If you have a Brazilian Rainbow Boa as a pet, you may wonder what the lifespan of the Brazilian Rainbow Boa is. With the right amount of care in captivity, a Brazilian Rainbow Boa can live for up to 20 years. Are you up for the job of enjoying the lifespan of a Brazilian Rainbow Boa under your care?
Due to its colorful skin and reputation for being quite a difficult snake to care for, many pet snake owners feel ready for the challenge without necessarily understanding all that there is to know about the Brazilian Rainbow Boa.
Let’s answer some of the most common questions about the Brazilian Rainbow Boa:
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What Do I Need To Include In My Rainbow Boa Terrarium?
Rainbow Boas, like other constrictors, have a set pattern of behaviors. The most important aspect of a rainbow boa as an indoor snake is that they must be provided climbing options.
You can do this with PVC or branches, pieces of cork bark, or whatever wood you can get your hands on to create a hide for them.
A perch that is ‘H-shaped’ is best as it allows you to remove it easily when it is time to clean your enclosure. While your rainbow boa is still small you can experiment with live plants in the enclosure as natural is best, and it also helps to raise the humidity of the terrarium. However, fully grown rainbow boas have a habit of crushing live plants, so they might not last too long.
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The best Bedding For Your Boa
When it comes to bedding for your boa (known as substrate), you’re looking for something that encourages humidity while also retaining moisture. Peat is great, as is coco husk. Specialized pet stores even stock a reptile bark substrate.
Buying a mister that you can use to spray water on your live plants, as well as moss, is also good to keep up humidity levels.
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What temperature is ideal for my rainbow boa?
It’s really important to remember that this snake comes from the tropics and so is used to warmer climates than perhaps you have at home. Around 32 degrees Celsius in the day and 26 degrees Celsius at night is ideal. Babies need to be kept warm all the time, but adults can manage cooler nighttime temperatures when they are on the move anyway.
Consider a heating pad that your pet snake will come to love to maintain a constant temperature in your rainbow boa terrarium. These don’t dry out the air in the same way that a heat bulb will. Infra-red heat lamps are not a bad idea, and if you are considering display lighting because, after all, your rainbow boa has this beautiful iridescent shine, then a fluorescent bulb that is full-spectrum is the way to go.
How Do I Control The Humidity For My Rainbow Boa?
Start with a large water bowl that your snake can fully submerge itself in. The water bowl should be roughly one-third of the size of the entire cage. This water bowl needs to be easily accessible for you to change the water every two to three days. As a percentage, you are looking at 70% as being optimum for a rainbow boa. If it’s too much effort for you to be misting your terrarium manually every day, you can buy an automatic mister or fogger which does the job for you. Check the base of where your tank meets your substrate: if dew particles are barely forming here, then your tank has got the right amount of humidity. The substrate shouldn’t be too soggy. Cover the top of your terrarium with a lid to prevent too much humidity from escaping.
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What Do I Feed My Rainbow Boa?
As a rule of thumb, you should feed your rainbow boa with a mouse or rat that is as big as the width of its body. Frozen or thawed food becomes more convenient as your rainbow boa gets older as live prey can counter-attack and hurt your snake.
You can pretend that the mouse is alive by holding it with a pair of tongs and wiggling it around to get your snake more interested. Otherwise, leave it overnight, and if it’s still not eating its food, then check your terrarium’s temperature and humidity for any changes in the environment that might be causing your slithery friend any undue distress.
Conclusion
A bay rainbow boa will shed every three to six weeks, adults less often. If it’s shedding in pieces, then something is wrong with its environment. The beautiful shiny colors of the rainbow boa make it a fantastic pet to own.
If you want your rainbow boa to enjoy a full lifespan under your care, then follow these rainbow boa care suggestions every day, and you’ll be well on your way to a lifetime of serpentine friendship!
Are rainbow boas aggressive?
Like many snakes, and animals in general, a rainbow boa can be aggressive if feeling threatened. Patience, consistent handling, and interaction with the same owner is what will set your rainbow boa apart, overcoming its initial juvenile shyness which can be mistaken for aggression.
A herpetoculturist is someone who breeds reptiles and amphibians for a living. If you aspire to call yourself a herpetoculturist one day, then dealing with your rainbow boa on days when it is aggressive and likely to bite you is par for the course. The trick is in knowing when to avoid handling your rainbow boa, i.e. two days after eating, when it’s still feeling full!
Do Brazilian rainbow boa bites hurt?
Baby rainbow boas can get a little bit ‘nippy’. And while the bite may startle you, it’s unlikely to hurt all that much. Remember that boas kill by constricting their prey – wrapping their body around it and suffocating it to death – so their poison is non-venomous and their mouths are not designed by nature to inflict pain.
How big does a Brazilian rainbow boa grow?
Adult rainbow boas can grow up to 7 feet in length, or 210m. Normally they range in sizes between 150cm and 180cm. Picture a fully grown 6 foot adult lying down and that will give you an idea of the size of enclosure you will need for when your baby rainbow boa becomes fully grown. A terrarium that is at least 20 gallons will suffice, and in terms of length and depth you’re looking at 120cm long by 60cm deep.
Do Brazilian rainbow boas like to climb?
Brazilian rainbow boas do like to climb, yes. They do this opportunistically, to seek out a hiding place or to change up their body temperature.