30 years |
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Did
You Know:
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Although not as massive as
its relative, the Anaconda,
the Boa Constrictor is a big
snake, reaching lengths up
to 10-12 feet and weighing
up to 60 lbs. Females are
larger than males.
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Instead of laying eggs, the
female Boa constrictor gives
birth to live offspring.
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Young boas grow up fast. A
little two ounce 18 inch
hatchling is likely to
triple in
size its first year,
reaching 5-6 feet. The
following year it will tack
on another 3-4
feet. Although growth slows
down after that, boas
continue to increase in size
throughout their lives.
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Only People
With A Lot Of Time, Resources,
And Expertise Are
Suitable Boa
Constrictor Owners
This
beautiful and majestic snake, is
also referred to at the
red-tailed boa constrictor, is
clearly not a pet for everyone.
Aside from being very large, the
boa can also live up to 30
years or more, so it requires a
long-term commitment.
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Things You Should Know About
Boa Constrictors |
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Enclosure:
They Need A
Large, Secure Enclosure: |
A young boa can start
out in a 20-gallon tank,
but the snake will
quickly outgrow these
quarters and require a
more spacious enclosure
that in most cases will
be custom built. For the
health and well-being of
an adult boa, its
enclosure should be at
least 75-85% of the
snake's overall body
length. So a 12' long
boa should have an
enclosure that covers a
minimum of 9 square
feet. Typically, this
would be an enclosure
that measures 6-7' long
by 2-3' wide. A boa's
enclosure should also be
high enough (about 3')
to allow a shelf to be
installed. Porous
material such as
unfinished wood should
be avoided when building
a snake enclosure, since
it is difficult to clean
and can harbor bacteria. |
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Putting Shelves In Their
Enclosure Is A Good
Idea: |
Shelving will give the
boa a chance to climb. A
sturdy shelf also makes
it easier to provide the
boa with a thermal
gradient by having a
heat lamp directed at an
area of the top shelf,
while the lower area of
the enclosure provides a
cooler spot. If you use
climbing branches
instead of shelving,
make sure they are
strong enough to support
the weight of an adult
boa. |
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They
Need A Place Where They
Can Hide: |
Their size and strength
notwithstanding, Boas
will
feel vulnerable in an
enclosure that does not
provide them with secure
hiding areas. A boa's
enclosure should have a minimum of two hiding
areas, one in the
warming area and one in
the cooling area. |
Substrate:
They Do Well
With A Variety Of
Substrates: |
The bottom of a boa's
enclosure can be covered
with a variety of
substrates including
newspaper, butcher's
paper, indoor/outdoor
carpet, mulch, cypress
and fir bark bedding,
and other animal cage
beddings, provided they
do not contain cedar.
The oils in cedar are
toxic to snakes. Sand
should also be avoided.
Any substrate should be
monitored frequently, so
soiled and wet sections
can be removed |
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Temperature:
A Thermal
Gradient Must Be
Maintained For Them:
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The ambient temperature
in a boa's enclosure
must be kept around 85
F. A boa must be
provided with a basking
area in
the 90 F range. At
night, the ambient
temperature can drift
down to the upper 70s or
low 80s. If the
temperature is kept too
low, a boa is liable to
refuse or regurgitate
food, and
develop digestive and
respiratory problems. A
boa's enclosure can be
heated by placing heat
pads under a section of
its base, by using a
large rigid pig blanket,
infrared bulbs or
ceramic heat emitters.
Hot rocks should never
be used, since they can
burn a snake's skin. The
temperature in a boa's
enclosure should be
measured by two
thermometers (one in
the basking area, the
other in the cooling
area) positioned one
inch over the substrate.
A rheostat or thermostat
should be used to
regulate heat. |
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Their
Enclosures Should Be
More Humid During The
Shed Cycle: |
The humidity level in a
boa's enclosure should
be about 60% during
normal times and 70-75%
when the animal is
shedding. A boa's
enclosure should be
humid but not wet. This
can be accomplished by
having a large water
bowl in the enclosure,
misting a cypress mulch
substrate, misting the
snake itself or adding a
humidity box. Many boas
will shed once a month,
if they are well fed.
Others shed every two or
three months. Boas go
through a 4-day pre-shed
period
when their eyes become
cloudy. It's a good idea
to mist a boa daily
during the pre-shed
period and increase this
to 2-3 times a day after
the eyes clear.
Maintaining adequate
humidity levels is
essential to successful
shedding. Boas will also
like to soak themselves
in water. |
Lighting:
They Should
Have Full Spectrum
Lighting: |
Boa
Constrictors should be
exposed to supplemental
UVB light 10-12 hours a
day, using a fluorescent
bulb designed for snake
enclosures. |
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Diet:
They Are Big Eaters: |
Boas are large snakes
with large appetites.
Very young boas
should be given a
pre-killed pinkie feeder
every five days. (Boas
should not be fed more
often to "help" them
grow faster, since this
will only cause medical
problems later in
life.) As the snake
grows it can be given a
pre-killed fuzzy rat
(under 10 days old).
Later as an adult, the
snake can be fed larger
rats and feeder
chickens. An adult boa
should be
fed once every 1-2
weeks. It is better for
a boa's health to be fed
a smaller meal every
week than to gorge on a
large feast every 2-3
weeks. However, the
individual snake's
owner will have to use
common sense and
experience to determine
the diet and feeding
schedule that works best
for the boa as an adult. |
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They Appreciate Privacy
At Mealtime: |
Like a romantic couple;
boas like to dine in a
quiet
dark setting that offers
them privacy. A boa
should not be picked up
for at least 24 hours
after eating. Tongs or
long-handled forceps
should be used to place
a feeder animal (live
or pre-killed) in a
snake's enclosure.
Feeder animals should
never be given by hand.
Snakes identify prey by
scent, and they are
liable to attack a hand
that has the smell of a
feeder animal on it. |
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A
NOTE ABOUT WATER: |
All water given to this
pet for drinking, as
well as water used for
misting,
soaking or
bathing must be free of
chlorine and heavy
metals.
We recommend that you
use bottled drinking
water or bottled natural
spring water and never
untreated tap water.
If tap water
is used, you should treat
it with a dechlorinating
treatment or allow
it to stand for at
least 24 hours
before being introduced
to the pet's
enclosure to allow the
chlorine to escape. Do
not use distilled water,
which can cause severe
medical problems, since
it lacks minerals that
are essential to
important body
functions. |
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They Need Constant
Access To Water: |
A large spill proof
water bowl should be
kept in a
boa's enclosure at all
times. In addition to
providing drinking
water, this will afford
the snake a place to
soak, which is
especially important
during pre-shedding and
shedding
periods. Water should be
checked frequently since
boas will defecate in
it. |
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Bright Idea:
If a boa is
housed in its own room or
walk-in closet, care should be
taken
to make doors and windows escape
proof, since this powerful snake
can
push through these openings.
Boas should never be allowed to
roam free
in a room with people. Although
it tends to be a docile pet, a
boa is also a
wild animal. If it suddenly
feels threatened, or mistakes a
person for
food, it can attack.
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How to Handle A Boa
Constrictor:
Wash your hands before
lifting a snake to remove the
scent of any other animal. If a
Boa
smells another animal on you, it
may regard you as prey. Be calm,
steady and gentle
when approaching a Boa, and
avoid sudden movements that can
surprise the snake and
cause it to react defensively.
Many snake keepers recommend
gently tapping a boa with a
prod to let it know you are
about to pick it up.
Approach the Boa with relaxed
motions, and gently slide your
first hand about one-third
the way down from the head and
the other further down the body.
Hold the snake loosely
and lift slowly. If the boa is
comfortable, it will "grip" you.
Allow the snake as much
freedom of movement in your arms
as possible. You can support the
boa's weight with
your arms and torso, but never
allow it to wrap its coils
around your neck or torso. If
the
snake is startled, it will
naturally tighten its very
powerful grip on you,
potentially
causing serious medical
problems. Some snake keepers
like to throw a towel over the
boa's head before picking up the
snake, believing that this
relaxes the animal.
Never grasp a boa by the neck or
tail tip, or attempt to lift it
from the tail first. Do not
grab or pinch the snake when
carrying it. You should also
never hold a boa or any snake
close to your face or allow it
to wrap itself around your neck.
A snake that is over 7 feet
should never be handled by one
person alone. It is necessary to
have one person handling a snake
for every five feet of body
length.
Although Boas are generally good
natured and passive, they can
become fairly anxious
and aggressive at feeding time.
With this in mind, you should be
careful around this
snake when feeding it. You
should avoid approaching an
adult Boa if you've handled a
feeder animal or if a prey
animal such as a dog, cat, bird,
or rodent is in the area.
Always be aware of a Boa's body
language. A snake with a
flickering tongue that fixes
you in its gaze and approaches
cautiously might very well be
looking for prey. A snake
that hissing or breathing
heavily and is drawn back with
its neck in an S shape is
fearful,
and can strike you in
self-defense. In either case, a
snake exhibiting this body
language
should not be approached.
A snake that has just eaten, is
getting ready to shed or is
actually shedding should not be
handled. Always wash your hands
thoroughly after handling a
snake.
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Bright Idea:
Hide boxes are especially
important for hatchlings and
young snakes who can
become skittish if no such
retreat is available.
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Look Out For This:
Boas are exceedingly strong, so
it's easy for them to knock over
any
furnishings that are placed in
their enclosures. If these
objects land on the
snake, it can result in serious
injuries. The boa's size and
strength also
makes it necessary to ensure
that their enclosures are very
sturdy. This
powerful snake will easily push
through an enclosure lid or
entrance that
isn't properly secured.
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Recommended
Boa Constrictor Supplies:
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Glass or plastic
enclosure with secure
lid for young snakes
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Heat mat
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Heat lamp for basking
area
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Extra sturdy climbing
branches
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Three thermometers
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Substrate
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Two hide boxes
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Spill-resistant water
bowl
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Hygrometer
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Feeder rodents (frozen)
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A rheostat or thermostat
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UVB light source

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