Epicrates maurus (Bruine regenboog boa)

Origin: Central & South America
Length: 1.5 to 2.2 meters
Age: 15 to 20 years
The body is brown colored and covered with a dark brown circle pattern, with 5 dark brown 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, it is best to see after the moulting. 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: Every 5 to 6 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 brown rainbow boa dead prey. This is because it is more practical and prevents the food from injuring your snake. In addition, it is advised to offer the food animal with a pair of tongs and feed your snake outside the accommodation. This ensures that your hand is not associated with food and prevents you from taking a snake at your hand during feeding. If you go for live food, you must supervise it during feeding. If you hold the brown rainbow boa together with other snakes, you will have to take them apart for feeding, this will prevent the snakes from injuring each other while feeding.

Brown rainbow boas often suffer from obesity in captivity, so it is important that you regularly weigh your snake 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 has become 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 a week is regular enough. In addition, the entire enclosure must be cleaned and disinfected a few times a year to prevent the build-up of bacteria.

Handling
To feed the brown rainbow and to be able to clean the accommodation you will have to use the snake. 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. There are some important things to look out for when handling a brown 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, do not handle your snake when it is peeling and do not handle it in the dark.

Housing
Minimum enclosure 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: 29-32C
Night temperature: 20-23C
Hours of light: 12 hours
Humidity degree: 75% -80%
Ground cover: Newspapers, bark or peat litter
Interieur
The brown rainbow boa needs many different things during its enclosure. 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. The brown rainbow boa spends most of its time on the ground, but will also climb from time to time. To be able to do this, climbing opportunities will have to be offered, in the form of a few climbing branches. Finally, they like to hide and therefore need a hiding place. This can be created by turning over a flowerpot or using an artificial cave.

For the enclosure there are some extra things to pay attention to. The brown rainbow boas, for example, are quite good at escaping, it will have to be ensured that they cannot just open their door. In addition, ventilation is needed to keep the air fresh and it is advisable to set up the enclosure out of the bright sun and as vibration-free as possible.

Behaviour
Hunting method: Constricting snake.
Lifestyle: Terre trial & night active
Character: The Brown rainbow boa is one of the calmer and good-humored rainbow boas, making it easy to tame.
Points of attention: The brown rainbow boa is capable of eating prey larger than its head. For a big boa this can even be children and pets. Therefore never leave your boa alone with your children or pets.

Costs and Purchase
Legislation: The Brown rainbow boa falls under CITES II, to own the 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.