Mary Allen
The Boa constrictor originally comes from South and Central America. The nocturnal king boa (also called idol snake) adapts very well to the very different living conditions of the most humid, warm summers and cool winters. If kept in a species-appropriate manner, it will also feel comfortable in your terrarium.
The Big Head is Their Trademark
The king boa can be recognized by its broad, almost triangular head, which tapers sharply towards the front. A clear line runs from the forehead to the snake’s muzzle. Their skin usually has a creamy white to the gray-brown basic color. The saddle spots are brownish in color and have white inclusions on the flanks. The tail spots often shine in a strong red. Depending on the area of origin, there are many different species, which differ greatly in size and color.
The Giant Snake Lives Up to Its Name
Depending on the subspecies, a boa is 40 to 60 centimeters long when it is born and then grows quite quickly. When fully grown, it can reach a total length of 2 to 3 meters with a maximum weight of 20 kg. The males usually stay a little smaller than the females.
Food Animals Must Not Be Too Big
With the right food, you can prevent the boa from overgrowing. It eats any vertebrate it can devour. However, you should make sure that the food animals are no larger in size than the middle part of your snake’s body.
Take Breaks Between Feeding
You should always pay attention to the correct feeding intervals. Young snakes should be fed about every ten days. Later you increase the intervals, and in the further years of life you should only feed once or a maximum of twice a month, otherwise the animals will develop fatty liver. It is important to feed only well-fed food animals and, for the safety of the snake, not to feed live rats. To prevent the feed animals from hiding, the snakes from eating the ground, or biting each other, you should feed the animals in a separate feed box.
An Environment to Feel Good
The terrarium for a 2.40-meter long snake should be at least 180 centimeters long and 120 centimeters wide. A water basin for drinking and bathing is a must in every terrarium. The water must be changed every day! In addition, boas are happy about hiding places that you can easily create with upturned clay pots. The substrate should be able to store moisture without becoming muddy or moldy in order to maintain a good terrarium climate. Terrarium soil or a mixture of coconut fiber and coarse sand is suitable for this. Always make sure there is enough safety distance to the lamps, you should avoid using heating mats in the terrarium.
Note: In some states, the keeping of the boa constrictor is only permitted with a special permit, as it is considered a dangerous animal there.
Note on Species Protection
Many terrarium animals are under species protection because their populations in the wild are endangered or could be endangered in the future. Therefore the trade is partly regulated by law. However, there are already many animals from German offspring. Before buying animals, please inquire whether special legal provisions need to be observed.