Boa FAQs

[JLC]

1. Are there any boa species I can keep that won’t get too big?

2. Do boas have strict humidity needs?

3. My boa is really stubborn about going back into its enclosure. Is this normal?

4. Do boas need a big dish to soak in?

5. How can I keep the water dish from getting tipped over every day?

6. Will I have to feed my boa rabbits someday?

7. Do adult boas need/use hides?

8. What’s the difference between yellow and green anacondas?

9. Do boas lay eggs?

10. What do all those boa acronyms mean? RTB, BCI, BCC?

11. What are the average adult sizes of BCI? BCC?

12. How can I tell the difference between a BCI and a BCC?

13. What kind of prey should an adult RTB be eating?

14. I want a BCC, but I don’t want it to grow too big. Can I keep it in a smaller enclosure?

15. Will offering small, infrequent meals keep my boa small enough for me to handle?

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1.Are there boa species I can keep that won’t get too big?

kenyan sand boa 2-3'
roughscaled sand boa 2-3'
viper boa 3'
pacific tree boa (Candoia Carinata carinata) 1.5-2'
soloman island ground boa (Candoia Carinata paulsoni) 3-5'
viper boa 2'
rosy boa 2’-3.5’
brazilian rainbow boa 5-7'
hog island boa 4-7'
nicaraguan boa 5-6'

2. Do boas have strict humidity needs?

Red tailed boas can stand humidity fluctuations, but it is best and healthiest for them to remain in the 50-60% humidity range. Other species may have different requirements. Brazilian rainbow boas do well at levels of 70% humidity.

3. My boa is really stubborn about going back into its enclosure. Is this normal?

Yes, this is a typical boa trait. Just be persistent!


4. Do boas need a big dish to soak in?

It is not necessary (except for anaconda species) however your boa may enjoy an occasional soak, especially during shedding time.

5. How can I keep the water dish from getting tipped over every day?

Try getting a heavy weight water dish and keep it full enough of water to make it heavy. Keeping it in a corner of the enclosure sometimes helps, and make sure it has a wide, flat base.

6. Will I have to feed my boa rabbits someday?

Not necessarily. The smaller subspecies (nicaraguan, hog island, etc) are unlikely to grow to the size where they require rabbits. It is an option to feed multiple large rats in lieu of a rabbit.

7. Do adult boas need/use hides?

Not really. It is useful to provide hides for a new snake that is settling in, and some especially nervous snakes may benefit from having a hide, but in general, adult boas do not require a hiding spot.

8. What’s the difference between yellow and green anacondas?

Yellow anacondas are the smaller of the two anaconda species most common in captivity. Males average 6-8' in length, and females 10-12'. They are normally various shades of yellow with black spots down the back. The green anaconda is the kind you think of when someone says 'anaconda'. They are the heaviest snake species in the world. Males average 8-10' long, while females routinely pass the 20' mark, and easily can weigh over 200lbs. These have a background color ranging from brownish to olive green with black spots down the back.

9. Do boas lay eggs?

No. Boas are “Ovoviviparous” which means that the eggs fully develop within the mother’s body until the babies are ready to be born live.

10. What do all those boa acronyms mean? RTB, BCI, BCC?

RTB - red tailed boa
BCI - Boa Constrictor imperator. This is one of the subspecies of red tailed boas. It is the most common and includes Colombian, Nicaraguan, Central American, and Hog island boas as well as a few more less common localities.
BCC - Boa Constrictor constrictor. This is the second most common subspecies. Localities include Surinam, Guyanan, and Peruvian as the most common.

11. What are the average adult sizes of BCI? BCC?

BCI - 6.5' - 9' sometimes over 10'
BCC - 7.5' - 10'

12. How can I tell the difference between a BCI and a BCC?

There is no hard fast rule, as there is a lot of variation in each subspecies. In general though, a BCC has prominent “widow's peaks”. This means that the dark brown saddles on the back look like this: { } { } { }. The saddles on a BCI are usually more rounded like this: ( ) ( ) ( ). BCC are much more likely to keep that typical blood-red colored tail into adulthood, while a BCI’s will usually dull and brown out as it ages.

13. What kind of prey should an adult RTB be eating?

Depending on its size, jumbo rats or small rabbits should suffice. Feedings can be spaced out to twice a month for an adult.

14. I want a BCC, but I don’t want it to grow too big. Can I keep it in a smaller enclosure?

Keeping a snake in a smaller enclosure will not slow its growth. Do not get a BCC (or any snake) without knowing its full potential for size and being able to care for it at that size.

15. Will offering small, infrequent meals keep my boa small enough for me to handle?

Underfeeding your boa will only give you a perpetually hungry (and likely irritable) snake. Hungry snakes are more likely to bite, and a stunted animal is not a healthy animal. Again, don't buy a snake without being able to care for it at its adult size.