Dramatic weight loss in boa constrictor. Boa constrictor ordinary. Terrarium for common boas

30.10.2019

The common boa constrictor is a nocturnal and twilight animal (active at dawn and dusk). AT northern and southern areas, boas hibernate for several weeks to wait out the cold or dry seasons. Boas living in rainforests with high humidity are active throughout the year.

In the first year of life, a boa constrictor will grow by 300% from 35-55 cm, reaching a length of up to 1.5-1.8 m. In the second year, the boa constrictor will grow by another 0.9-1.2 m. After the second year, the growth of the boa slows down . Females give birth to 10-60 boas after a gestation period of 4-10 months (depending on temperature and other factors). Unlike others large snakes, the female boa constrictor does not give birth every year.

At the time of buying boa constrictor choose a reptile with clear, clean skin. The boa constrictor should be round in shape, the anal area holes should be clean, eyes - clear. When a healthy boa constrictor is picked up, it begins to actively move its tongue. Like pythons, boas have anal spurs - claws located on two parties anus, which are vestigial remains of the hind legs. Males have longer anal spurs than females. Females and males are slightly different in behavior and character. From of all boas, the common boa constrictor, the least aggressive.

To keep a boa constrictor, choose a terrarium specially designed for snakes, with top-closing lid. Snakes often run away from terrariums, especially boas, as they are strong. When your boa is over two years old, it will need to be moved to another terrarium, which you can build yourself from wood and glass (plexiglass), or buy a special terrarium for large reptiles. Big snakes need a big terrarium!

Paper towels are used as a substrate first, as they are easy to remove and replace with new ones when they get dirty. On paper, it is easy to notice the presence of ticks (if they have appeared) and control the quality of the boa constrictor's feces. As soon as the boa constrictor grows up, instead of paper, you can use the decorative coating "Astroturf" or a coating made from split cypress or spruce bark. Pine and cedar sawdust should not be used, as they stick to food, can get into the mouth and respiratory tract of the boa constrictor, thereby creating many problems for its health. All wet and dirty parts of the substrate should be removed as soon as possible to prevent growth fungi and bacteria.

Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor)

In the terrarium, the boa constrictor should have secret places where he will hide. For these purposes, you can use logs, empty cardboard boxes, an opaque plastic container, etc., all that is easy to replace with a new one or easy to clean. Most boas like to hang from branches, so be sure to place strong branches in the terrarium that will support the weight of the boa constrictor (the branches must be skinned and decontaminated!). If you are using rocks and bricks to build a cave, make sure it is firmly held together as boas are very strong and can easily destroy this. building and thereby cause injury to themselves.

The air temperature in the terrarium should be 28-32'C, with an area for heating in which the temperature reaches up to 32-35'C. At night, the temperature should drop to 26-30'C. You can heat the terrarium using an electric heating pad, which is placed under half of the terrarium. To provide additional temperature, some owners use light bulbs that are placed on top (the boa constrictor should not touch them, otherwise he gets burned!). All snakes are very susceptible to burns, for the same reason, hot stones should not be used to heat the terrarium. To measure temperature, you will need two thermometers: the first arrange at a height of 2.5 cm above the substrate (cool half of the terrarium), and the second at the same height, but in the warm half. It is desirable to place a third thermometer- at the top of the heating zone. As soon as your boa constrictor grows, it is better to use a thermostat to control the temperature.

A full spectrum UV lamp can be used to illuminate the terrarium.

After buying a young boa constrictor, give it two weeks to acclimatize to a new home. During this time, give him one 10-day-old rat (the rodent must be dead). Smaller boas are given small mice, large snakes can eat large rats. The basic rule in feeding boas is that the size of the food should not be wider than the widest part of the snake. If the boa constrictor is fed too much prey, it will regurgitate the food after a few days.

In captivity, snakes are often overfed, especially pythons and boas, as they don't have enough room to move and spend calories.

Inside the terrarium there should always be fresh water, the boa constrictor will drink and swim in it. Water should be changed frequently as it gets dirty. Before molting, you can offer the boa constrictor a warm bath.

After buying a young boa constrictor, start accustoming him to you. Take the boa constrictor in your hands carefully, at first it may run away from you and hiss. Be persistent and gentle. Daily contact with the boa constrictor will establish a trusting relationship between you and the snake. When communicating with a boa constrictor, it is not advisable to make sudden movements. If the snake is wrapped around your arm or neck, grab it by the tail and gently start spinning it (don't try to spin the snake from your head, as the snake may be stronger than you).

The house should always have first aid items that will come in handy in various situations: nolvasan (for disinfection of the substrate, objects, water dishes, etc.), betadine (treatment of wounds and scratches), sponges, spare water dish, etc.

Translation: Zooschool - www.zooschool.ru

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

There are 10 localities: B. c. constrictor is the nominative subspecies.
B.c. amarali - Amaral's common boa constrictor.
B.c. imperator - imperial common boa constrictor.
B.c. longicauda is a long-tailed common boa constrictor.
B.c. mexicana - Mexican common boa constrictor.
B.c. nebulosa - dark common boa constrictor.
B.c. occidentalis is the western common boa constrictor.
B.c. orophias - Saint 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.

Behavioral Features- adults have a docile nature, rarely express aggression. Young snakes can make trial attacks and are sporadically aggressive. They prefer a habitat with a constant source of fresh water. Great for climbing trees. Depending on the biotope, it leads a semi-arboreal and land 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 males and females do not exist. Comparative examination of males shows a longer tail, with a thickening at the cloaca. In females, the tail is somewhat shorter and without thickening. Both sexes have claw-like vestiges at the anus, which are stronger and longer in males. Females have a more powerful physique and larger sizes.
Puberty at 2.5-4 years. ovoviviparous species. Pregnancy lasts from 5 to 7 months. The female gives birth to 20 to 50 cubs. The first molt is a week after birth.

Content. Terrarium horizontal type . The size for small species is 45-45 cm, for larger representatives with an area of 70-45 cm. Temperature Range in the daytime 24-28, at the warming point 33-35оС, at night not below 24оС. Humidity supported by about 50-80%. A permanent reservoir is needed in which the snake can safely fit completely. Priming not required. Paper, napkins, rubber mats, bark are suitable as a substrate. Shelter put if necessary, spacious and twilight. It is placed in a cool corner. Light day 12 hours. You need to install ultraviolet lamps power of 5-8% UVB.

Feeding up to a year it is possible once every 5-7 days, after a year once every 10-14 days. Feeding rodents and small birds are used as feed. The size of the prey varies depending on the size of the snake itself - pubescent mice, newborn rats for small ones, mice, rats, mastomuses, gerbils, guinea pigs for large individuals.

A boa constrictor is a non-venomous snake that belongs to the reptile class, scaly squad,.

The Russian word "boa constrictor" arose due to the peculiarity of these reptiles to squeeze the caught victim before swallowing.

Boa constrictor - description, structure, characteristics, photo

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

Common anaconda (lat. Eunectes murinus). Photo by: Dave Lonsdale

The smallest boas are earth boas, ranging in size from 30 to 60 cm.

Cuban earth boa (lat. Tropidophis melanurus). Photo credit: Thomas Brown

The coloration of boas is similar to the dominant colors in their habitats. It can be gray-brown in species that live on the ground, or bright, sometimes contrasting colors in individuals living in trees or in the forest floor. Some boas have stripes on the body, as well as large or small spots of a round, oblong or rhomboid shape and a wide variety of colors, while the spots can be with or without eyes.

In some species, the skin can cast a metallic sheen of all colors of the rainbow (for example, in the rainbow boa). Earth boas have the ability to change color, acquiring a lighter or darker color. At night, reflective spots and stripes appear on their body, which create a phosphorescent effect.

A characteristic feature of boas, in addition to a flattened head and lack of limbs, is a long, muscular body with a rounded cross section. The body of sand boas has a cylindrical shape, it is very dense and with well-developed muscles.

There is no narrowing in the neck of sand boas, the tail is blunt and rather short.

The skull of the boa constrictor has a unique structure that allows it to swallow large prey. This is achieved due to the movable connection of the bones of the facial part, as well as the elastic articulation of the parts of the lower jaw among themselves. Sharp teeth are located not only on the jaws, but also on the bones that make up the oral apparatus (palatine, pterygoid and intermaxillary). This is due to the fact that boa constrictors do not need teeth to crush the caught prey, but only to hold or push it deep into the esophagus. On the surface of the head are large keratinized scutes, grouped in a certain order. Unlike pythons, boas have no supraorbital bones.

Unlike other boas, in Mascarene boas, the maxillary bone is divided into 2 movably interconnected parts: 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 burrowing tool, is noticeably pushed forward, so the mouth opening is located below.

A large intermaxillary shield extends to the top of the head, taking on the entire load as the boa moves through the soil. The anterior teeth of the upper and lower jaws of the sand boa are slightly longer than the posterior ones.

Unlike other reptiles, which completely lack the belts of the fore and hind limbs, the pelvic bones of the boas are preserved in a rudimentary state. In addition, they still have the remains of the hind limbs, which appear as paired claws located on both sides of the anus.

True, there is an exception here: for example, these rudiments are completely absent in Mascarene boas.

Paired claws in the area of the cloaca of the common boa constrictor. Photo credit: Stefan3345

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

All internal organs of these reptiles have an elongated modified shape, due to the general structure of the body. Paired organs are located asymmetrically, and can be developed unevenly. So, for example, the right lung is much larger in size than the left. In earthen boas (lat. Tropidophiidae), a typical left lung is absent - it has turned into a tracheal (tracheal) lung and is formed by an expansion of the back of the trachea.

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

In the surrounding space, boas are guided by the organs of smell and touch.

In addition, most of the information is brought by heat-sensitive receptors located on the front of the muzzle, and a forked tongue that transmits information to the brain with the help of special paired organs, which are a kind of chemical analyzers.

The vision of boas is not very sharp. This is in particular due to the fact that eyes with vertical pupils are always covered with a film that has formed from the eyelids fused together.

The eyes of sand boas are small and slightly turned upwards - this arrangement is convenient because, even digging into the ground, the boa constrictor can view everything that happens on the surface without sticking its head out.

Due to the fact that reptiles do not have external auditory openings, and the middle ear is underdeveloped, all snakes poorly distinguish sounds that propagate through the air.

The body of boas from the sides and from above is covered with rhomboid-rounded 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 be strongly stretched. The plates located on the belly of reptiles have a transversely elongated shape and are also interconnected by patches of skin.

As they grow, the upper integument ages and flakes off. There is a process of molting, and the first change of skin occurs a few days after the birth of the snake. In healthy boas, the frequency of change of covers does not exceed 4 times a year.

Taken from the website: www.reptarium.cz

Where do boas live?

Boas live in South and Central America, in Cuba, in the west and southwest of North America, in northern Africa, in South and Central Asia, on the islands of the Malay Archipelago, in Madagascar, Jamaica, Haiti, the island of Trinidad, in New Guinea. Some species (rubber snakes and California boas) live in the western states of the United States, as well as in southwestern Canada.

Sand boas, or boas, are widespread in Central and South Asia, as well as in East and North Africa, the Middle East, Asian countries (Iran, Afghanistan, Western China, India, Pakistan). Several species live on the territory of Russia (Dagestan, Central and Eastern Transcaucasia) and the CIS countries (Kazakhstan, Mongolia).

Earth boas inhabit Mexico, South and Central America, are found in the Bahamas and the Antilles.

Madagascar boas live on the islands of Madagascar and Reunion.

Different types of boas settle in different places: some species prefer dry or humid forests where they live in the branches of trees or shrubs, others live in deciduous or grassy litter, others choose arid open landscapes as habitats, others inhabit the waters of rivers or swamps, slow-flowing backwaters, branches and lakes, as well as swampy lowlands. Separate varieties of boas are found near human habitation. The snake can be found on plantations and in abandoned houses. By the way, there are even almost domesticated species, for example, an ordinary boa constrictor, which the locals keep in houses or barns so that this snake catches rats and mice.

Sand boas have a burrowing lifestyle to some extent: they live in the steppes, deserts and semi-deserts, are found not only in sandy, but also in clay and even gravel soils, deftly make their way in fairly narrow cracks in the soil or under stones, burrow into the sand and rubble, briskly crawling inside such a shelter.

What does a boa constrictor eat?

The diet of boas is very diverse. It includes not only small or medium animals, birds and amphibians, but also larger representatives of the animal world (,). Small boas feed on possums, waterfowl and other birds and their chicks (, and). Agouti, paki, bakers also become prey for snakes. Cuban boas, among other things, catch. Larger boas, for example, anacondas, can easily attack capybaras, small crocodiles (caimans), as well as large ones. Also, a boa constrictor can attack a pet that has approached a watering hole:, or a duck.

Having attacked the victim, the boas 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 (, jerboas, gerbils and), small birds (sparrows, wagtails), as well as lizards (geckos, agamas, roundheads, foot and mouth disease). Juveniles also feed on darklings. While hunting, snakes easily crawl into rodent burrows. Caught prey, sand boas hold with their teeth and easily kill, wrapping around the victim with 2-3 rings of their muscular body.

Scientists who study snakes and have lived for a long time in the Amazon claim that a giant boa constrictor is able to swallow prey that is thicker than its body, if the weight of the prey does not exceed 60 kg (wild pigs, small sizes and antelopes). 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 the boas, even at a distance, to notice the approaching victim by the heat emanating from her body.

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

How do boas kill their prey?

Despite the prevailing opinion that the boa constrictor strangles the victim, this belief turned out to be not entirely true. Initially, scientists doubted the fact that lethal strangulation takes at least a few minutes, and the victims of boas died within about 60 seconds. In the mid-90s, American zoologists finally established and substantiated that the victims of boas do not die from a lack of oxygen at all, but from circulatory arrest, which, of course, causes cardiac arrest.

For experimental studies, rats were used, in the arteries and veins of which catheters were implanted to measure blood flow pressure and electrodes that ensured control of heart rhythms. Rats prepared in this way were given to boas for execution, but after the snake squeezed the rodent to death, the victim was selected and thoroughly analyzed. According to the results of the experiment, zoologists found out that at the time of the deadly snake embrace, blood pressure in rodents dropped sharply and venous pressure also rapidly increased, which led to instant blood stagnation. Unable to cope with the pumping of blood under very high pressure, the heart of the rats began to work intermittently and, as a result, stopped.

Types of boas, photos and names

Previously, various types of boas belonged to the following families in the suborder of snakes:

Mascarene boas, or bolierids (lat. Bolyeriidae),
Earth boas (lat. Tropidophiidae),
False-legged, or boa-like snakes (lat. Boidae).

To date, the classification has been changed, and, according to the www.itis.gov database, different types of boas belong to the following families:

Boidae (Grey, 1825)
Bolyeriidae (Hoffstetter, 1946)
Calabariidae (Gray, 1858)
Candoiidae (Pyron, Reynolds and Burbrink, 2014)
Charinidae (Grey, 1849)
Erycidae (Bonaparte, 1831)
Sanziniidae (Romer, 1956)
Tropidophiidae (Brongersma, 1951)

Many species are rare and endangered. Below is a description of some varieties of boas.

Madagascar boa constrictor ( Acrantophis madagascariensis)

It lives in a wooded area in the north of the island of Madagascar. The length of the boa constrictor reaches 2-3 meters. The upper part of the snake's body is decorated with a pattern formed by diamond-shaped spots, and the skin on the sides has a complex pattern of concentric eye spots. The belly of this reptile is painted in grayish-olive tones with dark patches. The whole body has a strongly pronounced blue-green metallic hue.

Tree Madagascar boa constrictor ( Sanzinia madagascariensis, synonym Boa manditra)

It is a typical endemic of Madagascar. Adult snakes of this species can reach a length of 2.13 m, although most of them are only 1.2-1.5 m long, with females outnumbering males. The color and size of tree boas depend on the habitat. In the western part of the island there are larger individuals, colored in yellow-brown colors, and in the eastern part - grayish-green or pure green. Regardless of the distribution area, these reptiles prefer to settle near open water bodies. They are most active at dusk and at night. Almost all the time, tree boas spend in the dense canopy of trees or bushes, near water, although they can also hunt on the ground, usually descending from trees at night.

common boa constrictor ( Boa constrictor)

It lives in the countries of South and Central America, as well as in the Lesser Antilles. It was brought to the state of Florida, where it successfully took root. The size of adults is practically independent of gender - they can be up to 5 meters long. An ordinary boa constrictor weighs from 10 to 15 kg, although the weight of some individuals exceeds 30 kg. The back of these reptiles is painted in different shades of light brown, coffee or red, on which transverse dark brown stripes of a bizarre shape with yellow spots inside are clearly visible. The sides of the common boa constrictor are decorated with dark rhombuses, inside which, as well as on the back, yellow spots are visible. These boas lead an active nocturnal lifestyle, so they go hunting already at twilight.

candoya ribbed, or keeled-scaled Pacific boa, ( candoia carinata)

It used to belong to the family of prolegs, and since 2014 it has been assigned to a separate family of Candoiidae. There are two subspecies, slightly different from each other and living in New Guinea and the islands located nearby (Sulawesi, Mooluk, Santa Cruz, Solomon). Adults rarely grow up to 1.5 meters in length. The weight of the boa constrictor varies from 300 g to 1.2 kg. The color of the back and sides of the cando is olive-gray, yellowish or light shades of brown. A rather wide dark brown stripe shaped like a zigzag runs along the back of the snake. This species of boas lives in trees, where it usually hunts in the evening and at night.

dog head constrictor, he is green tree boa (corallus caninus)

Lives in the humid forests of South America, along the Amazon basin. The species got its name because of some external resemblance of the muzzle of a boa constrictor to the head of a dog. The length of adults is often 2-3 meters. The arboreal lifestyle caused the bright green color of the back and sides of this reptile. The yellow color of the belly, as well as white spots, merging into thin stripes running along the back and forming a clear diamond-shaped pattern, serve as an excellent camouflage in the lush crown of vegetation. Newborns and young individuals are painted in red-orange (coral) color. The front teeth of a boa constrictor that hold prey can reach a length of 38 mm. In the daytime, the dog-headed boa rests, and crawls out to hunt at dusk.

Garden boa constrictor (narrow-bellied boa constrictor) ( Corallus hortulanus)

It lives in humid forests in southern Colombia and Venezuela. There are populations in the north and west of Brazil and Ecuador. In addition, the habitat includes Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Bolivia and other countries of South America. The average length of a boa constrictor ranges from 1.5 to 1.8 meters, although some specimens can reach 2.5 meters. The color of garden boas can be varied: from yellow, orange and red to light gray, brown or even black. Contrasting vague spots are located on the back, which on the sides are replaced by more distinct rhombuses. During the day, the boa constrictor rests in hollow trees or abandoned bird nests, and at night it goes hunting. In rare cases, it descends to the ground.

rainbow boa ( Epicrates cenchria)

Also has the name Aboma. The species inhabits the humid forests of Central and South America. You can meet this beautiful reptile in Argentina, Brazil, Peru and other countries of the South American continent. Adults reach a length of 1.5-2 meters. The main body color of rainbow boas depends on the subspecies and can be brown, reddish or fawn. In some subspecies, the body has a solid color without spots, in other subspecies the body has dark or light spots or white thin longitudinal stripes. All boa scales have a metallic tint. Despite the fact that this boa constrictor can swim perfectly, it leads a terrestrial lifestyle.

Black and yellow smooth-lipped boa constrictor (Chilabothrus subflavus, syn. Epicrates subflavus)

It is a fairly rare endemic species found in Jamaica. In English, the name of this snake sounds like "Jamaican boa." Females are slightly larger than males and grow up to 2 meters or more. The front part of the body of the snake has a yellow color with dark patches, which increase in size closer to the tail and merge into a single color on the tail, forming a black-brown background with small yellow spots. The tail of the boa constrictor is black, the head is painted in grayish-smoky tones. The eyes of the snake are yellow, characteristic stripes are located behind the eyes. Juveniles are pinkish-orange in color with indistinct stripes all over the body. Jamaican boas inhabit moist coastal and mountain forests, lead a terrestrial lifestyle and show increased activity at night. Often, black and yellow boas prey on bats; rodents and various birds also enter the diet.

Dominican smooth-lipped boa constrictor (Chilabothrusfordii , syn. Epicrates fordi i )

Distributed on the islands of Tahiti and Gonave. Representatives of this species are rare and small in size, reaching a length of 85-90 centimeters, with females being much larger than males. The body of individuals is quite slender, painted in reddish or light brown tones, therefore this snake also has the unofficial name "red boa constrictor". On the entire surface of the skin there are dark spots that have a different shape. Under the rays of the sun, the scales shimmer with a variety of colors. Dominican boas lead a secretive terrestrial lifestyle, hunting at night.

Giant anaconda ( Eunectes murinus)

It is rightfully considered the largest reptile of the family of boa snakes. The water boa, as it was called before, refers to. There are individual individuals whose length exceeds 5 meters. Some sources even indicate a maximum length of 11 meters. The weight of an anaconda can exceed 100 kg (for example, National Geographic indicates a maximum weight of 227 kg). Along the entire back of the snake, painted in dark green colors, there are two rows of brown spots. On the sides, the spots are yellow in color and trimmed with a dark border. The belly is painted in pale yellow colors and covered with black spots. The giant anaconda is found in the tropical forests of South America, where it lives in the waters of rivers and swamps, including the Amazon. Hunts both at night and during the day.

Sand Boa ( Eryx miliaris)

Previously, it belonged to the family of prolegs, and now it has been placed in a separate family, Erycidae. The snake is perfectly adapted to a burrowing lifestyle. The boa boa lives in the desert regions of Central Asia, and is found in the eastern territories of Ciscaucasia. A snake with a body reaching a length of 40-80 cm is painted in yellow-brown shades, brownish spots with blurry contours stand out against the general background. The head of the sand boa has a flattened shape, and the eyes look almost vertically. The activity of the reptile depends on the season: in spring and autumn, the animal is active during the day, but in summer it prefers to hunt exclusively at night. The food of the sand boa is small birds, lizards, as well as rodents, into the holes of which it quietly crawls.

Mascarene boas

A family that includes 2 genera (the genus Bolieria and the genus Mascarene tree boas), whose representatives are endemic to the small island of Round, located northwest of Mauritius. The existence of the first kind, the only representative of which is multikeeled bolieria (Bolyeria multocarinata ), today it is questioned - most likely, this snake disappeared due to changes in habitat conditions. Tree Mascarene boa (Schlegel's Mascarene boa) ( Casarea dussumieri) - a very rare snake that is endangered, so special programs are being developed on the island to restore the population. The length of the boa constrictor reaches 1-1.5 meters, the neck interception is clearly expressed between the head and the body, the tail of the snake is long, with a sharp tip. The color is greenish-olive, along the main color there are longitudinal broken lines of a dark tone. On the head of the reptile is a lyre-shaped pattern.

Taken from: sustainablepulse.com

Genus: Boa Linnaeus, 1758 = Common [real] boas

Species: Boa constrictor Linnaeus, 1758 = Common boa constrictor

Imperial boa constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator)

English: Central american boa, Common boa

Appearance: Spectacularly colored snake 2-3 m long (up to 5.5 m). The main light brown, reddish or coffee background of the back is covered with wide dark brown bands with bright yellow spots inside, and on the sides there are diamond-shaped dark spots bordered by a light rim and with a yellow spot inside. However, the pattern on the body of a boa constrictor is so diverse that a number of other options can be described. In the sun, the scales of the boa constrictor sparkle with a strong metallic sheen, flowing and shimmering when the snake moves.

The imperial boa constrictor is found in forests, as well as among bushes, in dry places, and it enters the middle belts of mountains.

During the breeding season, which occurs at different times for each subspecies, an ordinary boa constrictor brings 15 to 64 live cubs up to 50 cm long. In two years, they grow up to 3 m long and become sexually mature.

Distribution: Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, all countries of Central America and Mexico

Sexual differences: There are no fundamental differences in the size and coloration of males and females. In males, the tail is long with a characteristic thickening at the base, from the anus it is cylindrical, then passes into a cone. In females, the tail is shorter, without thickening at the base, cone-shaped. In males, relatively large, claw-like rudiments of the hind limbs, located on the sides near the anus, are clearly visible; in females, they are smaller and not so prominent. Females are usually more massive and larger than males.

Contents: For common boas, a horizontal type terrarium for tropical animals is required. The minimum size of a terrarium for one snake is 130x60x90 cm (excluding the height of the lamp). The temperature is maintained using a thermal cord or thermal mat. In a warm corner during the day - up to 30-32 ° C, at night - 23-25 ° C. In the terrarium, it is necessary to install a pond where the boa constrictor could easily fit and lock during molting, you should also place strong shelves and wide snags, along which the snake willingly crawls. The soil in the terrarium is not required, but you can use artificial, chemically inert, specialized coatings - rugs or cover the bottom of the terrarium with filter paper. But it is best to buy coconut flakes. Once a day, the terrarium should be sprayed with warm water. It is also possible to maintain humidity using a rain installation connected via a time relay and operating 2-3 times a day for 2-3 minutes, or a fog generator, which is placed in a pond for the duration of the humidification session. Better to keep one.

Feeding: In nature, they feed on various mammals and birds, less often they eat lizards: iguanas and teiids.

In terrarium conditions, boas are fed, depending on their size, with laboratory mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, quails. Diet for adult snakes: 1 time in 8-10 days - 7-9 adult rats, weighing 200-300 g, for young animals: 1-3 adult mice - 1 time in 5 days or 1-2 rats, weighing 40- 60 g. Starter food for newborn boas: adolescent mice or 5-6 day old rat pups. They drink water, for which you should regularly change it in an artificial reservoir of a terrarium. Along with feed, it is necessary to give various mineral supplements, for example: crushed eggshells, preparations containing calcium. Mineral water ("Borjomi") can be added to the drinker. Offer concentrated vitamin preparations with food no more than once a month. Give well-balanced reptile food according to the instructions.

Breeding: Boas usually become sexually mature at the age of 3-4 years. However, sexually mature boas at the age of 19 months have been recorded. ovoviviparous species. After the withdrawal from wintering, the snakes are irradiated and fed, adding preparations containing vitamin "E" to the feed for 2-3 weeks. The first sign of the beginning of the mating season is: refusal to feed males that do not feed during the entire period of sexual activity, 3-4 months. Males and females are planted next to each other. Copulation lasts a long time - from 1 to 10 hours. Boas can mate from September to March, the most productive mating is from November to January, childbirth occurs from March to September, most often in May-July. After mating, after 2-3 months, and sometimes even earlier, females stop feeding and do not feed until birth, but there are exceptions to this rhythm. Sphagnum should be placed in the terrarium where the pregnant female is located and moistened regularly. The reservoir must be replaced with a drinker in order to avoid unwanted entry of newborns who have not left the egg film into the water, where they can drown. After 150-215 days, with fertile mating, childbirth occurs. The female gives birth to 7 to 60 cubs (about 20 on average). Babies begin to eat after the first molt.

Additional information:

Life expectancy up to 30-60 years. Boas are very diverse in color, both among subspecies and among representatives of different populations. For example, subspecies B. c. occidentalis may be completely black, with a slight showing of the pattern and white spots. In zoos and private collections in Europe and the former USSR, intersubspecific hybrids were obtained, which successfully reproduced in the future, which played a negative role, since it is currently difficult to determine which animal is in the hands of one or another owner.

In nature, the Imperial boa lives in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, all countries of Central America and Mexico. Spectacularly colored snake 2-3 m long (up to 5.5 m). The main light brown, reddish or coffee background of the back is covered with wide dark brown bands with bright yellow spots inside, and on the sides there are diamond-shaped dark spots bordered by a light rim and with a yellow spot inside. However, the pattern on the body of a boa constrictor is so diverse that a number of other options can be described. In the sun, the scales of the boa constrictor sparkle with a strong metallic sheen, flowing and shimmering when the snake moves.

The imperial boa constrictor is found in forests, among bushes, in dry places, and it enters the middle belts of mountains. In captivity, it willingly consumes rabbits, mice, small rats, hamsters and chickens. The imperial boa constrictor is a calm phlegmatic animal, it easily becomes tame, does not bite if it is not hungry. During the breeding season, which occurs at different times for each subspecies, an ordinary boa constrictor brings from 15 to 64 live cubs up to 50 cm long. In two years, they grow up to 3 m long and become sexually mature.

Boas live for about 10 years, but sometimes much longer - up to 23 years.