Some resources are now recommending even cooler nighttime temperatures for adults. This can be achieved with a thermostat that has a nighttime setting. During the day, the warm end should be between 85-90f (29-32c) and the cool end 80-85f (26-29c).Īt night, the ambient temperature should drop slightly, going down to 75-80f (24-25c) on the cool side. In a captive setting this simply means creating a warm end and a cool end in the enclosure. Boa Constrictor temperature and heatingĪs with most reptiles, Boas like a to have a thermal gradient to regulate their metabolism. 3-6ft (1-1.8m) for males, 4-8ft (1.2-2.4m) for females Very common and cheap in captivity Sonoran Boa ( Boa sigma) No subspecies described as yet 4ft (1.2) for males, up to 6ft (1.8m) for females Still uncommon in Europe, but becoming more available in North America Common Boas are widespread, hardy and cheap to buy. Up to 7ft (2.1m) for females, 5ft (1.5m) for males Uncommon in captivity Common Boa ( Boa imperator) No subspecies described as yet Stocky but smaller than Red Tail Boas. constrictor Very uncommon in captivity Long-tailed Boa ( B. melonogaster), a.k.a Black-tailed Boa Similar to B. orophias) Reportedly up to 10ft (3m) Not available in captivity Ecuadorian Boa ( B. ortonii) Roughly 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m) for males, up to 9ft (2.7m) for females Very uncommon in captivity St.

sabogae) Up to 6ft (1.8m) for females, up to 5ft (1.5m) for males Very uncommon in captivity Orton’s Boa ( B. Short-tailed Boa 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) for females, 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m) for males Uncommon in captivity but slowly becoming more available Pearl Island Boa ( B c. constrictor Hard to find in Europe, but slightly more common in North America. Can be harder to find outside of North America Argentine Boa ( B c. Up to 12 ft (3.5m) for females, up to 8ft (2.4m) for males though generally less Widely available but still pricey. Species Subspecies Size Availability Red Tail Boa ( Boa constrictor constrictor) True Red Tail Boa ( B c. If using a mobile device, you may need to scrool right to see the availability column. This table gives a brief run-down of the current Boa Constrictor taxonomy. Notice the little “point” in the middle of each dark dorsal saddle – a good way to identify the species Types of Boa Constrictors A Red Tail Boa with typical colour and pattern. They grow rapidly and should reach 3ft (1m) within a year. Most neonate (newborn) boas are around 1-1.5ft long (30-45cm). This means a male could be a good choice for you if you want a snake that will be just a little bigger than a female Ball Python. It’s also worth noting that males are much smaller than females. This size does depend on species and subspecies, however, which we’ll discuss in a moment. In fact, most end up between 5-8ft (1.5-2.4m). In any case, an experienced keeper will tell you it’s hard to find a Boa Constrictor over 11ft (3.3m) in length. Why? Who knows? Maybe it’s a ‘big fish story’ kind of situation. The Truth is their size is often exaggerated, even by reputable sources. After all, Boa Constrictors have a big, scary reputation as a big, scary snake! This is obviously the first thing you want to know if you’re new to giant snakes. To make things simple, any time I say “Boa Constrictor” I’m referring to both Common Boas and Red Tail Boas. For this reason, it won’t be covered by this care sheet. The Sonoran Boa, for its part is much less common in captivity and has slightly different care requirements. As the name implies, it is their deep, mahogany red tails that give them this name.

Red Tail Boas (often referred to as BCs or BCCs), on the other hand, are slightly larger and very highly sought after. These are the Sonoran Boa ( Boa sigma), the Common Boa ( Boa imperator) and the Red Tail Boa, or True Red Tail Boa ( Boa constrictor).Ĭommon Boas (often referred to as BIs or BCIs) are widely available, cheap, and hardy. Though previously considered one, there are now three species of Boa that used to be called “Boa constrictors”. Last updated on February 1st, 2023 at 09:42 am A quick note on Boa Constrictor taxonomy…

Boa Constrictor Care Sheet | Reptile Centre.BOA CONSTRICTOR Caresheet | Reptile Rapture.Colombian Boa Constrictor Care Sheet – Reptiles Magazine.A Guide to Caring for Boa Constrictors as Pets.Other resources related to Boa Constrictor care:.Key points to remember about Boa Constrictor care.What to do if a boa constrictor bites you.What do Boa constrictors need in their enclosure?.Boa Constrictor temperature and heating.

A quick note on Boa Constrictor taxonomy….

Common boa constrictor length