Boa constrictors have a slower metabolism than their smaller counterpart Boa imperator, and prefer cooler temperatures. Selecting an appropriate prey size is of high importance for BCC, as these boas are more successful if raised on a smaller prey as neonates and juveniles. Typical prey sized based on age Boa constrictors. Keepers should select a size that is appropriate to their boa. The table that summarizes the size of boa to appropriate prey size. Animals should not be fed during these cooling periods, as it may cause complications with their digestion, and is unsafe. Our adults are generally not fed in the winter, as they’re food cycled for the breeding season, and we cool our animals in the winter months. If they don’t accept meals offered during the breeding season, we simply wait two weeks and try again. Juveniles will often refuse food during winter months. We offer our neonates and juveniles food year-round. This is natural for adult boas during the winter months, and provided the animals are in good health, keepers should not be concerned. Even adults that have been raised on pre-killed or live rodents will generally accept frozen thawed prey.ĭuring the breeding season (December to March in Canada) adults may voluntarily cease feeding. Live rodents are not recommended unless necessary, and in our experience, there is no reason that BCC shouldn’t accept frozen thawed rodents. Typical adult length and weight based on sex for Boa constrictor.īoa constrictors should be offered frozen thawed rats of appropriate size. The table below provides an example of average length and weight. Males are generally less than half the size and weight of females. In general, often attain lengths of 1.5-2.5 meters (5-8 ft.). Length and Weightīoa constrictors are large bodied animals that can grow up to 3 meters (10 ft.) though this is the exception. Five subfamilies, comprising 12 genera and 49 species, are currently recognized. Adults are medium to large, with females usually larger than the males. Boidae are nonvenomous snakes primarily found in the Americas.

Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguayīoa constrictors are large snakes from the boidae family.Boa constrictor constrictor ( BINDER & LAMP, 1758).These information below is provided given based on our own experiences and opinions. These boas are referred to as the “True Red-tail boas”, not to be confused with the boas commonly referred to as “Colombian Boas” or other boas included in the Boa imperator group. We’ll also refer to this group of boas as “BCC” throughout the article for the sake of ease. This article is intended to provide requirements for providing Boa Constrictor Husbandry in captivity.įor the sake of providing granularity on a species with such a large distribution, this article will focus on boas with common names including Suriname, Guyana, Venezuelan, Brazilian, and Peruvian Boas.

Boa constrictor length