Epicrates cenchria (Red rainbow boa)

Origin: North of South America

Length: 1.5 to 2.5 meters
Age: 15 to 20 years
The body of the red rainbow boa is colored red-brown and covered with a black circle pattern, with 5 dark stripes on the head. The body is covered with a pearly layer that creates a rainbow glow. This glow can be compared to the shine of gasoline that floats on water and can best be seen after shedding. Hence the name "rainbow boa".

Care
Experience: Average snake keeper
Food: Live or dead prey. Primary prey animals are mice and rats.
Adult feeding: Every 7 to 10 days.
Feeding young: At 6 to 7 days
Water basin: Yes
Change water: 3 times a week
Food
There is a choice to offer the prey animals alive or dead. Although it is advisable to offer your red rainbow boa dead prey. This is because it is more practical and prevents the food animal from injuring your snake. In addition, it is advised to offer the food animal with a pair of tongs and to feed your snake outside the residence. This ensures that your hand is not associated with food and prevents your snake from grasping your hand during feeding. If you go for live food, you must supervise it during feeding. The prey can also injure the snake. If you hold the red rainbow boa together with other snakes, you will have to take them apart for feeding, because it sometimes happens that the snakes injure each other while feeding.

Red rainbow boas often suffer from obesity in captivity, so it is important that your snake regularly and adjust feeding accordingly. Obesity can cause various health problems.

Water
In addition to a source of water, the water basin will also be used as a bath. Therefore, keep in mind that the water bowl is large enough for the snake to be able to lie with its entire body. The fact that the snake uses its water basin for bathing ensures that the water is contaminated faster. Changing the water more often is not a problem if the water gets dirty.

Cleaning
To keep your snake healthy, a hygienic environment is important. To achieve this, the accommodation will have to be cleaned regularly. Cleaning once or twice a week is 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 red rainbow boa and to clean the accommodation your snake will have to be handled. When handling your snake, use a snake hook or lift it with both hands. Do not hang your snake around your neck, this is because if the snake falls it will clamp itself around your neck. In addition, there are some important things to look out for when handeling a red rainbow 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 that your hands are washed and do not smell like food. Lastly, your snake does not handle when it is peeling and do not handle it in the dark.

Housing
Minimum stay for 1 snake : 150 x 60 x 100
Lying surface: 1 m 2 with at least one raised lounger per snake on which the entire snake 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
The red rainbow boa needs many different things during its stay. They really like bathing and need a large water bowl to show this behavior. The water basin must be large enough for the snake to be able to lie with its entire body. In addition, they are real climbers and they like to go up. They must therefore be given the opportunity to do so, in the form of several climbing branches. They also like hiding and to do this they naturally need a hiding place. This can be created by turning over an artificial cave or using an inverted flowerpot with a hole in it.

For the stay there are some extra things to pay attention to. The Red rainbow boas, for example, are quite good at escaping, it will have to be ensured that they cannot just open their door. You can do this by putting a lock on the residence. 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.

Behaviour
Hunting method: Constricting snake
Lifestyle: Semi-arboreal & night-active
Character: The Red rainbow boa is one of the more active and curious rainbow boas, has a calm character and is therefore easy to tame.
Points of attention: The red rainbow 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 Red rainbow 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. 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.