Rainbow boa - a description of where it lives, features

The content of the article

1 Description
2 Main types
3 Habitat
4 Life of a boa constrictor
5 Enemies
6 Boa constrictor as a pet
7 Housing for a boa constrictor
8 Nutrition
9 Caution
10 Breeding
11 What to look for when buying a snake
12 Price
13 Video: Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria)

This view, from the lips of lovers of the tropics and various exotics, sounds like an aboma. In Latin, Epicrates cenchria is a species of snake that has no poison. Belongs to the genus of smooth-lipped boas.

Description

This boa constrictor is almost the only snake that lives on the continents. Included in the genus Epicrates. This includes many different reptiles, and the rainbow boa constrictor is one of the representatives. The length of the snake reaches two meters. The difference from the rest of the species is in the flakes of a rather large size, distributed evenly around the eyes of the boa constrictor.

The color of the reptile is usually done in brown or dark red colors. There are large spots of light shades on the scales. The contour of each spot is a dark ring. On the sides of the boa constrictor, the spots are darker and much smaller. You can see a bright strip on them. The abdomen has a cluster of small dark spots. When sunlight falls on the scale of a boa constrictor, one can enjoy an amazing sight. She begins to shine and shimmer with various colors of the rainbow spectrum.

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Main types

In total, among the smooth-lipped boas, there are about 7 species of snakes. Among them there are such types of rainbow representatives as:

Colombian;
Jamaican;
Ford
Peruvian;
and etc.

The main feature among small kites is the presence of a brown strip along the back. The strip is wide and has bright spots of almost beige color. Among the older individuals, the reddish color is most popular. Also, boas can boast of their overflow of scales when exposed to flakes of sunlight.

Habitat

This type of reptile has spread to all corners of the planet. Most often it can be found in the territory near Panama. There is an opportunity to see a boa constrictor in South America. More precisely, in its northern part. Some species live on the islands of Margarita and Tobago. Prefers a boa constrictor woodland near the savannah.

Viviparous species live in America. Most often found in humid tropics, as well as in the savannah. You can also find boas in Paraguay. They are also found in Brazil. Sometimes species of these reptiles are found in the West Indies.

Life of a boa constrictor

Almost the majority of the time a boa constrictor passes on land. Especially often you can find quite old individuals. Young people like to creep into trees periodically.

Walking through the tropics, you can stumble upon a rainbow boa, buried in leaves or soil. So they hide from the heat. Also, they are all wonderful swimmers, and therefore these reptiles can be found in various reservoirs.

The minimum lifespan of a rainbow boa constitutes 12 years. However, under good climatic conditions, the absence of enemies and the constant availability of food, a boa constrictor can live up to 20 years or more.

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Enemies

In fact, the reptile has many enemies. The main hunters for rainbow boas:

Big birds of prey.
Caimans and other wild pigs.
Jaguars.

Also, a hedgehog, monitor lizard or coyote can attack a boa constrictor. Great danger threatens the snake from kites and mongooses.

Boa constrictor as a pet

Widespread in modern society is the so-called domestication of snakes. And the rainbow boa is no exception. Most often, people prefer to settle poisonous snakes at home. A rainbow boa is great in this case, and also pleases its owners with its coloring and minimal care requirements.

Housing for a boa constrictor

A great option for keeping a boa constrictor in an apartment would be a terrarium. It is best to choose a container with thick walls of large height in order to avoid snake escape. Horizontal terrariums are suitable for boas that live in hardwood.

The most important condition is to observe the temperature regime and humidity so that the boa is comfortable. It is known that the snake belongs to cold-blooded animals, and therefore maintaining the temperature and humidity at the level is so important. For example, you can install a device for automatic heating. A terrarium model with a built-in temperature sensor is also suitable. In order to monitor humidity, you need to install a hygrometer. The optimum percentage of moisture is about 80%.

A layer of drainage and soil is arranged at the bottom of the terrarium. Subsequently, orchids will grow there. It will not be superfluous to put wood driftwood or branches inside so that the boa constricts itself a refuge.

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Nutrition

The main food for reptiles is rodents and small birds. So it will not be so difficult to provide a suitable snake with food. Young mice should be fed freshly born mice.

The frequency of feeding and the amount of feed given depends on:

Age.
Weights.
Personal preferences of the animal.

Most often, it is necessary to feed young individuals, as well as increase the number of meals for pregnant females. In this case, feeding is carried out once every five days. You can give regular boas food twice a week.

The most important thing is to provide the boa constrictor with water. To do this, it is worth putting a device in the terrarium that monitors the amount of liquid in the drinker.

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Caution

Rainbow boas are quite peaceful. You can not believe the constant warnings about the aggressiveness and bloodthirstiness of the animal. In fact, there were quite a few such cases. Of course, in the wild, a boa constrictor is capable of dragging a person into the water and strangling it; however, for this to happen, the reptile must be either very frightened or well angered.

There are also species of boas with extremely interesting behavior in case of danger. For example, Cuban boas immediately curl up into a ball. In addition, their eyes acquire a red tint, and blood begins to drip from the mouth.

An irritated boa constrictor can warn about his condition by hissing. So, if the pet starts to hiss at the owner, he should leave the exot alone.

Breeding

In order for the offspring to appear, it is necessary to place a female boa in the terrarium to the male. Usually for each female there are two males. If successful, the pregnant female will bear the fetus for five months.

Kids boa constrictor very bright coloring. If it is correct to provide feed to small pets, then soon they will gain significant weight and add in length. So, for example, at twelve months their length can reach a meter.

What to look for when buying a snake

In the past few years, cases of retroviral disease have become more frequent among boas. It affects the body of boas, and this leads to their death. The most dangerous thing is that the symptoms may not appear until the last, and the owner can find out about the disease already in a case that is hopeless for salvation. Therefore, it is better to contact experienced breeders for the acquisition. You can also try to go to the nursery, where such situations are carefully monitored.