Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Have you been looking for a very unique, gorgeous snake to add to your collection,
or one that is a bit more challenging than the typical beginner reptiles?
Hi! I'm Abigail Kessler, founder and editor of Raising Reptiles.
Today I want to introduce you to the stunning Brazilian Rainbow Boa
and briefly go over their care.
The three core points we’ll be talking about today are: One, their habitat needs,
Two, why they're actually called rainbow boas,
and Three, what their presence is like in the pet trade.
This is Elliot, my roughly 18-month old ambassador.
He is only about 3 feet now but these snakes can achieve an adult size
of around 5 to 7 feet.
And one of those important things you need to know about them
is where they come from.
Brazilian Rainbow Boas can be found in Central and South America,
which immediately tells you that they love moisture and humidity.
That means that optimal humidity levels in their enclosure will be about 70% to 90%.
It can be hard but it also can be achieved using different substrates, mosses,
frequent misting, or the actual enclosure type.
Now as far as temperatures go, I provide a 75-degree cool land and 85-degree hot land.
What this does is establish a thermal gradient
which is basically a staggering of temperatures
that the snake can choose from.
Another important aspect to their care is setting up a hide cave
on the cool and warm end so the snake can go to each end and not feel vulnerable.
And lastly, give them a water dish. This will allow them to drink, to soak and to swim.
That is a basic rundown of how to set up a healthy environment
for these beautiful animals.
Now we’ll go over why they're actually called Rainbow Boas.
You can't see it
but they actually have microscopic ridges on their scales which act as prisms.
So when the light hits them, they reflect color.
It's absolutely incredible. They become iridescent.
On to my third and final point, what is their general presence in the pet trade?
Well, years ago Brazilian Rainbow Boas were completely imported
from Central and South America.
Now, though, because they've been gaining in popularity,
there has been more and more captive breeding,
which means that there are now healthier snakes on the market
and more research regularly being done about them.
So you might be wondering why I call these guys challenging?
They sound amazing, right?
Well, one of the most challenging aspects is not only maintaining the humidity level,
which is harder than it sounds, believe me, but it's also the fact that
a lot of these snakes don't have the best temperaments.
Babies tend to be nippy and you really have to work with them
or else you'll end up with a nasty 7-foot constrictor on your hands.
These are positively beautiful snakes to own
and really great reptiles for an intermediate-level keeper.
If this video on Brazilian Rainbow Boa care has picked your interest at all,
then I highly recommend you go check out RaisingReptiles.net,
where you can find really quality information on snake-handling techniques,
how to actually deal with that humidity problem and a lot more.
We are a fast-growing community
and I will be absolutely thrilled to have you as a part of it.