Boa constrictor (Boa)

Origin: Tropical rainforest from South America

Length: 1.5 to 4 meters
Age: up to 25 years
The top of the boa is covered with 25 dark bands on a light brown background. Now the boa is widespread and there are many variations in the colors. In addition, there are also many different morhps to be found in captivity.

Care
Experience: Average snake keeper
Food: Live or dead prey.
Adult feeding: Every 7 to 10 days.
Feeding young: Every 6 to 7 days
Water basin: Yes
Change water: 3 times a week

Food
The boa is, just like most constriting snakes, a real huntrr and can live on a rodent diet. There is a choice to offer the prey animals alive or dead, although it is advisable to offer the prey animals dead. It is more practical to offer them dead, because living feed animals can injure your snake. We advise you to provide the feed animals with a pair of tongs and to feed your snake outside the accommodation. This has the advantage that your hand is not associated with food.

If you go for live food, you must supervise it during feeding. If you hold the boa together with other snakes, you will have to take them apart for feeding, because it is still the case that the snakes injure each other while feeding.

In captivity, boas often suffer from obesity, so it is important that your snake regularly and adjust feeding accordingly. Obesity is associated with various other diseases and health problems.

Water
All animals need water and with the boa that is no different story. Now they not only use it for drinking, but they also bathe in it. Therefore, keep in mind that the water bowl is large enough for the snake to be able to lie in with its entire body. The fact that the snake uses its water basin for bathing ensures that the water becomes contaminated faster. Changing the water more often if it is dirty is not bad.

Cleaning
To keep your snake healthy, a hygienic environment is important. To achieve this, the accommodation will have to be cleaned regularly. Cleaning once a week is regular enough. In addition, the entire stay must be cleaned and disinfected a few times a year to prevent the build-up of bacteria.

Handling
To feed the boa and to clean the accommodation your snake will have to be handled. This must of course be done well, so that you and the snake are safe. Handle the snake with a snakehook or lift it with both hands. Do not hang your snake around your neck, because if the snake falls it will soon be wrapped around it. In addition, there are some important things to look out for when using a boa. First make sure that your snake understands that you are going to handle it and move gently when you handle it. Also make sure your hands are washed and do not smell like food. Boas can become large and strong snakes, which can sometimes make handling difficult. Therefore always use a snake of more than 2 meters with several people. An easy rule of thumb is: per person snake handling the snake. Finally, do not handle your snake when it is peeling and do not handle it in the dark.

Housing
Minimum size of stay for 1 snake: 150 x 60 x 100
Lying surface: 1 m2 with at least one raised lounger per snake on which it can lie.
Day temperature: 27-32C
Night temperature: 22-25C
Hours of light: 12 hours
Humidity degree: 60% -85%
Ground cover: Newspapers, bark or peat litter

Interieur
For the layout of the accommodation, a board must be installed at half height (or higher). This is because the boa has the need to climb up, they also need climbing branches. In addition, they like to have a hiding place. An example of this is an inverted plant pot or a stump wood. Keep in mind that the boa cannot get stuck in the hiding place. You can use newspapers, bark or peat as a ground cover.

For the stay there are some extra things to look out for. The snakes, for example, are pretty good at escaping, it will have to be ensured that a lock is placed on the accommodation so that the Boa cannot just open the accommodation. In addition, ventilation is needed to keep the air fresh and it is advisable to set up the stay out of the bright sun and as vibration-free as possible.

There is a variation of subspecies of the Boa. Some species become a lot smaller than the average boa such as the "" Hog Island "" (1.7 meters) and the "" Honduras "" (1.6 meters). A smaller stay can suffice for these types of boas. A stay of 100 x 60 x 100 is enough for such a species. Most species have the same design requirements, but it is always wise to request specific information when purchasing a specific subspecies.

Behaviour
Hunting method: Strangle snake
Lifestyle: Semi-arboreal & night active
Character:The boa is one of the most tame snakes there is, they usually stay calm and will only play when they are really forced into it. This makes them good pets for the novice snake keeper.
Points of attention: The boa is capable of eating prey larger than its head. For a large snake this can even be children and pets. Therefore never leave your snake alone with your children or pets.

Costs and Purchase
Legislation: The boa falls under CITES II, to own this snake you need CITES or transfer papers. You should get this when purchasing.
One-off costs: This includes the costs for accommodation, lighting, heating, water bowl and decoration. This can together cost a few hundred euros to a few thousand euros. The final amount depends on the quality and size of the products.
Fixed costs: Fixed costs include the costs for the feed, this is several tens of euros per year.
Unexpected costs: Costs have been incurred if your snake happens to fall ill or your equipment breaks down.