On the corresponding pages you will find even more additional information on boa constrictor. They are a very curious and generally docile snakes making them great for both display. Theyre quite forgiving of care mistakes in general. Size appropriately sized and shaped habitat for an. Boa constrictors are one of the largest snakes in the world, along with the reticulated python and anaconda. Pet owners should be aware that they grow quickly, reaching six feet in just a few years and growing up to 12 feet long. Gestation for a boa constrictor is between five and eight months. The complete boa constrictor download ebook pdf, epub. A 34yearold man was strangled to death by his 9foot, 25pound pet redtailed boa constrictor while showing the animal to a friend. The boa constrictor boa constrictor, also called the redtailed boa or the common boa, is a species of large, nonvenomous, heavybodied snake that is frequently kept and bred in captivity. Further information is available from your local government office, or by. A boa constrictor will digest their prey over the course of about four to six days.
It really depends on the species you are looking for. Boa constrictor is an exclusively new world species which has the largest distribution of all neotropical boas. The first thing youll want to do if youre considering a pet boa constrictor is to make sure it is legal to own one where you live. When young the boa will be eating frozen mice roughly once a week. Boa constrictors range from northern mexico south through central and south america.
The largest boa constrictor ever found measured 18 feet. The boa constrictor is a prohibited invasive animal under the biosecurity act 2014. Boa constrictor by shel silverstein oh, im being eaten by a boa constrictor a boa constrictor a boa constrictor im being eaten by a boa constrictor and i dont like it one bit. The common boa constrictor boa constrictor is a large snake that can reach lengths of up to 4 m.
Boa and python specialist group newsletter serpens, 71. The red tailed boa constrictor subspecies has become extremely popular in the exotic pet trade, due in part to the vast amounts of color and pattern morphs that breeders are creating. Hunted for their fine, ornate skin and for sale in the exotic pet trade, some boa constrictors have protected status in their range. All private brand products carry a 100% moneyback guarantee. Common boa constrictors are a great pet for intermediate reptile owners. They may be discovered in the wild and brought into the pet trade, created accidentally when someone breeds a pair of boas, or created purposefully when a breeder breeds boas with known morph genes together. Boa constrictor bites are painful bure are unlikely to be dangerous as long as standard medical care is obtained. The boa constrictor is named for its mode of predation. Boa constrictors in captivity download ebook pdf, epub.
Boa constrictors are very powerful and will escape if given the chance, so enclosures must be secure. Redtailed boas require a large area and need consistent interaction with humans to remain tame. Colombian boa constrictor care sheet reptiles magazine. Of course, there are incidents in which a boa causes harm to a human. The bulk of the red tailed boa constrictor s diet consists of rodents, but larger lizards and mammals as big as ocelots are also reported to have been consumed. They ambush their prey, which means that they will hide and wait for something yummy to go by and then do a surprise attack. Boa constrictors article about boa constrictors by the. National biological information infrastructure nbii, felix a. There are natural temperature shifts present in the habitats boa constrictors are native to. Nov 07, 20 small boa constrictors as pets island races of the common boa posted by. Feed juveniles once a week, adults every one to two weeks.
The minimum size is around 10 square feet of floor space for a single snake. With four rows of teeth in the upper jaw and two in the lower, there are well over 100 teeth in the dentition. D and e overview of phenotypic differences between island and. The particular menu items on the left dont need further comment because they are selfexplaining. The ideal enclosure for an adult should be approximately 5 feet in height, 4 feet long and at least 3 feet deep. Like the boa constrictor top, the rainbow boa epicrates cenchria bottom kills its prey by cutting off its captives blood flow, not by suffocating it. You will often see what looks like the stripe on the side of the head continue through the eyes. It is unusual for a species english name to be the same as its scientific name. The international pet trade has turned the common boa constrictor, including its. We are also providing the pet trade industry with the opportunity to act voluntarily within its own industry and in cooperation with the states, the service, and others to address prevention and containment of the boa constrictor as.
Freeranging individuals of several additional species of nonnative giant constrictors which include anacondas, pythons, and boas are regularly discovered in various parts of the united states, including a 95pound boa constrictor recently captured on no name key in the florida keys after being on the loose for several years, the shed skin. Small boa constrictors as pets pet blogs by that fish. The size of the prey increases as the snake gets bigger moving from small mice up through xl mice to rats and eventually a small rabbit. Boa constrictor boa constrictor tweet even when presented with dead prey, a boa constrictor will constrict it before consuming it the boa constrictor or redtailed boa boa constrictor is a. Yet, with their potential for becoming quite large, these snakes are best suited for people who have had some experience keeping similar large animals in the past. Once the prey is dead, the snake swallows it whole. The redtailed boa boa constrictor constrictor is a popular exotic pet. Boa constrictors bear live young about 1 to 2 feet 0. Every animal is different, it is up to you to understand your animals.
A complete boa constrictor care guide snakes for pets. The boa constrictor manual the herpetocultural library. Boa constrictorboa constrictor location and habitat the majority of boa constrictors live in mexico, central america and south america. Their green brown colouration and varied markings provide excellent camouflage. This article answers many of the boa constrictor feeding questions many. Slow moving and of a mild temperament, it is easily tamed. Colombian common boa constrictors are rated among the best of the large pet snakes, being attractive and relatively docile and safe. The boa constrictor imperator subspecies has become extremely popular in the exotic pet trade, due in part to the vast amounts of color and pattern morphs that breeders are creating, as well as their manageable size in comparison to the b.
Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 first edition with your subscription. In this article we will address the basic needs and requirements to successfully keep a pet boa constrictor. This automatically stretches the time between meals. Boa constrictors are excellent escape artists, so the enclosure should be wellsecured with no small openings. A boa constrictor s diet consists of frozen thawed rats, mice and rabbits. The boa constrictors scientific name is boa constrictor. Large captive snakes must always be handled with extreme care, especially when being fed, as a hungry snake strikes and constricts in a largely automatic sequence of behaviors. Boa suffocation is merely myth in november, a live, 2 12footlong rainbow boa constrictor was found on a sidewalk in honolulus chinatown. These constrictor snakes can attain considerable sizes and are very wellknown for being interactive pet snakes. In the wild, prey includes a wide variety of small to mediumsized mammals and birds.
The boa constrictor boa constrictor is a common pet snake of the family boidae. Medium size, even temper, and general ease of care make this snake a logical choice for both beginners and experienced keepers alike. Boa constrictors are one of the hardiest types of pet snake. A good enclosure size for an adult boa constrictor is around 6 to 8 feet long, 2 to 3 feet wide, and 2 to 3 feet tall. Bpsg impact of the pet trade on five species of snakes summary report 2. In south america the range splits along the andes mountains. Although importation for the pet trade involves some risk that these animals.
The boa constrictor is a member of the family boidae, found in tropical north, central, and south america, as well as some islands in the caribbean. Each litter numbers from one to several dozen young. They may also be found on some islands in the caribbean. Colombian boa constrictors make great pets, and they are available in a vast array of appealing color and pattern morphs. The female boa constrictor will generally weigh 10 to 15kg 2233lbs with some specimens achieving weights of up to 27kg 59.
The information on this care sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. They use their flicking tongue to pick up the scent. Pdf on apr 1, 2019, stefan gorzula and others published gorzula, s. Boa constrictor eyes are generally colored to match the color and pattern of the head. Boa constrictor melanogaster does not appear on this list because it was reclassified as boa constrictor constrictor. Though there are many types of boasvarious subspecies, island and other locale types, etc. Three experts discuss the husbandry, breeding and medical problems of these popular snakes. In the wild, boa constrictors can live 20 to 30 years. The snake was ill from a bacterial infection of its mouth, and became aggressive while its owner was bathing it. It is usually found in forested areas, including pine rocklands and tropical hardwood hammocks. The most common parasite is the snake mite ophionyssus natricis. Boa constrictor, boa constrictor spp, captive husbandry, inclusion body disease. The snake can be found in central and south america, and on some islands in the caribbean.
Carnivorous diet of mice, rats, and other mammals decoration. Boa constrictors are able to adjust their hunting behaviors according to the density of possible prey items in their habitat. However, like all other animals, they experience health problems. Boa constrictor pet facts and care guide lovetoknow. Ibd, an epidemic viral disease in captive boas is discussed in great detail. A staple in the pet industry, the boa constrictor can make an excellent choice as a pet snake. Fresh, clean, chlorinefree water should be available at all times in a bowl large enough for your snake to soak in. There are several varieties of boa constrictors found in the pet trade, including redtail boas boa constrictor constrictor and northern boas boa constrictor imperator. Boa constrictor by shel silverstein oh, im being eaten. Boa constrictors are a popular pet snake, partly because of their docile nature but also because of their gorgeous patterns and colors. Read download boa constrictor manual pdf pdf download. Pdf boa constrictor manual download full pdf book download.
Boa constrictors are members of the boidae family of animals. As the climate cools in the winter two things occur. Most of the islanddwelling snakes ill mention below are believed to belong to the boa constrictor subspecies boa constrictor imperator please see photo. Because of this, boa constrictors that are kept as pets are not suggested to be a pet that one keeps lightly as it is a long commitment to make especially because boa constrictors, if released into the wild, can lead to an environmental defect of an invasive species. If you need additional information, refer to the sources section or contact your veterinarian as appropriate.
Boa constrictor care, behavior, enclosures, interaction, feeding, health and myths all included. Unlike many other boids they do not have heatsensitive pits. Farmers keep the snake around their fields and storage sheds to reduce the rodent populations. Captive husbandry and breeding of boa constrictors, boa. Guide to caring for boa constrictors general information boa constrictors are beautifully marked, moderately arboreal snakes. Boa constrictor simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Boa constrictors can grow to lengths of feet and can weigh more than 100 pounds. Instead of injecting poison into its prey, it strikes, grabs and squeezes until the prey is subdued. Still the most popular large snake in the pet world, the boa constrictor of south america is a hardy, beautiful snake that is fairly docile and considered safe when handled properly. Just like any snake, pet boa constrictors sometimes bite their human owners. The color pattern of its skin can vary considerably. Biological and management profiles and an establishment.
Also, because of the larger snakes, their size is more manageable in comparison to even larger snake species, such as anaondas, burmese pythons or reticulated. The colouring tends to vary geographically but they tend to be a snake with brown or red saddles along the dorsum. This population was heavily impacted by collection for the live animal trade from. Generally termed the common or northern boa constrictor, b.
Boa constrictor pet care rainforest adventures zoo. The common name is the same as the scientific name, which is unusual. Small boa constrictors as pets island races of the common boa. The colouring of the boa features a cream, brown or grey base colour. Nov, 2015 boa constrictor sabogae pearl island boa constrictor. Feed in a separate tank so that your snake doesnt associate your hand or the habitat being opened with feeding. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Recently, experienced boa keepers have come to the conclusion that boa constrictors do. Frank indiviglio in reptiles and amphibians in the news, snakes november 7, 20 6 comments 16868 views despite decades in the pet trade, the boa constrictor boa constrictor remains one of the most popular of all reptilian pets. The ultimate boa constrictor care manual a boa constrictor s basic anatomy lets take a look at the anatomy of a boa constrictor.
A listing of the subspecies belonging to the boa genus. Boa constrictors have been a staple in the pet reptile trade. A staple of private collections and public displays, its. Boa constrictor simple english wikipedia, the free. There are six subspecies currently recognized by all herpetologists, including the common boa constrictor, redtailed boa constrictor, clouded boa constrictor, san lucia boa constrictor, shorttailed boa constrictor, and argentine boa constrictor. These snakes are native to parts of north, central, and south america. This species is not native to florida it was introduced as a result of the unethical and illegal release of pet snakes. This family of mediumtolarge snakes is also known simply as the boa family. Boa constrictor imperator global invasive species database gisd.
The snake is found in central and south america, and on some islands in the caribbean. In this article, we will list our most popular pet boas and touch upon what makes each species unique and special. Unlike pythons, the boa constrictor is viviparous, which means they give birth to live snakes rather than laying eggs. To view a current map of all common boa sightings in florida, click the map below. Reptile rapture, 6308 monona dr, monona wi 53716 6082210094.
1448 1359 880 887 604 1222 1487 1261 784 123 550 9 902 224 992 435 1193 167 1493 536 1353 902 1483 726 989 1091 399 401 1360 720 1283 386 978 1465