Care Sheet: Rainbow boas...
Rainbow Boas; Latin name ‘Epicrates Cenchria SSP’ are named because of the iridescent sheen caused by microscopic ridges on their scales. Which act like prisms turning the light into rainbows.
Rainbow Boas can be found in much of South America, and can potentially grow to four to seven feet long, with a life span of around 20 years.
Housing
Providing the right size vivarium for the snake is very important. Hatchlings are best kept in fairly small containers with plenty of air holes. Progressing with size as the snake grows. Eventually an adult boa would require a 4 foot vivarium.
In the vivarium you will also need a hide box, a water dish, and a suitable substrate/bedding, make sure your chosen substrate is non-toxic to your snake, see substrate section. Lastly it is important you maintain a steady temperature in the vivarium.
Hide Box
Rainbow Boas like to hide so they feel secure. They will use almost anything. You can use proper reptile hides to a cardboard box. Personally I use reptile hides as they can be washed and clean easily.
Water Dish
Rainbow Boas must have access to fresh clean water. Which should always be available in a suitable size dish. The Boas not only drink the water, but they like to soak themselves when they shed their skin.
Substrate/Bedding
For the base of the vivarium you can use a range of different substrates. Such as newspaper, paper towels, cage mats or beech wood chips.
It is important that great care is taken when choosing a suitable substrate. Using an unsuitable substrate can cause many problems, sometimes resulting to the death of your snakes.
Temperature/Heating
The temperature should be kept between 72°F and 85°F. the easiest way is to use a heat mat at one end of the vivarium. For best control of the temperature, use a thermostat. A thermostat placed on the substrate will tell you what temperature your snake is experiencing.
Humidity
Rainbow Boas require a large water bowl to soak in and a damp box. Which is a suitable sized container with a hole cut in one end filled with damp sphagnum moss or vermiculite. Which I find is easiest to maintain.
Feeding
When feeding your Rainbow Boa use only a good quality rodent of the correct size. Hatchlings usually start on Fuzzy mice, eventually taking an medium rat when fully grown. The rule is usually the meal being slightly smaller than the widest part of the snake. I recommend the use of frozen rodents, NOT live. To defrost the mice I use warm not hot water.
Rough defrosting times:
Pinkies approximately 10 minutes
Fuzzies approximately 10-12 minutes
Small approximately 12-15 minutes
Medium approximately 15-20 minutes
Adults approximately 20-30 minutes
After defrosting re-warm the water to replicate the natural body temperature of the mouse, dry the mouse then feed to the snake. I personally use feeding tongs, so my snakes recognise tongs as food and not fingers.
All snakes are individual, their requirements may differ slightly. For example the amount of food they consume, and time between each feed.
Juveniles I usually feed every 4-7 days. Gradually increasing to feeding sub-adults and adults every 7-14 days. When they can easily take 3 at each feed, I move the snake up to the next size mouse.
Rodents
Please note all my frozen mice are produced specifically for reptiles. Special care is taken with their feeding so they don’t cause long term effects on your snake
Information
There are many good books available, and you can also ask tips and advise from breeders and keepers. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any queries or questions.
