Red Tailed Boa Constrictor

It is an expensive house pet and you need to create an environment which is identical to its natural habitat.

Apart from jaguars and caimans man is the boa’s greatest enemy. Nature has etched on them a pattern consisting of reddish brown to black saddles or blobs showing up against a lighter background, which may be white, yellow, gray, brown or pink. Most of the species have outstanding dark reddish brown patterns on the tail.
Background

Of late the Colombian red tail boa is becoming quite a favorite, but expensive house pet. It has been noticed in zoos that they can become remarkably tame living up to 20/30 years.

Care

Your very own red tailed boa comes from tropical South America. So their home in your house must be humid and warm. It should be kept in a tank, big enough to allow for movement and kept closed at all times. Sufficient light should be allowed to enter. The length of the boaphile-tank should be the same as that of the boa. In the tank keep a water container big enough for it to crawl into.

There must also be a hide and a perch. The hide may be a cardboard box, toilet paper tubes – anything free from chemicals and toxic stuff. A piece of rough rock will help the boa to shed its skin but see that it is not sharp or jagged. The floor is known as the substrate. It may consist of old newspapers, wood-shavings or hay. Cedar and pine bark shavings or sand are harmful. Newspapers seem to be best and can easily be replaced. Mites will not get time to multiply.

The tank must be thermo regulated with a lamp that can be switched off. Feed baby boas with rats (not mice) once a week. For adults make the gap 10/14 days. In domestic surroundings it is safer to give the snake pre-killed thawed food. Live prey may endanger its life. The snake prefers privacy while eating and so don’t peek. Contact the vet if the boa refuses food even after three weeks. The boa is ready to shed its skin when the eyes turn milky white or blue. A soak in tepid water will be of help.

Bring home the red tailed boa constrictor and let it roam around getting acquainted with its surroundings. Let it hold you and not the other way round paving the way for a long-term understanding between Man and Animal.

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