Offer two hides, one on the warm side of the enclosure and one on the cool side. There are many commercially manufactured types available for snake habitat products. Typical full-grown adult boas should be housed in cages no smaller than 4 feet long by 2 feet wide (with larger-than-average snakes in larger enclosures).Ī hide box/shelter should be provided, which will allow the boa to feel safe and secure. Young boas may climb, but do so much less as they grow. Boa constrictors are terrestrial and floor space is more important than height. Naturally, as the young boa grows, a larger cage will be required. An appropriate first cage for a baby boa would be no larger than 30 inches long by 12 inches wide, in which it will feel very secure. While a new boa is acclimating, simple housing is preferred, and the enclosure should be prepared prior to your new boa’s arrival home. Young boa constrictors have simple needs a large, beautifully decorated cage is not the best choice for them. A rack system is something to consider should you advance into breeding boas, or if you plan to have many boas living with you. Reptile terrariums can be used, but reptile-specific plastic enclosures made from high-quality plastics that maintain proper humidity are much more suitable for boas than anything else. Many caging options are available for boa constrictors. Check for snake mites, which are small, black, parasites that resemble ticks. Look for active snakes lacking any retained shed skin, possible respiratory infection (auditory breathing can be a sign of this) or spinal kinks or deformities. Low-color hypomelanistic (reduced black pigment) boas may be as low as $75 at reptile shows, but new and “designer” morphs can cost in excess of $5,000.īe sure to purchase your boa from a reputable source.

Wild-phase or normal-colored boas can sometimes be purchased for $60 to $75 at reptile shows, or $150 to $200 in retail stores. Prices vary greatly, depending on the type of boa constrictor you want, and where you purchase it. Sometimes they can be found in exotic shops or reptile shops online. The majority of boa litters occur from May through August, so late summer and fall see the highest availability of babies. They have been bred in captivity for decades, and litters are born nearly all year. With reptile health and wellness prioritized, this care sheet should help ensure quality keeping of the Colombian Boa Constrictor.īoa constrictors are readily available in the pet industry, and many breeders specialize in Colombian boa morphs. Proper care can be provided even by beginner hobbyists, but due to their potentially large size and lengthy life span, boas are best suited for moderate- and advanced-level keepers. Colombian boa constrictors make great pets, and they are available in a vast array of appealing color and pattern morphs. constrictor in southeastern Colombia, but these are rarely seen in the reptile world.Ĭolombian boas have become popular due to being docile and having more “personality,” in that they seem to be more curious about their surroundings than some other snakes. Other common names include the common boa and red-tailed boa, although the true red-tailed boa is Boa constrictor constrictor, which is larger and found in countries including Suriname, Guyana, Peru and Brazil. The Colombian boa constrictor is the most widely kept boa constrictor in the pet industry (there are nine accepted subspecies of Boa constrictor, and many localities of some subspecies).

Boa constrictor cage