This population was heavily impacted by collection for the live animal trade from. Colombian boa constrictor care sheet reptiles magazine. Captive husbandry and breeding of boa constrictors, boa. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 first edition with your subscription. They are a very curious and generally docile snakes making them great for both display. These constrictor snakes can attain considerable sizes and are very wellknown for being interactive pet snakes. Bpsg impact of the pet trade on five species of snakes summary report 2. The ultimate boa constrictor care manual a boa constrictor s basic anatomy lets take a look at the anatomy of a boa constrictor. The minimum size is around 10 square feet of floor space for a single snake.
Fresh, clean, chlorinefree water should be available at all times in a bowl large enough for your snake to soak in. Boa constrictors are one of the largest snakes in the world, along with the reticulated python and anaconda. Recently, experienced boa keepers have come to the conclusion that boa constrictors do. A complete boa constrictor care guide snakes for pets. Although importation for the pet trade involves some risk that these animals. Ibd, an epidemic viral disease in captive boas is discussed in great detail. In south america the range splits along the andes mountains.
The boa constrictor manual the herpetocultural library. Nov 07, 20 small boa constrictors as pets island races of the common boa posted by. 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. Boa constrictor simple english wikipedia, the free. Boa constrictors in captivity download ebook pdf, epub. Three experts discuss the husbandry, breeding and medical problems of these popular snakes. The boa constrictors scientific name is boa constrictor. Just like any snake, pet boa constrictors sometimes bite their human owners. This family of mediumtolarge snakes is also known simply as the boa family. 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.
Small boa constrictors as pets pet blogs by that fish. Hunted for their fine, ornate skin and for sale in the exotic pet trade, some boa constrictors have protected status in their range. This species is not native to florida it was introduced as a result of the unethical and illegal release of pet snakes. Their care is fairly similar, and they tend to do well in captivity. However, like all other animals, they experience health problems. With four rows of teeth in the upper jaw and two in the lower, there are well over 100 teeth in the dentition. Slow moving and of a mild temperament, it is easily tamed. Boa constrictors are a popular pet snake, partly because of their docile nature but also because of their gorgeous patterns and colors. The largest boa constrictor ever found measured 18 feet. In the wild, prey includes a wide variety of small to mediumsized mammals and birds. The information on this care sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. Boa constrictor is an exclusively new world species which has the largest distribution of all neotropical boas.
Farmers keep the snake around their fields and storage sheds to reduce the rodent populations. Further information is available from your local government office, or by. Boa constrictor pet facts and care guide lovetoknow. 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. A 34yearold man was strangled to death by his 9foot, 25pound pet redtailed boa constrictor while showing the animal to a friend. Every animal is different, it is up to you to understand your animals. They may also be found on some islands in the caribbean.
The common name is the same as the scientific name, which is unusual. Boa constrictors range from northern mexico south through central and south america. These snakes are native to parts of north, central, and south america. Apr 08, 2020 slow moving and of a mild temperament, it is easily tamed. National biological information infrastructure nbii, felix a. A staple in the pet industry, the boa constrictor can make an excellent choice as a pet snake. Boa constrictors are able to adjust their hunting behaviors according to the density of possible prey items in their habitat. It is usually found in forested areas, including pine rocklands and tropical hardwood hammocks. It really depends on the species you are looking for. The ideal enclosure for an adult should be approximately 5 feet in height, 4 feet long and at least 3 feet deep. Pet owners should be aware that they grow quickly, reaching six feet in just a few years and growing up to 12 feet long.
Boa constrictor melanogaster does not appear on this list because it was reclassified as boa constrictor constrictor. 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. Boa constrictor eyes are generally colored to match the color and pattern of the head. Boa constrictor imperator global invasive species database gisd. Unlike many other boids they do not have heatsensitive pits. Though there are many types of boasvarious subspecies, island and other locale types, etc. They use their flicking tongue to pick up the scent. The snake can be found in central and south america, and on some islands in the caribbean. On the corresponding pages you will find even more additional information on boa constrictor. This article answers many of the boa constrictor feeding questions many. Their green brown colouration and varied markings provide excellent camouflage. 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. Reptile rapture, 6308 monona dr, monona wi 53716 6082210094. Boa constrictors bear live young about 1 to 2 feet 0.
If you need additional information, refer to the sources section or contact your veterinarian as appropriate. 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. 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. Boa taxonomy and terminology has always been a work in progress to say the least. Once the prey is dead, the snake swallows it whole. The international pet trade has turned the common boa constrictor, including its.
Redtailed boas require a large area and need consistent interaction with humans to remain tame. Theyre quite forgiving of care mistakes in general. Colombian boa constrictors make great pets, and they are available in a vast array of appealing color and pattern morphs. Boa morphs are unusually colored or patterned boas, and they may result in a number of ways. 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. 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.
Boa suffocation is merely myth in november, a live, 2 12footlong rainbow boa constrictor was found on a sidewalk in honolulus chinatown. Feed juveniles once a week, adults every one to two weeks. Instead of injecting poison into its prey, it strikes, grabs and squeezes until the prey is subdued. Boa constrictors are very powerful and will escape if given the chance, so enclosures must be secure. Each litter numbers from one to several dozen young. The female boa constrictor will generally weigh 10 to 15kg 2233lbs with some specimens achieving weights of up to 27kg 59. 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.
In this article we will address the basic needs and requirements to successfully keep a pet boa constrictor. 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. 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. The most common parasite is the snake mite ophionyssus natricis. They ambush their prey, which means that they will hide and wait for something yummy to go by and then do a surprise attack. Most of the islanddwelling snakes ill mention below are believed to belong to the boa constrictor subspecies boa constrictor imperator please see photo. Carnivorous diet of mice, rats, and other mammals decoration. Boa constrictors are endangered and powerful snakes that wrap themselves around animals and squeeze them tight, preventing the creatures from breathing and eventually killing them.
The boa constrictor is a prohibited invasive animal under the biosecurity act 2014. 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. Nov, 2015 boa constrictor sabogae pearl island boa constrictor. Boa and python specialist group newsletter serpens, 71. 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. The colouring tends to vary geographically but they tend to be a snake with brown or red saddles along the dorsum. Boa constrictor, boa constrictor spp, captive husbandry, inclusion body disease. Genomic basis of convergent island phenotypes in boa constrictors. Unlike pythons, the boa constrictor is viviparous, which means they give birth to live snakes rather than laying eggs. The snake is found in central and south america, and on some islands in the caribbean. The redtailed boa boa constrictor constrictor is a popular exotic pet.
There are natural temperature shifts present in the habitats boa constrictors are native to. D and e overview of phenotypic differences between island and. A staple of private collections and public displays, its. The colouring of the boa features a cream, brown or grey base colour.
Pdf on apr 1, 2019, stefan gorzula and others published gorzula, s. Common boa constrictors are a great pet for intermediate reptile owners. Small boa constrictors as pets island races of the common boa. Generally termed the common or northern boa constrictor, b. Boa constrictors are excellent escape artists, so the enclosure should be wellsecured with no small openings. Boa constrictors are one of the hardiest types of pet snake. 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. Boa constrictor madness at pete kahls amazing facility duration. 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.
The boa constrictor is named for its mode of predation. Boa constrictorboa constrictor location and habitat the majority of boa constrictors live in mexico, central america and south america. Boa constrictors can grow to lengths of feet and can weigh more than 100 pounds. 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. Pdf boa constrictor manual download full pdf book download.
Medium size, even temper, and general ease of care make this snake a logical choice for both beginners and experienced keepers alike. 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. A boa constrictor will digest their prey over the course of about four to six days. Read download boa constrictor manual pdf pdf download. Colombian common boa constrictors are rated among the best of the large pet snakes, being attractive and relatively docile and safe. The boa constrictor boa constrictor is a common pet snake of the family boidae. Boa constrictor pet care rainforest adventures zoo. Under what, if any, circumstances would it be moral to. Boa constrictor by shel silverstein oh, im being eaten. Gestation for a boa constrictor is between five and eight months. The common boa constrictor boa constrictor is a large snake that can reach lengths of up to 4 m. Boa constrictor care, behavior, enclosures, interaction, feeding, health and myths all included. There are several varieties of boa constrictors found in the pet trade, including redtail boas boa constrictor constrictor and northern boas boa constrictor imperator.
As the climate cools in the winter two things occur. Arch ophthalmol reports on one such incident in which a pet boa constrictor bit its owner on the eye. In this article, we will list our most popular pet boas and touch upon what makes each species unique and special. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. You will often see what looks like the stripe on the side of the head continue through the eyes. Boa constrictors are members of the boidae family of animals. Biological and management profiles and an establishment.
The complete boa constrictor download ebook pdf, epub. There are also lemis law enforcement management information. The snake was ill from a bacterial infection of its mouth, and became aggressive while its owner was bathing it. The color pattern of its skin can vary considerably. Of course, there are incidents in which a boa causes harm to a human. The particular menu items on the left dont need further comment because they are selfexplaining. Boa constrictors have been a staple in the pet reptile trade. The average size of a boa is 23m 710ft for females and 1. Guide to caring for boa constrictors general information boa constrictors are beautifully marked, moderately arboreal snakes. This automatically stretches the time between meals. Boa constrictors article about boa constrictors by the. 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.
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. This is one of the few instances where an animals scientific name is the same as its common name. In the wild, boa constrictors can live 20 to 30 years. Feed in a separate tank so that your snake doesnt associate your hand or the habitat being opened with feeding. A boa constrictor s diet consists of frozen thawed rats, mice and rabbits. All private brand products carry a 100% moneyback guarantee. A listing of the subspecies belonging to the boa genus. To view a current map of all common boa sightings in florida, click the map below. Boa constrictor simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 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. Boa constrictor bites are painful bure are unlikely to be dangerous as long as standard medical care is obtained. When young the boa will be eating frozen mice roughly once a week. It is unusual for a species english name to be the same as its scientific name.
1395 241 1564 680 1100 1139 794 988 882 1227 31 505 1177 303 1450 770 1598 171 1372 1667 179 834 26 1139 1143 1233 905 995 197 726