For a complete biography of my experience click here.A boa constrictor can be an amazing pet for any reptile or snake enthusiast, but they do require proper care to live healthy, safe lives. Without fail, I have learned much from them and hope, dear readers, that you will be generous in sharing your thoughts on this blog and web site. My work puts me in contact with thousands of hobbyists keeping an array of pets. A Master’s Degree in biology has led to teaching opportunities. I have written books on salamanders, geckos and other “herps”, discussed reptile-keeping on television and presented papers at conferences. I have spent time in Japan, and often exchange ideas with zoologists there.
Now, after 20+ years with the Bronx Zoo, I am a consultant for several zoos and museums. Research has taken me in pursuit of anacondas, Orinoco crocodiles and other animals in locales ranging from Venezuela’s llanos to Tortuguero’s beaches. After a detour as a lawyer, I was hired as a Bronx Zoo animal keeper and was soon caring for gharials, goliath frogs, king cobras and everything in-between. Jobs with pet stores and importers had me caring for a fantastic assortment of reptiles and amphibians. However, some individuals grow quite a bit larger – up to 13 feet, 6 inches and 14 feet for the record holders, both captured in Surinam.Īveraging only 24-30 inches in length but also heavily-built for their size, Rosy Boas are obviously much easier than Colombian Boas to house and maintain.īeing born with a deep interest in animals might seem unfortunate for a native Bronxite, but my family encouraged my interest and the menagerie that sprung from it. Two experienced adults should always be on hand when specimens over 6 feet in length are fed, cleaned or handled.Ĭolombian Boas average 5-8 feet in length, and are stoutly built. Bite wounds from Colombian Boas can be severe, and pets should never be carried about one’s neck (other similarly-sized constrictors have caused human fatalities by tightening quickly about a handler’s neck). As with any snake, care and adult supervision must be exercised, and the animal’s head should never be allowed near one’s face.Ĭolombian Boas are not domesticated animals and must never be handled carelessly, as even long-term pets may react to scents or vibrations that people do not perceive. Rosy Boas tend to hide their heads when frightened, and their smooth, glossy scales may render handling a bit tricky. Uploaded to Wikipedia Commons by Theodore Garland, Jr.Īlthough individual personalities vary, both adapt well to gentle handling. As always, please also post any questions you may have, and let me know which species gets your vote.
Detailed care information is provided in the articles linked under “Further Reading”. In the following article I’ll compare the care needs of Colombian and Rosy Boas, so that you’ll be able to plan ahead and maximize your pet-keeping experience and your snake’s quality of life. Those with limited space who are seeking a “big snake in a small package” need look no further than this inoffensive beauty. North America’s Rosy Boa ( Lichanura trivirgata), on the other hand, has only come into its own recently as a pet, but interest in now skyrocketing. Commercially bred in huge numbers, the Colombian Boa is an excellent choice for some, but not all, snake enthusiasts. Of the 10 described subspecies, the Colombian or Red-Tailed Boa ( Boa constrictor constrictor) is the best known, and is in fact one of the most popular snake pets.
Uploaded to Wikipedia Commons by Pavel Ševelaīoa Constrictors have been pet trade staples for decades.