How to Care for a Red-Tailed Boa Constrictor

Owning a boa constrictor often seems cool or neat when first started, but the excitement quickly wears off. The constrictor can grow to over 10 feet long and weigh more than 50 pounds by age two. It also requires a lot of attention and care. If you can handle the commitment, owning a red-tailed boa constrictor may be right for you.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Secure enclosure and lid
• Substrate
• Heat lamp
• Reptile lighting timer
• Night spectrum lighting
• Basking rocks
• Hiding logs
• Natural or artificial foliage
• Large shallow water bowl
• Feeder rodents
• Spray bottle

1. Start out with a 20-gallon aquarium with a locking screen lid for your snake's first year of life. The minimum size for an adult boa is at least 8 square feet of floor space. The cage must also be very sturdy because snakes are very strong and natural escape artists.

2. Spread a thin layer of substrate on the bottom of the enclosure. Newspaper, mulch and fir bark all make great substrates. Substrates like pine shavings or gravel should not be used because of the risk of accidental ingestion.

3. Maintain a thermal gradient for your snake's enclosure that ranges from 80 degrees F at one end of the tank to 95 degrees F at the other end. This is easily achieved using a heat lamp on one end of the tank.

4. Use a reptile lighting timer to turn off the heat lamp and daytime lights in the enclosure and turn on night spectrum lighting following a consistent cycle. The boa is nocturnal so night spectrum lighting is essential for viewing your snake in action.

5. Decorate the enclosure with several basking rocks and hiding areas. Use natural foliage or artificial plants to provide a more realistic habitat.

6. Provide a shallow large water bowl that the snake can fully immerse its body in. Keep the bowl filled with clean, non-chlorinated water at all times.

7. Feed your boa live or frozen rodents one or two times a week. Increase from small feeder mice to rats and eventually rabbits or chickens as your snake grows.

8. Spray the enclosure with a fine mist from a spray bottle a few days a week to help maintain a humidity level near 70 percent.

Tips & Warnings

• Warm frozen feeder rodents in hot water before placing them in the enclosure. This helps your snake see them as live prey.
• Provide climbing shelves or branches in the enclosure that are strong enough to support the weight of an adult boa. This will allow the snake to climb and better regulate its temperature.
• Do not leave live prey unattended in your snake's cage. Rats and rabbit especially can injure or even kill your snake if the snake does not immediately eat the prey.
• Understand that the cute 14-inch baby snake grows quickly, easily lives for more than 30 years and requires constant interaction with you to remain tame. Be sure you understand what you are getting into and can handle the commitment to owning a massive snake for the next 30 years.
• Do not purchase a baby boa with the intention of selling or giving away the adult. Large snakes are very hard to get rid of and many end up being dumped because they could not be sold.

[Shyjohn]

on 7/9/2008 This piece has a major typo. They DO NOT grow to ten feet, and fifty pounds in two years!! My boa has grown four feet, from five' to nine', in fifteen years. The boa constrictor is the most docile of the "giant" snakes. Pythons bite, and have teeth. Anacondas are even meaner, I think they remain feral. Just NEVER place yourself between your pet, and it's dinner!!