Instead, they block the rat’s blood flow, effectively giving the rat a heart attack. However, when boas coil around a caught rat, they do not cut off the rat’s ability to breathe. According to myth, constrictor snakes give their prey a slow, It has beenĬommonly believed that this grip allows the snake to render its prey unable toīreathe. Name “constrictor” indicates that these snakes have a deadly grip. It is possible that this exaggeration of the size of a boa constrictor comes from people misidentifying other giant snakes, such as pythons and anacondas, as “boa constrictors.” It is normal for an adult boa constrictor to reach about 13 feet by the time it is 30 years old. The Journal of Herpetology reports that adult female boa constrictors are around 14% longer than the males and 51% bigger, but this does not make them a huge snake. Adult boas can range from 6 to 14 feet in length. Instead, boa constrictors are on the small end of medium-sized snakes. To be clear, scientists do not consider boa constrictors to be a giant snake species at all. Boa Constrictors Are Giant Monster Snakes Let’s take a moment to clear up a couple of misconceptions about boas. There are many popular myths about boa constrictors. The truth is that boa constrictors can, in fact, be safely kept as pets. Lots of people believe that boas are inherently dangerous snakes. If you are afraid of boa constrictors, you are not alone. It's also very important to wash your hands thoroughly after handling their food, because the scent can confuse them, as well.1.3 How Should You Handle a Boa Constrictor? Pet Boa Constrictor Safety Concerns This can lead to bites, as the snake's vision is weak and it may confuse the heat coming from your body with the prey and bite you by accident. It's best to use reptile tongs to feed your boa constrictor, as you do not want the snake to confuse your hands with the prey.
Once they reach age three, you can move to a final feeding schedule of every three or four weeks for a female and every two to three weeks for a male. After this, females can eat every three weeks, and males typically eat every two weeks. Snakes up to a year old should eat every seven to 10 days, and then every two weeks until they reach their second year. Baby boa constrictors grow faster than adults, so they require more frequent feedings. Always provide your boa with a clean bowl of water to go along with their meal.īoa constrictors can be fed once a week to a couple of times per month, depending on the age of the snake. A good rule of thumb to remember when feeding is that the prey should be no wider than the widest part of the snake's body. Pet boa constrictors in captivity can eat pre-killed prey such as rats and mice. Typical food choices for a pet boa constrictor are mice, rats, chicks, and even small rabbits. Snakes can be seriously burned if lights are placed incorrectly.īoa constrictors are carnivores and eat live prey. Place the lighting in a way that the snake does not come into direct contact with the bulb. If you choose to use light, use full-spectrum lighting or a low-watt incandescent bulb during the day. They do not require UV (ultraviolet) light to maintain their health, but you can use a light if you prefer. Heat tape or adhesive pads can be placed on the underside of the glass enclosure. Heat lamps and ceramic elements can be mounted to the top of the enclosure to direct heat downward. Heat the enclosure with ceramic emitters, heat lamps, and heating pads. There are several ways you can heat and maintain the temperature of the habitat. Temperatures at night should be between 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The snake needs to be able to move from warmer to cooler areas of the enclosure.ĭuring the day the temperature in the main part of the habitat should be between 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, with a basking area of about 95 degrees. When keeping a boa constrictor as a pet, you will need to maintain a proper temperature in your snake's habitat. In the wild, they use the sun for this purpose. Snakes need external sources of heat since they cannot regulate their body temperatures.
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