Imperial boa constrictor is black. Common boa constrictor

Latin name– Boa constrictor

English name– Red-tailed boa

Class– Reptiles or Reptiles (Reptilia)

Squad– Scaly (Squamata)

Suborder– Snakes (Serpentes)

Family– Pseudophod snakes (Boidae)

Genus– Boas (Boa)

Boas are a group of reptiles distinct from poisonous snakes a special way of hunting. As the name of these reptiles indicates, boas do not bite their victims, but strangle them. They are not original in this technique; their close relatives, pythons and anacondas, do the same. However, boas are superior to their non-venomous counterparts in diversity: in nature there are 60 species.

Distribution and habitats

The range of the common boa constrictor is very extensive. This snake is distributed in South and Central America and the Lesser Antilles. The lifestyle in different parts of the range is different and depends on the habitat.

Boa constrictor inhabits rain forests and river valleys, dry bush thickets, rises to the middle mountain belt. The southernmost subspecies lives in arid open spaces. However, the most preferred biotope is tropical rain forests.

Description

Among the boas there are real giants, for example the common anaconda (lat. Eunectes murinus), reaching a length of more than 10 meters.

The coloring of boas is similar to the dominant colors in their habitats. It can be in gray-brown tones in species that live on the ground, or in bright, sometimes contrasting colors in individuals living in trees or on the forest floor. Some boas have stripes on their bodies, as well as large or small spots of round, oblong or diamond-shaped shapes and a wide variety of colors, and the spots can be with or without eyes. In some species, the skin can have a metallic sheen in all the colors of the rainbow (for example, the rainbow boa). Ground boas have the ability to change color, becoming lighter or darker. At night, light-reflecting spots and stripes appear on their body, which create a phosphorescent effect.

Characteristic feature Boa constrictors, in addition to a flattened head and lack of limbs, have a long, muscular body with a round cross section. The body of sand boas has a cylindrical shape, it is very dense and with developed muscles. Sand boas have no narrowing in the neck area, the tail is blunt and rather short.

The boa constrictor's skull has a unique structure that allows it to swallow large prey. This is achieved thanks to the movable connection of the bones of the facial part, as well as the elastic articulation of the parts of the lower jaw with each other. Sharp teeth located not only on the jaws, but also on the bones that make up oral apparatus(palatine, pterygoid and premaxillary). This is due to the fact that boa constrictors do not need teeth for grinding caught prey, but only for holding or pushing it deep into the esophagus. On the surface of the head there are large keratinized scutes, grouped in a certain order. Unlike pythons, boas do not have supraorbital bones.

Unlike other boas, in Mascarene boas the maxillary bone is divided into 2 movably interconnected parts: the anterior and posterior.

The structure of the shortened and flattened head of sand boas is interesting. The wedge-shaped upper jaw, which serves as a digging tool, is noticeably pushed forward, so the opening of the mouth is located below. The large intermaxillary shield extends onto top part heads, taking on the entire load as the boa moves through the soil. The front teeth of the upper and lower jaws of the sand boa are slightly longer than the back ones.

Unlike other reptiles, which completely lack the girdles of the fore and hind limbs, boas have preserved pelvic bones in a rudimentary state. In addition, they retained the remains of their hind limbs, which appear as paired claws located on either side of the anus. True, there is an exception here: for example, Mascarene boas completely lack these rudiments.

Depending on the size of the boa constrictor, the number of vertebrae that make up the spinal column can range from 141 to 435. A characteristic feature of the structure of the snake’s skeleton is the absence of a sternum, which makes the ribs extremely mobile.

All internal organs of these reptiles have an elongated modified form, conditioned general structure bodies. Paired organs are located asymmetrically and may be unevenly developed. For example, the right lung is significantly larger in size than the left. In ground boas (lat. Tropidophiidae), the typical left lung is absent - it has turned into a tracheal (tracheal) lung and is formed by the expansion of the posterior part of the trachea.

The nervous system of boas consists of a small brain and a well-developed spinal cord, which determines high accuracy and speed of muscle reactions.

Boas navigate the surrounding space thanks to their senses of smell and touch. In addition, most of the information is brought by thermosensitive receptors located on the front of the muzzle and a forked tongue, which transmits information to the brain using special paired organs, which are a kind of chemical analyzers.

The vision of boas is not particularly sharp. This is particularly due to the fact that eyes with vertical pupils are always covered with a film formed from the eyelids fused together. The eyes of sand boas are small and slightly turned upward - this arrangement is convenient because, even when buried in the ground, the boa can observe everything that is happening on the surface without sticking out its head.

Due to the fact that reptiles lack external auditory openings and the middle ear is underdeveloped, all snakes have difficulty distinguishing sounds that travel through the air.

The body of boas is covered on the sides and top with diamond-shaped scales, slightly overlapping each other. Such plates are arranged in longitudinal or diagonal rows. Between the scales of the longitudinal rows there are areas of skin that are collected in small folds, allowing the integument of the body to greatly stretch. The plates located on the belly of reptiles have a transversely elongated shape and are also connected to each other by sections of skin.

As they grow, the outer coverings age and peel off. The molting process occurs, with the first change of skin occurring a few days after the snake is born. In healthy boas, the frequency of changing covers does not exceed 4 times a year.

Gender Differences

There are no fundamental differences in the size and color of males and females. In males, the tail is long with a characteristic thickening at the base; from the anus it is cylindrical, then turns into a cone. Females have a shorter tail, without thickening at the base, and cone-shaped. In males, relatively large, claw-like rudiments of the hind limbs are clearly visible, located on the sides of the anus; in females they are smaller and less prominent. Females are usually more massive and larger than males.

Subspecies

There are 10 subspecies of the common boa constrictor (Boa constrictor):

Subspecies	Russian name	Area
B.c. amarali	Bolivian boa constrictor	Southeastern Bolivia, southern Brazil, northern Paraguay
B. c. constrictor	Common boa constrictor	Brazil, eastern Colombia, eastern Peru, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana
B. c. emperor	Imperial boa	Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Central America, Mexico
B. c. longicauda		Northern Peru
B. c. Mexicana		Ecuador
B.c. nebulosa		Dominica
B. c. occidentalis	Argentine boa constrictor	Northern Argentina (Mendoza, San Luis, Cordoba, La Pampa), Paraguay, southeastern Bolivia
B. c. orophias		Saint Lucia
B. c. ortonii		Northwestern Peru
B. c. sabogae		Islands in the Gulf of Panama (Pearl Islands, etc.)

Biotope and lifestyle in nature

Wide variety of biotopes. Tropical moist forests, sparse woodlands, foothill forests, mountain slopes (up to 2000 m above sea level) and rocky lowlands overgrown with bushes, caves, floodplains of rivers and streams, banks of reservoirs, mangroves, sea coast, prairies and pampas, outskirts of towns and cities. Prefers biotopes with permanent sources fresh water. It climbs trees well, in some parts of its range it leads a semi-arboreal lifestyle, and in others it is purely terrestrial. Spends the day in crevices, forest rubble and other shelters, hunting in twilight, night and morning hours. It swims well and can stay in water for a very long time. Residents of cities and towns keep boa constrictors in their houses, where they hunt rodents.

What does a boa constrictor eat?

The diet of boas is very varied. It includes not only small or medium-sized animals, birds and amphibians, but also larger representatives of the animal world (antelope, crocodiles). Small boas feed on opossums, mongooses, rats, frogs, lizards, waterfowl and other birds and their chicks (ducks, pigeons, parrots and sparrows). Agoutis, pakis, and peccaries also become prey for snakes. Cuban boas, among other things, catch bats. Larger boas, for example, anacondas, can easily attack capybaras, small crocodiles (caimans), as well as large turtles. Also, a boa constrictor can attack a domestic animal that has approached a watering hole: a dog, pig, chicken or duck.

Having pounced on the victim, the boa constrictors wrap their rings around it. However, they never break the bones of their victims, so as not to harm their digestive system.

The diet of sand boas includes small rodents (hamsters, jerboas, gerbils and mice), small birds (sparrows, wagtails), and lizards (geckos, agamas, roundheads, foot-and-mouth lizards). Young individuals feed on locusts and darkling beetles. When hunting, snakes easily crawl into rodent burrows. Sand boas hold caught prey with their teeth and easily kill it, wrapping 2-3 rings of their muscular body around the victim.

Scientists who study snakes and have lived for a long time in the Amazon, they claim that a giant boa constrictor is capable of swallowing prey that is thicker than its body, if the weight of the prey does not exceed 60 kg (wild pigs, small deer and antelope). Young individuals of larger animals can also become their victims.

Unlike other snakes, these reptiles are able to hunt in complete darkness. They have special receptors located between the nostrils and eyes that are sensitive to heat. This allows boas to notice approaching prey even from a distance by the heat emanating from its body.

Boas eat little. After consuming a large piece, they can remain without food for several weeks to several months.

Reproduction and lifespan

Boas become sexually mature at approximately 4-5 years of age. The mating period of these reptiles depends on the type of snake and its habitat. Pregnancy lasts from 5 to 10 months.

IN mating season the boas practically stop feeding, and several excited males appear near the mature female. They organize a kind of “knightly tournament”, and in order to win the “queen” from their opponent, they bite and push him. The winner flirts with the female for several hours (sometimes even a whole day), rubs his body against her and can prick her with the claws of the rudimentary hind limbs located near the anus. Mating can take place both in trees and on the ground, depending on the type of boa constrictor.

Almost all boas are ovoviviparous by method of reproduction. This means that when reproducing offspring, they simultaneously exhibit signs of oviparity and viviparity. During pregnancy, the stage of development of eggs occurs in the female's body, but she does not lay them, like, for example, pythons, but carries them in her womb. In this case, the embryo receives nutrition from the substances contained in egg yolk, and is not associated with the metabolism of the female body. The young leave the egg shell while still inside the mother. Fully formed small snakes are born, connected by an umbilical cord to the remnant of the yolk sac. After 2-5 days the umbilical cord falls off.

There are also boa constrictors that lay eggs. These are some species that belong to the smooth-lipped boas (lat. Epicrates), to the ground boas (for example, Eryx jayakari and Eryx muelleri). Also oviparous are calabariids, which were previously classified as members of the family of pseudopods, but were then separated into separate family Calabariidae.

In females belonging to different types, the number of cubs born varies from 2-5 to 60 individuals. The body length of babies is 40-50 centimeters. Females give birth to 25 snakes per litter, but the number of babies can be 10-60. Little boas immediately begin to lead an independent life. In the first years they grow quickly. Puberty occurs in the third or fourth year of life. Boas grow throughout their lives. IN wildlife boas live 20-25 years; in captivity, subject to the required temperature and diet, these reptiles live up to 30-40 years.

In the wildlife of our planet there are quite a few different species of these mysterious animals, but not all are suitable for keeping in your home or office. Some representatives of this amazing kind not very friendly and easy to get along with people. We present to your attention the most studied species of boa constrictors, which can be classified as “pets”.

Sand boa

Eryx miliaris. This delightful pseudopod considers its homeland western part Kazakhstan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, in Russia its habitat is considered to be the territories of Eastern Ciscaucasia and southern part Lower Volga region. As for the habitat, its favorite areas are sandy deserts, although it does not crush clay deserts.

This eccentric is not particularly large in size; he is considered one of the smallest representatives of his genus. It can grow to approximately 70–80 cm in length. Its body is solid, which means that the head is not separated from the body itself by some kind of neck interception. Local residents often call this reptile a two-headed snake, for the reason that its short, blunt tail is sometimes very difficult to distinguish from its head. This feature often saves the life of this sand snake, since predators also confuse its front and tail ends.

Another feature of this reptile is the location of its eyes and nostrils. The peculiar shape of the nostrils prevents sand from getting into them while “swimming” in it, and the visual organs are located high up, helping to inspect the surrounding area without revealing the reptile itself from the sand.

Despite their secrecy and caution, these cute creatures often fall into the clutches of dangerous predators and people who take them to terrariums or simply use them as cures for many ailments, earning their fortunes in the process.

Madagascar boa constrictor

Sanzinia madagascariensis. This native of Madagascar lives in forested areas with varying humidity levels.

This Madagascar miracle of nature is quite large in size. Its body length is approximately 2.2–2.8 meters. The weight of males and females varies greatly; an adult male weighs about 3 kg, while a female boa constrictor can have twice that body weight.

Perhaps, business card This snake is characterized by its unusual color, which is represented by a complex pattern. The color scheme of the main tone can vary in shades of brown, green, yellow and even red. A beautiful pattern of large spotted elements in a diamond shape is visualized on the back. Sometimes there may be light inclusions in the center of the diamond, or it is often decorated with a marginal border of light shades.

These pseudopods lead both arboreal and terrestrial lifestyles. Sometimes they go in search of prey on the ground, and sometimes they can hunt on tree branches, where they can spend their leisure time, resting and bathing in the sun’s rays.

Rainbow boa

Epicrates cenchria. The distribution of this reptile in the wild is quite wide; it lives in territories from Central America to northern Argentina. Feels very comfortable in dense forests with increased level humidity and other wetlands.

Looking at this reptile, the question immediately arises in your head: “Why is it rainbow?” After all, everyone associates the word “rainbow” with something unusually bright and cheerful, and the color of this creature is far from unique. The coloring of this reptile itself is inconspicuous, like a rainbow one. The main tone is represented by a brownish-reddish color. But once this wonderful scaly creature meets sunbeam, as at this moment the whole mystery of his name is explained. In the sun, its modest color begins to sparkle with small sparkles of green and golden colors; with every movement of the snake in the sun, the surface of its body acquires a unique shine and shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow.

Dog-headed boa

Corallus caninus. A snake of the subfamily of boas. Found only in Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Guyana.

The largest reaches a length of 2.5 m. It is distinguished by its emerald green color. Habitats: tropical rainforests, along river banks, in high mountain forests. As a rule, boas live in the canopy of trees, hunting birds, arboreal rodents and lizards. Usually mate late autumn or at the beginning of winter.

Terrarium

Place branches in the boa constrictor's house so that he can climb on them. The fact is that in nature, snakes love to perch on branches and hunt - give your pet the same opportunity and he will feel “at home.”

Now about the soil. It should be either coconut shavings or peat flooring. In a good way, it is necessary to change the litter as it becomes dirty, but the tenant will not mind if you do this every 3-4 days. Who doesn't love cleanliness?

Save temperature regime. Boas like it to be 28-30 degrees Celsius during the day and not drop below 22 at night. In addition, the terrarium should be humid. To do this you need to spray it. Be careful - there is no need to arrange tropical downpours, slush in the terrarium is bad. And even more so, do not make it rain on the snake itself - this will irritate it.

We are gradually approaching feeding the pet and now important nuances things you should know about:

Do not overfeed the boa constrictor. Believe it or not, these animals also have a problem with obesity. But if for you and me it is solved by diets and physical activity, then for these creatures everything can end in tears. It is unlikely that you will force the snake to do exercises in the morning, so try not to overfeed it and everything will be fine.
If, out of the kindness of your heart, you still overfeed the boa constrictor, then don’t expect any offspring!
We feed the pet strictly according to schedule and in doses, despite the pleading hungry gaze of unblinking eyes.

What to feed a boa constrictor?

You can't buy dry food for a boa constrictor anywhere. Because boas love all living things, and they are unlikely to want to supply live food to pet stores (at least in the form of food for boas). You will have to personally obtain mice, jerboas, rats, hamsters or, as a last resort, rabbits and chickens for your troglodyte. And under no circumstances should you even think about catching wild pigeons! They can infect the boa constrictor with salmonella.

Advice: try stringing a piece of meat onto a twig (from a broom, for example) and offering it to the boa constrictor. The twig will move, and the boa constrictor will think that this meat is moving and will be happy to “catch” it.

It's also worth remembering: A small snake (by boa constrictor standards, of course) cannot be fed large food, otherwise the animal may have an intestinal rupture, and this is fraught with a complex operation.

So, if you decide to feed your pet, for example, mice, then here is an approximate diet:

For a newborn animal, 1 mouse per week will be enough.
A young individual will cost 1 rat every 2 weeks.
An adult female will be happy to receive 2 large rats 1 r. at 3 weeks.
Adult male – 1 large rat 1 rub. at 3 weeks.

If you don’t like watching a boa constrictor strangle its prey and then swallow it, then food items can be given to your pet already killed.

As for water, the snake must always have it available. Install a drinking bowl and fill it with fresh water every time.

Boa constrictors strangle their victims using the following technique: by wrapping themselves around the chest of the prey, the boa constrictor “tightens” its rings on its chest as it exhales. As a result of 2-3 exhalations, the victim has almost no air left in his lungs, and he can no longer breathe.
Boas, like other amphibians, are cold-blooded animals, i.e. their body temperature depends on the temperature environment. The activity of boa constrictors also depends on this. The higher the temperature, the more active they behave. The best way calm the boa constrictor - reduce the temperature in the terrarium.
What distinguishes boas from other snakes is their ability to hunt when zero visibility. They have temperature-sensitive receptors located between the eyes and nostrils. These organs detect the heat emanating from the body of the intended victim at a considerable distance in complete darkness, allowing the boa constrictor to hunt at night as effectively as during the day.
Most snakes use their tongue to collect particles present in the air, while the nostrils they have are used only for breathing. When the snake retracts its tongue, the particles are absorbed by special cavities on the roof of the snake's mouth, thus allowing it to perceive odors.

Video

Sources

https://nashzeleniymir.ru/boa constrictor https://animalreader.ru/udav-vse-o-zhizni-bolshoy-zmei.html#i-2 https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordinary_boa constrictor

The undisputed favorite among large snakes, kept in terrariums, was and remains an ordinary boa constrictor. Its elegant coloring, calm disposition with an impressive appearance and unpretentiousness have become the reason for its wild popularity among snake lovers.

They are truly handsome: an exquisite and intricate pattern on shiny skin with a faint iridescent tint, a small chiseled head, a rather slender and surprisingly proportional physique.

Such a bright, eye-catching color turns out to be very appropriate in the natural environment, hiding the snake among the interweaving of branches and a mosaic of leaves tropical forest. Most often found in terrariums are representatives of the subspecies from Central America, which is called the imperial boa constrictor. The rarer and more expensive red-tailed boas from the Orinoco basin are the subject of dreams for many lovers.

Common boa constrictors require a spacious terrarium, decorated with thick branches for climbing, with a large pond. In captivity, they usually do not grow longer than 3 meters, so their housing fits well into the usual environment of a city apartment. They serve as food various rodents and birds, while unlike pythons, food items should not be too large. Common boas breed easily in captivity, and for this they do not require external stimulation, such as wintering or changing the light regime. What’s especially nice is that they are viviparous. The young do not suffer from lack of appetite, although at first they do not grow very quickly, which may not be a bad thing.

The equanimity and peacefulness of these snakes makes them very pleasant to communicate with, and their undemanding conditions allow even terrarium keepers with minimal experience to keep them.

This is one of the most popular snakes in the terrariums of reptile lovers around the world, and this love could not arise out of nowhere, since these snakes are truly very worthy. They have perfect size, bright, memorable, beautiful color, calm disposition, in other words, this is a snake without flaws, so the common boa constrictor may be of interest to both beginning terrarium keepers and experienced reptile lovers.

These snakes are not as large as, for example, adult tiger pythons, but they have a dense, powerful, muscular physique with a clear and bright pattern from head to tail.

The bulk of boa constrictors currently sold in Russia have average sizes for this species, which rarely exceed 2 meters in length. This despite the fact that in natural conditions the spread of the maximum sizes of adult individuals is quite large and, depending on the locality, reaches from 1.5 to 5.5 meters. The coloration of these boas includes a bright light overall body background, with contrasting spots on the back, the so-called “saddles,” and a very bright tail with spots of a combination of brown and red. Moreover, despite the rather powerful body, boas have a very elegant small head.

The coloring of the various localities of these boas ranges from light gray or pastel beige to brown, red, and almost black, while there is great variability not only in color, but also in size, both in length and in body proportions. In different countries of the world, collections are being created dedicated to the maintenance and breeding of only one species of snake - the common boa constrictor. At the same time, these collections are purely individual and not similar to others, since some focus their interest on the maintenance and preservation of natural localities of snakes, others deal with only one or two subspecies, and the third is most interested in genetics and the breeding of new color morphs.
But it is not only its attractive appearance that makes this snake so beloved and desired by lovers. Most species of snakes can boast of beautiful colors, but for some reason they are not as popular among terrarium hobbyists as the common boa constrictor. In addition to the factors already mentioned, this is explained by the ease of keeping and the very calm nature of these snakes, since an aggressive common boa constrictor is an extremely rare occurrence.

When keeping common boas in captivity, the main difficulty lies in the size of the terrarium that is necessary to support this species. A large terrarium is needed, although not as large as, for example, for tiger or reticulated pythons. For one adult individual, a terrarium of 1000*500*500 mm is quite enough. This is the average size for the average boa constrictor, and it must be taken into account that the size of adult snakes varies greatly. If you know the locality of your boa constrictor or have seen the size of its parents and have an idea of the final size of the pet, you can calculate and required size terrarium. The minimum length of the terrarium should be 50-60% of the length of an adult boa constrictor, and the width should be 50-60% of the resulting length of the terrarium. It is better to make a larger terrarium, as much as your living conditions allow. It is best to equip it with a simple incandescent mirror lamp fixed in one corner of the terrarium. This will immediately provide both a thermal gradient and a photogradient in the terrarium.

The lamp power should be selected so that the temperature in the cold corner is room temperature, and on the floor under the lamp within 30-33 degrees. You should not overheat boas; in nature, they mainly inhabit the lower tier of the forest, where temperatures are not critical, snakes warm up in the spot sunlight, and cool down in the shade of the trees. Ultraviolet irradiation is not necessary for boa constrictors. Within their habitats, common boas mainly settle in fairly dry biotopes, but always close to water. Therefore, the terrarium must have a bathing suit in which the snake could fit completely. It is advisable to spray the terrarium, but without fanaticism, increasing the humidity mainly during the molting period.

The habitat of boa constrictors is huge, covering the territory from Mexico to Argentina. This is a huge territory, with many rivers, lakes and mountains, thanks to which different climatic conditions in different areas of the range, providing boas with different biotopes, forcing them to adapt to completely different conditions environment. Snakes inhabit forests, overgrown bushes, open forests, open areas, and rise quite high in the mountains, which ensures high ecological plasticity of this species. This is also reflected in the behavior of boas. For example, in some localities snakes lead a semi-arboreal lifestyle, while in others they lead an exclusively terrestrial lifestyle. Therefore, a terrarium for boas can also be equipped with all kinds of branches, vines and climbing shelves. This is especially true for young constrictors from small localities.

Boa constrictor – water snake, Constrictor, Boa constrictor, Red-tail boa (English), Königsboa, Königsschlange, Abgottschlange, Amerikanische Boa (German).

There are 10 localites: B. c. constrictor – nominative subspecies.
B. c. amarali - Amaral's common boa constrictor.
B. c. imperator – imperial common boa constrictor.
B. c. longicauda – long-tailed common boa constrictor.
B. c. mexicana – Mexican common boa constrictor.
B. c. nebulosa – dark common boa constrictor.
B. c. occidentalis – western common boa constrictor.
B. c. orophias - St. Lucian common boa constrictor.
B. c. ortonii - Ortoni's common boa constrictor.
B. c. sabogae – Saboga common boa constrictor.

Average length body 2.5-3 m.
Lifespan in captivity up to 30 years.

Features of behavior— adult individuals have a docile nature and rarely express aggression. Young snakes can make tentative lunges and are occasionally aggressive. They prefer habitats with a constant source of fresh water. Excellent at climbing trees. Depending on the biotope, it leads a semi-arboreal and arboreal lifestyle. Active during twilight and night hours. During the day it hides in shelters - crevices, snags, caves, hollows. Swims well, does not dive.

Gender Differences there are no males or females. Upon comparative examination, males can be noted to have more long tail, with thickening at the cloaca. In females the tail is somewhat shorter and without thickening. Both sexes have claw-like rudiments at the anus, which are stronger and longer in males. Females have a more powerful build and larger size.
Puberty at 2.5-4 years. Ovoviviparous species. Pregnancy lasts from 5 to 7 months. The female gives birth to from 20 to 50 cubs. The first molt is a week after birth.

Content. Horizontal type terrarium . The size for small species is 45-45 cm, for larger representatives the area is from 70-45 cm. Temperature range during the day 24-28, at the warming point 33-35oC, at night not lower than 24oC. Humidity About 50-80% is supported. A permanent body of water is needed in which the snake can safely fit completely. Priming optional. Suitable substrates include paper, napkins, rubber mats, and bark. Shelter placed if necessary, spacious and twilight. Place it in a cool corner. Daylight hours are 12 hours. Need to install ultraviolet lamps 5-8% UVB power.

Feeding Before a year you can do it once every 5-7 days, after a year once every 10-14 days. Forage rodents and small birds are used as food. The size of the prey varies depending on the size of the snake itself - baby mice, newborn rats for small ones, mice, rats, mastomus, gerbils, guinea pigs for large individuals.

Imperial Boa (Boa Constrictor Imperator) as pet very popular among terrarium enthusiasts. The domestic imperial boa constrictor is an ideal reptile for keeping in urban environments: they have a calm disposition, bright colors and suitable sizes. Even a beginner can start it.

What does an imperial boa constrictor look like?

These snakes have a strong, muscular body and an elegant head. The size of the imperial boa in nature is 5 meters, bred for home keeping are no more than 2 meters in length. The morphs of the imperial boa constrictor are varied. The most common color is light brown, the back is reddish or coffee-colored with yellow spots. On the sides there are dark diamond-shaped spots with light rims.

Imperial boa morphs

Color varies from white to black, with and without patterns. The most common morph is the Colombian, the color is called “normal” - this is a color close to natural. The color of the boa constrictor ranges from light sand to brown-orange with spots of dark, sometimes black color. On the tail - in the form of red ovals with a very dark outline.

Photos of the imperial boa constrictor clearly demonstrate the colors. The most common one is called Salmon. The boa constrictor is light with red tints. Super salmon has a more saturated color. These snakes do not have black pigmentation. Super salmon are born when two salmon are crossed with a probability of 1 in 4.

Albinos are also common. They are called amelanists. By type they are distinguished into Kahl Albino, Sharp Albino and Albino T-plus. They differ from normals by the absence of color dark spots. They are characterized by a red-yellow color with white zones and red eyes. Young snakes are brightly colored, but fade with age. However, the drawing remains.

When a normal and an albino are mated, the offspring in the first generation are obtained only with the color of the normals. But the cubs are carriers of the albino gene, they pass it on to inheritance. In 25% of cases, the offspring will be albinos. Crossing a normal born from an albino with an albino gives a 50% chance of producing an albino.

The offspring obtained from salmon and albino are white with bright spots. This breed of boa constrictor is called Sunglow. It is obtained by crossing several generations of snakes, and the price of the imperial Sanglo boa is higher than the natural color. There are three varieties of Sanglo: Kahl, Sharp and T-plus.

Localities of imperial boas

These reptiles are found almost everywhere - from Mexico to Argentina. They live in waters with different biotopes, that is, they are adapted to different conditions. Habitat: forests and clearings, mountainous areas, presence of reservoirs.

An adult imperial boa constrictor should live in a spacious horizontal terrarium. There should be a pool there, there should be branches in it. A suitable terrarium for an imperial boa constrictor is 100x50x50 cm. You should focus on the length of an adult reptile; the minimum length of the terrarium is half the length of the boa constrictor. The width of the “house” can be twice as narrow.

You need to place a regular incandescent lamp in the corner of the terrarium - in one part the temperature will be about 33°C, in the other - room temperature. Boas feel comfortable during the day at 25-32°C, at night - at 20-22°C. They love cool weather because in nature they live in the lower tier of forests.

The soil, walls of the terrarium and accessories must be regularly sprayed with water. The boa constrictor should have a bathtub in which it can bathe and fit completely. The level of humidity is especially important during the molting period. Shelves and branches are an integral part of the terrarium - boa constrictors love to crawl. The soil is sawdust covered with mulch. You can use paper.

A container of 60 cm by 40 cm is suitable for a young individual (up to 1 meter long). As they grow older, the terrarium is increased.

Feeding the imperial boa constrictor

The reptile is not picky about food. The Imperial Boa can be fed on mice and small birds. Thawed food is suitable. It is important to feed small boas correctly so that they develop correctly. digestive system. Do not overfeed, give large pieces, warm or cold food.

Reproduction of imperial boas

Breeding boas in captivity is not so easy. The mating period is February-March. In order for offspring to appear, the temperature in the terrarium is reduced to 18°C, and daylight hours are set to no more than 6-8 hours. To mate, the female must be placed alternately with all the males. During courtship, they stimulate her with “spurs”, sometimes the female’s skin is injured.

You can tell that the female is pregnant by her behavior: she begins to warm up more, rolls over on her back and sides, begins to eat more in the first months, and in the last days refuses food. The back of the body visually increases, but not always, especially if this is the first pregnancy. If pregnancy has occurred, the males must be removed from the terrarium and the snags must be removed so that the snake does not accidentally fall while crawling over them.

The imperial boa constrictor is a viviparous reptile. The gestation period lasts from 5 to 7 months. Cubs are born in a thin shell - they tear it themselves as soon as they are born. The process must be observed to help the snakes break the shell if they are unable to do this on their own.

The number of babies of the imperial boa varies from 15 to 64. Their length is about 50 cm. In captivity, they grow in 2 years to a length of about 3 meters. At 2 years old, the boa constrictor becomes sexually mature.

How long do imperial boas live?

In captivity, on average, these reptiles live about 10-12 years. With ideal care - up to 23 years.

How much does it cost to buy an imperial boa constrictor?

The price depends on the color of the reptile, size, age and gender. For example, individuals from Costa Rica - the smallest representatives of the breed - cost between 6500-7500 rubles. Rare copies will cost about 20,000 rubles. It is better to buy a snake at a pet store that specializes in exotic animals. A healthy reptile is active and looks well-fed.

Precautions when keeping boa constrictors

Imperial boa constrictor – non-venomous snake. But due to its size, its contents should be approached with all responsibility. The content rules that must be strictly followed are as follows:

It is forbidden to release the snake from the terrarium and pick it up while alone in the room. You can pick up a boa constrictor only in the presence of a second person;
you should not approach a boa constrictor if your clothes and skin smell of food;
Do not let the boa constrictor out of the terrarium if there is large number strangers to him.

The imperial boa constrictor is, in principle, a harmless and safe creature for humans. But the terrarium must be securely closed so that it does not crawl away. The reptile is huge in size and has a large body mass - it should not have free access to helpless family members and pets.

And if you are choosing your first snake for keeping at home, pay attention to this, it is this reptile that is recommended to get as your first snake.

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