Boa Constrictor
(Boa constrictor)

Boa constrictors originally range from Mexico to South America, but are now one of the most common snakes found in the pet industry, however new owners should be sure they know what they are getting themselves into. The boa constrictor can reach lengths of 8 to 12 feet and can weigh 30 to 60 pounds when full grown. For those hobbysts that are comfortable with a bit of a larger snake, the boa constrictor is a great choice. There are several color morphs available in many fantasic colors and patterns. The typical boa constrictor is brown or grey with darker saddle-like patterns running the length of the body to a red tail. As your hantchling boa ages, don't be suprised if the colors dim slightly.

Difficulty

MODERATE: While most boa constrictors are not aggressive, their larger size and caging requirements do not make them an ideal choice for the novice hobbyist.

Requirements

An enclosure, such as:

• Glass or acrylic aquarium (20 gallons or more, depending on the size of the boa constrictor) with a secure lid with clamps
• Custom constructed caging

Substrate, such as:

• Aspen wood shavings
• Indoor/outdoor carpeting
• Newspaper

A heating element, such as:

• Under the tank heater
• Incandescent heat bulb
• Ceramic infrared heat emitters

Enclosure

The size of the enclosure you will need for your boa constrictor depends on the size of the snake. Young hatchling boa constrictors will often be timid and scared in too large of an enclosure while adult boa constrictors will need a larger enclosure to move around in and feel more comfortable. For younger, smaller boa constrictors, you can use a 20 gallon aquarium. Adult boa constrictors should be housed in a larger enclosure. Typically an adult boa will be comfortible in an enclosure eight feet long, two to three feet wide, and four feet tall. If you are constructing your own enclosure, try not to use unfinished wood as it is harder to clean and can harbour disease. Pressure treated lumber should also be avoided due to the chemicals used.

It is also important to provide your boa constrictor with an area to hide. There are many comercially available caves that can be purchased from your favorite pet supply store, or you can use things like flower pots, plastic containers, or just about anything that is big enough for your boa constrictor to completely crawl into and can provide a dark place to hide. Many hobbyists also like to decorate their enclosure with drift wood and other decoration. The choices are limitless and you can make your enclosure as sparse or as ornate as you wish, depending on your own desires.

Always remember that boa constrictors, like all snakes are escape artists. They will always test your enclosure to see if they can get out. For this reason, you will always want to make sure that your enclosure has a secure lid that the snake can not push open. If using an aquarium, be sure to use a screen top with enough clamps to prevent the boa constrictor from pushing open the top. If making your own enclosure, be sure that all access doors are secured with some kind of latch and can not be pushed open easily from the inside.

Substrate

The substrate or bedding that you use is one of the most important parts of your boa constrictor's home, since your snake will be spending all of its time on it. Some of the best substrate is folded newspaper. While it is not the most visually appealing option, it is one of the easiest and cleanest. Indoor/Outdoor carpeting can also be used as an effective substrate for your snake. Be sure to have at least two identical pieces so that you can simply place the clean piece of carpeting in the enclosure while you rinse and disenfect the soiled piece. You can then allow the newly cleaned piece of carpeting to dry for the next days use. It's important to note that you should always completely rinse the carpet after cleaning it to be sure there is no residual chemicals remaining on the carpet that could irritate your boa constrictor. Aspen wood shavings provide an excellent, absorbent choice for your boa as well. Be sure to stay away from cedar or pine shavings as these can cause health problems for your boa constrictor.

Heating and Light

Boa constrictors like an ambient daytime temperature of 80°F to 85°F with nighttime temperatures of 75°F to 80°F. A basking spot of 90°F to 95°F should be provided during the day. These temperatures can be achieved by using under the tank heaters, incadescent basking bulbs, or ceramic emitters. We recommend using a timer to automatically turn off your daytime heating and lighting elements at night. It's important to check these temperatures regularly with a thermometer. Many hobbyists will install thermometers or thermostats in the enclsosure to be able to accurately maintain these temperatures. We do not recommend the use of any kind of heat rocks as they can often lead to burns on your boa constrictor.

Diet

Boa constrictors can be fed rodents their entire lives. Hatchling boa constrictors will need to be fed fuzzie mice, while adult boa constrictors can be fed up to three large adult rats or a small rabbit. It's important that you feed the appropriate sized mouse to your boa constrictor. If the mouse or rat is too small, it may not be getting all the nutrtion that it needs, if it is too large it may spit the mouse or rat back up. A good rule to follow is to feed prey that is about 1½ times the size of the largest portion of your boa constrictor's body. Generally your snake will only need to eat about once a week, but younger boa constrictors may need to be fed more often. Your boas's appetite may also decrease in the winter months. As long as your snake still has good muscle tone, this is usually not anything to worry about. Fresh water should be provided at all times.

When feeding your boa constrictor, it is important that you feed it seperately from other snakes and in an area of the enclosure that is free from smaller wood shavings or other small items that could be inadvertently ingested with the food. We also find that thawed, pre-killed frozen rodents to provide the safest food source. Live rodents can injur your boa constrictor during feeding. The freezing process will also kill most parasites that the prey may be carrying. Most boa constrictors will easily take to the thawed prey with little effort.