Maria Allen
Rainbow boas are named because their skin shimmers in color. The shine comes from small ripples on the scales that split the light into the colors of the rainbow.
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What do rainbow boas look like?
Rainbow boas belong to the boas family, there to the subfamily of boa snakes, and there to the genus slender boas. So they belong to the constrictor snakes and have no poison. Depending on the subspecies, rainbow boas are 110 to 210 centimeters long. While the red rainbow boa measures up to 210 centimeters, the Colombian rainbow boa only reaches 150 to 180 centimeters.
Other subspecies are even smaller. The males of all subspecies are usually slightly smaller than the females. Rainbow boas are quite slim and light compared to the other much thicker boas. Even an adult animal only weighs 4.5 kilograms. Their shimmering reddish or brown coloring and the clear dark markings of curls and spots are striking. Young animals and freshly skinned snakes in particular have very high-contrast colors. In older animals, the color fades somewhat
Where do rainbow boas live?
Rainbow boas are found in Central and South America, from Costa Rica through Venezuela, Brazil, and Colombia to northern Argentina. They are also at home on some Caribbean islands. Rainbow boas are found in many different habitats: they can be found in forests, plains, and swamps.
What types of rainbow boa are there?
The researchers divide the rainbow boas into nine to ten different subspecies. Among the best known are the red rainbow boa and the brown or Colombian rainbow boa. All subspecies differ in color and pattern. Since rainbow boas usually live in very inaccessible areas, the researchers suspect that there are other subspecies that have not yet been discovered.
How old do rainbow boas get?
Rainbow boas live quite a long time: in captivity, they can live up to 20, maybe even 30 years.
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How do rainbow boas live?
Because of their iridescent color and eye-catching markings, rainbow boas are among the most beautiful boas. They are nocturnal critters. They spend the day sleeping in hiding places. Only in the evening and at night do they go in search of prey. They live on the ground and in trees, where they are adept at climbing around the branches.
Like all boa snakes, they essentially consist of a muscular tube that gives them enormous strength: they can use these muscles to crush their prey. Rainbow boas sense the slightest movements and shakes. Once they have found a prey animal, they bite at lightning speed and then strangle the prey. However, rainbow boas are not dangerous to humans.
They can see relatively well up close and, above all, perceive movements. If they are kept in terrariums, they will even pay close attention to what is going on outside their terrarium. Like all snakes, rainbow boas need to shed their skin regularly.
Friends and foes of the rainbow boa
Young rainbow boas can be preyed on by birds or other reptiles. Adult animals have few natural enemies. But they are hunted by humans.
How do rainbow boas reproduce?
In nature, rainbow boas can breed all year round. Rainbow boas are viviparous snakes. After a gestation period of about four months, a female gives birth to up to 30 snake babies, which are already 50 to 60 centimeters long. From the very beginning, the small snakes feed on live small animals, which they devour. By the way: As long as they are pregnant, the females do not eat anything. Rainbow boas kept in captivity also breed regularly.
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What do rainbow boas eat?
In the wild, rainbow boas feed mainly on small mammals and birds. They overwhelm their prey with one bite, holding it tightly, then crushing it and swallowing it whole.
The attitude of rainbow boas
Rainbow boas are often kept in terrariums because they are considered relatively peaceful. However, they need a lot of space as well as high temperature and humidity. While a plastic box with air holes, a hiding place, and a water bowl is sufficient for young animals, adult animals need at least 1.2 to 1.8 square meters of floor space. In addition, the terrarium must be at least one meter high because rainbow boas need branches to climb on.
The temperature must be between 21 and 24°C at night. A temperature of 21 to 32°C is required during the day. It can’t be warmer. The humidity must be 70-80%. It should be even higher at night, otherwise, the snakes will suffer from dehydration. The floor is spread with terrarium soil.
Care plan for rainbow boas
In captivity, rainbow boas feed primarily on mice, small rats, guinea pigs, and chicks. The size of the prey must be slightly smaller in girth than the thickest part of the snake. Very young animals are fed every seven to ten days, slightly larger and adult ones only every ten to fourteen days. Rainbow boas always need several bowls of fresh, clean water to drink from.