Boa Care and Husbandry ?Keeping Healthy Boas as Pets

     One of the most popular and fascinating exotic pets over recent years has been the boa constrictor. Boa care, though, could prove a strenuous ordeal, unless you are properly equipped and prepared and informed. Here is a boa care sheet which will teach you the basics of husbandry for these magical snakes and allow you to enjoy your pet as a lifelong companion.

Size and longevity: Boa constrictors and other boas are part of the Boidae family of snakes. The Red Tailed Boa (Boa Constrictor Constrictor) and the Common Boa (Boa Constrictor Imperator) are the two most common species available in pet stores. The average lifespan of those two species is twenty to thirty years, thus boa care is a long term commitment. Most boa constrictors grow to around eight to ten feet long and they can weigh twenty to twenty five kilos. Boas are big and powerful animals, so it's very important to be well educated about boa husbandry before committing to the care of one of these magnificent snakes.

Housing requirements: Boa constrictors are often bought as babies, while they are still eighteen to twenty inches at which size they can be housed in a 10 to 20 gallon enclosure. However, an adult specimen will require a vivarium of at least 6 feet in length and 2 feet wide. They are normally terrestrial in nature, but will often climb if given the chance to branches should be provided to make maximum use of the enclosure space. The cage should not be made of unfinished wood or other porous materials with sharp edges, because the boa constrictor can be seriously injured or get sick due to harbour disease. Melamine (a plastic laminated chipboard) or varnished wood is a better option.

Temperature: Proper boa care demands the maintenance of temperature at the most appropriate levels: for the boa constrictor, the daytime temperature should be approximately 85F and night temperature should range between 75F and 80F. These temperatures should maintained on a year round basis except for a cooling off period of around 8 weeks over winter if you are attempting to breed your boas.

Light: As all reptiles, boa constrictors feel much better when living in a 12 hour light period, which needs to be slightly expanded when they are breeding. Ambient light from the glass front of your boa's enclosure is enough to keep them healthy, but some keepers offer additional lighting for display purposes. Care should be taken to ensure that the lighting doesn't adversely affect the temperatures.

Diet: Boas are carniverious, feeding naturally on small mammals and birds. You need to provide them with small mice, rats or even rabbits. Luckily most captive boas can be fed on defrosted rodents which are readily available from reptile stores. Remember to always have fresh and clean water available for them on a daily basis.

While this care sheet gives you a good overview of boa care, if you are seriously considering keeping boas please do some further research. Remember that caring for a large snake that can live upwards of 20 years is a serious commitment. Do some proper research before making a decision, and I hope your boas bring you as much joy as mine.