General Info.

Brazilian Rainbow Boas are generally very colorful and extremely iridescent, ranging in color from light orange to dark red, though an animal's true coloration will not be evident until it reaches two years of age.  It was reported that an albino Brazilian Rainbow Boa was brought into captivity, but died shortly after.  Since then, rare, but occasional morph specimens are offered for sale (i.e. anerythristic).

Found primarily in the rainforests of Brazil, Venezuela, and surrounding countries, there are nine subspecies of rainbow boas, though the Brazilian variety is the most remarkable and one of the most available in the US pet trade.  Argentine Rainbow Boa's are also available, as are Columbians, though the previous lacks the fantastic coloration of the Brazilian and the latter lacks the beautiful pattern of the typical Brazilian Rainbow Boa.  Furthermore, the Brazilians are the largest of the rainbow boa subspecies, with exception to the slightly larger, and very similar Peruvian Rainbow Boa.

Though moderate in size, these are NOT beginner's snakes as they have strict housing and humidity requirements and are known to be slightly less trustworthy than the common Columbian Boa (B.c. imperator).  This species is related to the Anaconda, yet shows little of the aggressive tendencies reported of it's larger cousins.

Clearly there is a difference between this species and the more common B.c. imperator/constrictor species: while the Brazilian Rainbow Boa's are thin bodied snakes reaching a maximum length of approximately seven feet (average reach closer to five feet), their heads are slightly more elongated and house longer, narrower jaws.  A tame, full grown animal shouldn't reach over ten lbs. and is easily handled by a single adult, in comparison to an adult common boa, which often weighs up to and including sixty lbs. and requiring at least two handlers.

This species bears live young.  Up to ten to thirty-five babies may be born at once, each 15-20 inches long.  The young will start feeding feeding a week after birth and can quickly attain three feet in only a few months.