LA Pic
Red-tail boa constrictors look good and usually act mellow.
Origins: Originally from
Central and South America, virtually all boa constrictors are captive bred these days.
Obviously, the new color morphs – like albinos and striped boas
-- are captive bred. Captive-bred
snakes are usually free of mites, ticks, and intestinal worms -- if you
keep their cage clean.
Natural Environment: Some
come from hot and humid areas with plenty of water.
Others come from savannah-like dry forests in Central America.
LA Pic
Little red-tail boas make friendly pets.
Temperament: Boa
constrictors like to eat. They
get more active when hungry. When
full, they like to loaf in warm water or in the sun -- very much like
Floridians.
Daily handling keeps them tame – even the big ones.
Many people walk around with these draped over their shoulders or
wrapped around their necks. We
prefer Mickey Mouse ties.
Kendall
Most red-tail boas stay mellow as they grow.
Maximum Size. Red-tail
boas
top out at a theoretical 12 feet. We
usually see adults that average 6 to 8 feet long.
Do not expect our city Zoo to take your snake off your hands if it
grows too large for you.
LA Pic
You can't see the other three feet of this red-tail boa.
Des Moines
Ordinance.
The City of Des Moines prohibits the possession of constrictor snakes in excess of six feet in
length.
Foods: A weekly feeding
of a suitable size rodent suffices. Do
not over feed. Power feeding
wastes your money, usually makes your red-tail boa obese, and always grows it
too big too fast (and too fat). Feed
a food item no larger than the width of your red-tail boa’s body.
Too large a food can cause your red-tail to vomit its half-digested
meal. Freshly killed or frozen
(thawed, of course) rodents will keep your snake free of unnecessary
wounds. Cornered rats bite like crazy. (You would
too.) Frozen foods
also help keep your snake free of parasites.
Do not handle after feeding -- to or three days off.
Supplements: You’ll
need no added vitamins or mineral supplements.
Your red-tail boa gets all the nutrition it needs from its food.
LA
These two 30-inchers can easily hide in their hollow log.
Lighting: Red-tail boas
don’t need full-spectrum light, but they do appreciate a regular day and
night schedule. Make sure your
snake cannot reach any bare bulbs. Many
snakes will burn themselves on hot light bulbs.
LA
Give your red-tail boas room to soak at their leisure.
LA
Larger red-tails need a much larger water source -- like a cat pan.
LA
The red part goes in last.
Water: Give your
red-tail boa a great big water bowl – as big as you can carry.
Cat pans work great. Fill your water container only part
way. When your snake slides into a too full water dish, it will over
flow.
LA
Don't play with a green tree boa. In fact, don't even get one of
these pretty but nasty biters.
Handling: Handle your red-tail boa daily to keep it “friendly”
(except right after eating). Never handle any snake after handling rodents.
Snakes have poor eyesight. Constrictors
locate their food by smell and by body heat.
If you smell like a rat, your red-tail boa may want to see if you taste like a rat.
Do not handle your red-tail boa when its eyes cloud over prior to shedding.
LA
Baby red-tail boas make great pets.
LA
Kids like baby red-tail boas.
Last Word: Huge red-tail
boas do not
belong in houses with small children.
Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling any reptile.
LA.
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1998, © 2003, © 2004
LA Productions
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of Sixth & Euclid Avenues
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Moines, IA 50313
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