How to Care for a Red Tailed Boa

Snakes are very clever and have a great chance of escaping a make shift tank. The Boa is a very strong snake and depending on its size, may even be able to breakout of a tank that is sealed. When selecting a cage for a Red Tailed Boa, it is best to purchase a cage that is made especially for snakes. With proper materials and know how, a snake cage can also be built at home.

Babies can be places in a 20-gallon glass tank and will be just fine. This however will not last long. Within a year or year and a half, your Boa will need a larger cage, either one that is purchased or home made. Snakes need plenty of room, so a large cage is best. A nice size cage for an adult Red Tailed Boa is between 6 and 8 feet long, by 2 or 4 feet tall and 2 or 3 feet wide. Remember though, Boas can grow to lengths of 8 to 14 feet long.

For easy cleaning of the cage, newspaper or paper towels can be used. Animal bedding from a pet shop can also be used, but never use cedar chips or bark. The cage should be cleaned regularly to avoid mold and disease.

Be sure to provide a hiding place for the boa. This can easily be done with a log split in half, do it yourself or purchase one. A cardboard box or plastic container turned upside down work great as well. Branches can be added as well as rocks for a cave. This gives the snake places to hang out. A large water bowl for the snake to soak in should also be placed in the cage.

A tank heater or heat lamp should be used to keep temperatures between 82 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. A basking area should also be available and kept between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat rocks should not be used as they can badly burn the snake.

When it comes to feeding, killed or stunned prey is best. Live prey should be avoided as it can attack and would the snake. Hatchlings should be fed already killed pinkies, rates or mice that are a week or so old. This should be done every five days however, as the snake grows, feedings can be done every ten days and larger rats or mice can be used. A medium size boa can be fed one or two medium to large size rats or mice a week, while a large boa can be fed two or more large rate or mice every one to two weeks. Small rabbits can also be fed to a large Red Tailed Boa.

A snake's prey should be no larger than the widest part of the snake's body, the mid-section. Captive boas can easily be overfed and will be healthier if fed a weekly meal, instead of every two weeks or so. Boas should only be fed enough to keep them healthy and not overweight, as they do not normally have a lot of opportunity for exercise.

Fresh water should be provided on a regular basis. It is common for snakes to use there drinking water to bath in, shed in and defecate in, so clean water is essential.

Shedding will occur once a month with a well fed, healthy boa. When shedding is done, it is important to make sure the head skin and eye caps were removed. Skin may also be left on the tail and can be removed with a little soaking and then gently pulling off the skin. During and right after shedding it is best to not handle the snake as the new skin will be sensitive and delicate and can easily be damaged. Feeding should also be put on hold until shedding is complete.

Like other snakes, Red Tailed Boas may suffer from a number of diseases and parasites. Fleas, mites and ticks can kill a snake and need to be removed as soon as they are detected. Other health risks are worms in the stomach, respiratory infection and viruses that attack and weaken internal organs, the mouth and skin.

A Red Tailed Boa can live into its thirties or even forties with proper care and living conditions. Although captive boas are easy to discipline and are calm and gentle, an experienced adult and not children should handle them.

Sources:
www.reptilesupply.com

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