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| Boa ConstrictorEnclosure Selection Health Feeding BreedingCrunch Time! Things to Look For Transporting Snakes Crunch Time! So want a snake? Have you considered everything? Do you have all the necessary equipment? There is a big commitment involved in taking on any reptile. Boa Constrictors in particular can live for 25-30 years, so you need to be able to care for it for a long, long time. They also eat dead mice, rats, and small rabbits as adults so you need to be comfortable with that. They can be expected to achieve a total length of at least 8 feet, and 12 foot specimens are not unknown. The enclosure is going to be very, very big! If you're sure you've considered everything, you've got your enclosure all set up, and are able to afford the ongoing costs, lets look at choosing a snake. Things to Look for When Buying When purchasing a boa you should opt for a captive bred animal if possible. This usually means locating a reputable breeder, as most snakes found in pet stores are imported. Imported animals carry a higher risk of parasites, and if introduced to a collection can end up costing you a lot of money! If you must buy a wild caught specimen, a young hatchling will adapt to captivity much better than an adult. A full grown snake will likely remain nervous and the increased stress will make it more susceptible to disease. Bear in mind also that wild caught boas are likely to be far more aggressive, particularly in the case of some subspecies. Boa Constrictor constrictor and Boa Constrictor imperator tend to be among the more manageable. It is generally best to keep only one per enclosure. Two snakes have been kept in a very large enclosure, but aside from breeding they should be kept separate. Never house a boa with any other species of snake, as the risks of disease are too great. At any rate, keeping two snakes in one enclosure because you do not have sufficient space for two enclosures is asking for trouble, since eventually they will need to be separated. This may be because the female has become gravid, one of the snakes has become ill, or because they no longer tolerate each other. If you intend to breed, a male and female that have been kept together for longer are far less likely to mate than two snakes that have just been introduced. It would seem there is little difference in personality between male and female snakes. Clay English states in his care sheet "The ultimate boa constrictor care manual" that "if you cannot afford a second enclosure, then you cannot afford a second boa" which in my opinion is sound advice. Double the snake equates to double the food, double the vets bills, and double the waste! Enclosures should be set up well in advance of bringing any animal home, to allow you to ensure everything is stable and temperatures are correct. Introducing a snake into a new home is stressful enough without adding to it with incorrect husbandry. It is also easier to make changes if there is no snake in the enclosure. When choosing your snake, look for the following signs of good health: 1) A well muscled, rounded body 2) Clean, clear eyes 3) Clean vent, no caked faeces 4) No wheezing or gasping 5) Alert and attentive 6) Slight iridescence to the scales 7) Firmly grips onto your hand or arm when handled 8) No signs of thermal or other scarring 9) No apparent shedding issues 10) Tongue flicks regularly 11) No loose skin 12) No evidence of mites If possible, ask for a feeding demonstration before you take the snake home. This ensures the snake is eating, gives you a lesson on feeding and lets it eat before the stress of the move puts it off its meals for a couple of weeks. You should also try to see a fully grown adult before making the purchase, just so you know what to expect! Transporting Snakes Transport your snake in a dark box, preferably cardboard, with air holes cut in the top. Do not open your box en-route, as this will only stress the snake. If possible, have someone hold the box to stop it sliding around but if this is not achievable place the box flat on the floor, not on the seat. If it's already on the floor, it has nowhere to fall! Try to keep the car at a comfortable temperature, do not allow to become too hot or too cold. Once you get home, place the box open into the enclosure. Let the snake come out in its own time, it may wait till night. Once it is out, remove the box but do not attempt to feed for about two weeks, and try not to disturb it in this time. After the snake has eaten three or four times for you may begin to handle it.
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