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Care Sheet
Table of Contents:
Clearly, purchasing a neonate from a private breeder has benefits over older untamed and/or wild caught specimens. First of all, while Brazilian Rainbow Boas are known to be testy as hatchlings, beginning with a juvenile increases both the tameness of the animal and the trust within the owner-pet relationship as the animal grows. As important is the ability of buyers to obtain strong, healthy, parasite free animals, which can only be guaranteed by breeders with healthy parent Brazilian Rainbow Boas.
As with any large snake, bigger is most definitely better. However, Brazilian Rainbow Boas require far less room than their larger cousins. While adults can be housed in 55 to 60 gallon tanks, a 100 gallon is preferable, especially for a pair. Any enclosure used should be capable of retaining heat and humidity while giving the snake(s) room to move and get exercise. It should also be relatively easy to secure, as these snakes would surely escape and die of dehydration if not found soon after.
Newspaper, paper towels, orchid bark, aspen, moss (peat, sphagnum), cypress mulch, astroturf, and carpet (indoor-outdoor) can all make excellent substrate media. While newspaper holds moisture well, it doesn't allow for preparation of a naturalistic vivarium. For this purpose aspen and orchid bark are recommended. When using these particle type media, however, it is very important to feed Brazilian Rainbow Boas in a separate feeding tank to avoid consumption of the substrate. Being semi-arboreal, branches which provide a fair amount of both vertical and horizontal climbing are preferable, but not essential. A large water container is mandatory (large enough to permit soaking of the entire animal prior to shedding), as this species requires high levels of humidity and can easily become dehydrated. A humidity hide box is necessary, and is most easily created by filling a small Tupperware container with moist vermiculite or peat moss and placing it in the warm end of the enclosure with only one entrance hole cut in it. If kept wet, this will ensure that at all times of slightly low humidity the snake will be able to properly shed. One large rock or other rough surface is necessary for molting (shedding) as well. A second hide box on the cool end of the tank will allow for thermoregulation without restricting the security of your Brazilian Rainbow Boa.
The complete temperature range for Brazilian Rainbows should be within 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with the night time low around 75F, a daytime basking temperature of 87F, and a daytime ambient temperature of 80F. Extended periods with temperatures greater than 90F can easily kill rainbow boas. Thus, these animals require carefully calibrated enclosure temperatures. By monitoring your snake the first day in its new home you will know whether the temperatures are too high or too low, and adjustments can be make according to whether the animal spends all of its time at one end of the temperature gradient or the another. While this species is nocturnal (active at night), occasional daytime basking occurs and proper health therefore requires proper temperatures during the day with a gradient setup. This requires an overhead heating source (incandescent light bulb or ceramic heat emitter) and can also be achieved by using undertank heating pads in most climates.
70% minimum humidity is required of this species, with higher levels preferred. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, but, as previously mentioned, lack of proper temperatures and humidity is highly lethal to Brazilian Rainbow Boas and can easily lead to dehydration. To maintain high relative humidity, a 90% sealed lid is common. With the remaining 10% of the lid screened in under the basking heat source. Placing an undertank heating pad directly below the water container can help raise/maintain humidity levels. Other possibilities are available, including foggers, drip/misting systems, and waterfalls within the enclosure. Additionally, misting two to three times a day is ideal (I have found that using a squirt bottle for this purpose works very well). Such such high humidity levels often promotes mold growth, and Brazilian Rainbow Boa tanks need to be constantly maintained and regularly cleaned. It is common for this species to defecate in standing water, and for this reason the necessary water container will need to be cleaned and sterilized regularly also. It is also common for this species to remain in their water containers for hours, often throughout the night. This is common after meals and during shedding.
When not cooling for the winter (see breeding), a 12 hour day is ideal for rainbow boas. As constant white light will disturb the natural cycle of nocturnal species and cause great stress, a red light source (of lower wattage than the daytime heat source) is recommended for nighttime. Red light allows the keeper to witness the snake's activities without interrupting the normal daily cycle intended. Fluorescent lights can be used for daytime light if another heat source is present.
Unlike other species of large snakes, Brazilian Rainbow Boas are not known for being problematic feeders. Neonates can be started on fuzzy mice (as usual, nothing bigger that the girth of the snake), and slowly graduated to adult mice and small to medium rats as adults. To prevent feeding mishaps, all snakes should be fed in a separate feeding container from the time they are brought home. This will train them to know when food is coming and when it is not, and help avoid innocent bites. NEVER feed live prey and NEVER handle the snake after mealtime unless absolutely necessary. Juveniles will generally need a meal every 4 to 5 days, with adults eating every weed to 10 days. Overfeeding should be avoided as it can lead to obesity and laziness.
While neonates are known to be a bit nippy, they will quickly calm down if given proper care and regular attention/handling sessions. Numerous sources report a lack of trust in Brazilian Rainbow Boas, while just as many dispute this feeling...either way, this species should not be thought of as a child's pet, nor should a person inexperienced with snakes plan on making a Brazilian Rainbow Boa his/her first real pet snake. Handling these specimens is, given the temperament for handling, quite easy due to their slim bodies. Jerky motions should be avoided, and the snake should appear relaxed in the company of humans...nippy snakes are most easily handled with gloves (thick rubber or leather) until the handler can earn the snake's trust.
At birth, Brazilian Rainbow Boas are about 16 inches long. These same cute, small snakes can easily attain a length of 4 feet by 2 years of age. While adults can range in size from 3.5 to 7 feet in length, the average length is 5 feet and only large specimens will grow to 10 lbs. Most will stay far below this level. Captive life spans have been recorded of up to and including 22 yrs, with sexual maturity being reached between 2.5 and 3 yrs of age. While breeding before this age has been witnessed, such copulations usually result in no viable fertilizations. |
Picking
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