How to Care for a Pet Red Tail Boa?

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Red Tail Boas

The red-tailed boa, also known as the boa constrictor, is a very common choice as a pet snake. Red-tailed boas are readily available at a breeder, pet store, or reptile show and are identifiable by their red stamped on the tip of the tail.

Red-tailed boas are native to Brazil and neighboring regions, where they spend their time in rainforests and lowlands, and although their environment varies, they are considered moderately arboreal.

Behavior and temperament of red-tailed boas

The red-tailed boa grows 8 to 10 feet long and can weigh around 50 pounds as an adult. They will live 25 to 30 years in captivity if cared for properly and are large snakes for the average pet owner.

Red-tailed boa should be seriously considered before purchasing because of their strength, size, how much they eat, and ability to toughen. It is not legal to own them everywhere, so be sure to check local laws as well.

Part of the reason red-tailed boas are so popular is due to their typically docile temperament. They are not generally aggressive snakes, but even if they are not annoying, they can easily harm a person by contracting (grabbing someone's hand, neck, or arm) orbiting you if you think your hand is food.

Red-tailed boas dwelling

A 10-foot snake needs a bit of room to move around, but it generally doesn't like to stretch to its full length. Snakes feel safer hiding under something and can snuggle up.

If they are fully unwound, it is usually a sign that they feel vulnerable and threatened. An enclosure that offers 8-10 feet of floor space, is a few feet high, and a few feet wide is very tall for an adult red-tailed boa.

Perhaps the most important thing about a pen for a red-tailed boa is its safety. All snakes are escape artists and will make their way through open lids and through small openings.

All snake enclosures should have locks or latches to prevent an escape, which can be dangerous to the snake and the people living in the house.

Placing a red-tailed boa in an attached pillowcase works well for carrying or temporarily holding it while its enclosure is being cleaned.

Since red-tailed boas come from a tropical environment, the ease of maintaining humidity levels should be considered when installing a cage.

Glass or glass sides and lids Plexiglass helps maintain the highest humidity in an enclosure, but you'll want to make sure enough air can still circulate inside and nothing will melt from the heaters.

Your snake needs a large, sturdy water bowl. You should be able to easily place their entire body in the container to soak it up.

Red-tailed boa should also have a box or place to escape the heat and snuggle up in a quiet, hidden place whenever they want. Many owners use wooden or cardboard boxes for the hides and replace or clean them as needed.

Tree branches may or may not be used by your snake.

The type of bedding you choose should be easy to clean, as a large snake produces a lot of waste.

Paper towels are great for young red-tailed boas and reptile cage rugs or rugs. indoor/outdoor cut into removable sections that are easy to clean when you have an adult snake.

Other commonly used materials include reptile bark, reptile soil mixes, and other natural floor coverings. The sand is not suitable for red-tailed boas; they can ingest it causing digestive impaction.

Lighting and heating

Since red-tailed boas are native to Brazil, they love their warm surroundings. A sunbathing spot should be kept at 90-95 degrees with the help of heat lamps or other means.

But avoid using hot rocks as they can cause thermal burns to a snake. The rest of the tank can be in the upper 80s and at night for sure if the temperature drops to the lower 80s.

Heat lamps, ceramic heat emitters, tank heaters, and incubator cages are all acceptable ways to heat a snake cage.

Just make sure your snake can't reach the heating element and get burned.

UVB lighting isn't mandatory for red-tailed boas, but if you want to provide additional white light during the day, a UVB light is a great option.

It can even help stimulate appetite, reduce stress, and make your snake an overall happier and more active snake.

Food and water

Juvenile red-tailed boas will eat fluff, then mice, then rats, and once they reach adulthood, they will eat rabbits and large rats.1 Prey should be killed before feeding to the snake and offered in a used enclosure only to feed himself.

Do not feed your snake in its usual cage; This will reduce the likelihood that the snake will think you are food and accidentally bite you or ingest your substrate.

The feeding tank should be covered with a towel while feeding to give your snake a sense of security, or you can place your snake's skin box in the feeding tank while feeding.

Common health problems

The most serious disease that can affect boas constrictors is inclusion body disease or IBD2. It is a deadly retrovirus, similar to HIV in humans.

This virus can lie dormant for years before the snake shows any signs of illness. This disease can be transmitted from one snake to another through mites, which carry infected body fluids.

That's why it's a good idea to keep multiple pet snakes separate, if possible.

IBD is characterized by a lack of appetite and excess saliva, and in severe or more advanced cases, IBD causes snakes to lose control of their body movements.

Red-tailed boas are also susceptible to respiratory infections, marked by wheezing and a runny nose.2 A frothy discharge from a snake's mouth usually indicates pneumonia, which requires immediate treatment.

Scale rot and blister disease are common in boas constrictors, and both are generally caused by unsanitary conditions.

Blister disease can appear as snakeskin burns and is usually caused by overheated cages or a lack of moisture.

All of these conditions must be treated by a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles.

Choosing a red-tailed boa

Red-tailed boas are large, strong, and durable snakes and are not suitable for everyone. Feeding them can get more expensive as they get older, as can the time it takes to clean their cage.

So make sure you are prepared and know what to expect before bringing home a pet, especially one that lives to be 30 years old.

Enjoy The Video Tutorial about Red Tail Boa Care Guide 2020

Source:Dbcb Exotics

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