Care Sheet for Rainbow BoasAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 3.17 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 02/25/2005 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Rainbow Boas |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Jeffblair |
Years Experience: | 3 to 5 Years |
Species: | Columbain rainbow boa |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | N/A |
Sexing and Characteristics: | As baby’s they can be nippy but with and lots of handling they will clam down, rainbow boa all not good started snakes |
Mostly Active During: | Day |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Substrates that have been used successfully with rainbow boas include newsprint, paper toweling, repti-bark cyprus mulch, Astroturf , and Dri-dek tiles. Bark or mulch substrates can be misted to keep the humidity high. A humid-box containing damp sphagnum moss will usually be heavily utilized. A large tub of water with a hide box inside will usually be a popular spot too. Cages and substrates should be cleaned often. water bowl big enough to soak in should be provided,cleaned and refilled often |
Lighting and UVB: | As nocturnal animals, rainbow boas probably do not need or benefit from full spectrum lighting. Incandescent lights can be used to help raise temperature, with white light being used during the day and red light at night. The red light will be lower wattage allowing the preferred drop in temperature at night. Red lighting at night has the added advantage of letting the animals movements be seen without disturbing its day/night cycle with bright light. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Columbian rainbow boas like it warm, with NTL in high 70s to 80s and DTH of 90 (total range ~78 to 90F) and an optimal ambient daytime temperature of 83 to 85F. Some winter cooling may be necessary for successful breeding. Extended exposure to temperatures over 90F can kill rainbow boas. |
Heating and Equipment: | Water bowl,hides, no need but can have uv light, Headlamps, and under tank heater |
Caging Provided: | The primary requirements for an enclosure is that it be large enough to provide the snake with exercise and that it retain heat and humidity. Babies do better in a small enclosure. For the first few months babies can be kept in plastic shoe boxes, one snake per box. Holes should be drilled in the sides for ventilation. Paper towels make a good substrate. Young snakes can be moved to a 10 gallon aquarium as they get larger. The size of the water dish should increase as the size of the snake increases, and hide boxes and additional water dishes can be added as cage furniture. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Rainbow boas in captivity eat primarily mice and or small rats. The size of the prey item is determined by the girth of the snake, with the prey being slightly smaller than the widest portion of the snake. It is recommended that only dead food items be offered to prevent injury to the snake. If the snake isn’t hungry, a live mouse wandering around the cage may get bored and start nibbling on the snake |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | |
Maintenance: | N/A |
Some Words on this Species: | Rainbow boas range from 4 to 7 feet in length and can live for 20 years in captivity |
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