Care Sheet for BoasAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.00 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 11/16/2006 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Boas |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Munson...the boa |
Years Experience: | 3 to 5 Years |
Species: | Red Tail Boa (BCI) |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | Other Boa Constrictors |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Sexing can be done a few ways:
Visual- You can look at the anal vent of the boa. Male boas will tend to have large claw like spurs that a clearly visible. The female on the other hand will still have spurs, but they are much smaller and harder to see.
Probing- Is the best way to determine the sex of a snake. Females will probe much less the males, only (3-5) scale in, while male probe deeper. |
Mostly Active During: | Night |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Almost any substrate except certain kinds of wood chips and sand are great for your boa, turf, or fake grass is the best and easiest to deal with and can be replaced when soiled. Be sure that your boa also has hide places at either end of the cage so it can feel safe at all times. Rocks and other rough objects can be added to aid the snake in shedding. They don’t really like a lot of decoration so keep it to a minimum. Vines and branches can also be added for climbing.
Fresh water should also be available at all times, and should be changed at least every other day. If you give your snake regular baths, the dish does not have to be large enough for soaking. Be sure to check the water if you boa is soaking in it for mites. |
Lighting and UVB: | These snakes no not require any special lighting. They do however require a day and night simulation so the lights must be turned off at night. I try to keep it even. An infra red light can be used at night and wont bother the snake. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | The temp of the tank is very important when it comes to this snake. They deregulate, meaning, they pick and choose when to go in the tank based on the temp. they want to be at. The basking area should be no hotter than 95 F, and the cool side of the tank should never drop below 80 F. Humidity should be kept around 50% normally and when the snake is shedding, you should use a spray bottle with hot water and mist the tank to raise the humidity to 70%. This will help the snake shed in one complete piece. |
Heating and Equipment: | The best way I have found to heat my tank. (aquarium 55.gal.) is to use a extra heat pad. They do not over heat or crack glass and they keep my hot side at a nice 95 F. That heat also radiates through the rest of the tank and makes the ambient temp. 80 F. on the cool side. Heating lights and ceramic bulbs can also be used to add heat. be sure to keep all HOT bulbs out of the tank as to not burn the snake and to prevent contact. |
Caging Provided: | N/A |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Feeding is important to the health and growth of your boa. I stick to a rodent that’s the same size or a bit bigger than the widest part of the snake. my snake eats 2 adult mice every week (seven days). Unless shes about to shed, in that case eating is best delayed until shed is complete. It is important to also not overfeed your snake, Offering it to much food is not the best thing and will result in early death. RATS are the most nutritious option for your snake and you should switch to rat pups as soon as they reach 3 ft in length. Some snakes have a hard time switching to rats. If this is the case they may need to be coaxed into eating them by feeding a mouse first. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | |
Maintenance: | I find this sake to be very low maintenance, other than cleaning up poop or changing the water, threes not much else to do. Give it baths and handle it and you will have a good friend for a very long time. |
Some Words on this Species: | These snakes ROCK |
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