The Brazilian Rainbow Boa as their vibrant name may suggest, is one of the most beautiful snakes that exists.
A Rainbow Boa’s basic color ranges from orange to a dark red. He is adorned with a range of dark patterns of striped and spotted, but what gives him its name is the extremely iridescent glow, which appears to emit every hue that is available in the rainbow.
The snake could grow to between five and six feet and some can even grow to up to six and half feet.
They are relatively easy to care for needs as they’re not too picky about temperatures as well as lighting. Furthermore, they have a meal once per week. But, their temperament is not as appealing as their looks since they can be a bit sensitive and aloof, and they’re not the best pet for novices.
If you’re prepared to take on a timid yet beautiful snake you should continue reading to learn more about their handling and how to take care of this new animal.
Brazilian Rainbow Boa Overview
Reptile owners are enthralled by its unique, scaly shine. The bright orange-red hue contrasts with their black-black-black spots and dark brown stripes along with the sparkling glow is the reason for the name of the snake.
They are relatively simple to maintenance routine since they have a meal once per week and require a very minimal amount of light and heating needs. They consume mice or rats, and have a tendency to spend their time at night in a secluded area.
Rainbow Boa Rainbow Boa, despite its particular name, is found across South as well as Central America. There are many varieties that belong to Rainbow Boas under the scientific family Genus Epicrates and comprises Nine subspecies:
- E. c. cenchria
- E. C. maurus
- E. c. alvaresi
- E. C. C.
- E. C. barbouri
- E. c. gaigei
- E. C. polylepis
- E. C. Hygrophilus
- E. c. assisi
In the wild, you can see these animals on branches with low hanging or even on the ground. They love temperatures and high humidity levels, which is why many are located throughout the Amazon Rainforest.
They are an individual snake and seldom meet up with one another, apart from during the breeding season. Due to their timid nature, they do not like to be handled by anyone younger than two years old. They also don’t like being around other cagemates.
| Summary Table | |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Brazilian Rainbow Boa, Slender Boa |
| Scientific Name | Epicrates cenchria |
| Adult Size | Between five and six feet, and up to 4000 grams |
| Lifespan | 20 years |
| Diet | Large-sized rodents and mice (dead and frozen) |
| Tank Size | 6 x 2 x 2 feet long vivarium |
| Temperature | 72-82 |
| Popular Alternatives | Ball Python, Sand Boa, Rosy Boa, Dumeril’s Boa |
Care & Husbandry Guide
The home of Brazilian Rainbow Boa is forests with rocky terrains, as well as the plantations. The climate in large parts of Central and South America is hot and humid, and this is especially true in the regions where the boa is located.
It is common to see this snake in the solitude of the forest suspended from branches or crawling along the ground. They are active during the at night or day, however they’re more likely to move during nighttime and at night.
Housing Requirements
A Rainbow Boa is most successful inside an enclosure that is at least 6 inches wide and 2 feet in length. Terrariums made of plastic or glass work great in addition to the blackboard base made of plastic.
Baby boas are best kept in a 32-quart plastic bin . They should then be transferred to larger enclosures according to their rate of growth.
The pet is extremely sensitive and prefer to be left to themselves and be able to hide. It is recommended to have at least one hide within their enclosure.
Certain owners prefer to offer the trees with some branches or logs so that they can rest comfortably. They’ve even been known to love settling down in shoeboxes!
Heating and Lighting
For lighting, it’s fine to utilize 40-watt spotlights for the top of the tank, however Rainbow Boas tend not to bathe themselves, and so they shouldn’t be left on for long.
Due to their natural hot climate, the temperature should be maintained at a high level to ensure the Brazilian Rainbow Boa!
Heating pads are ideal on the warm area of the tank. They must not go over 85 degrees while the cooler side of the tank averaging 72. Install thermometers both on the sides in order to keep track of the temperature of the tank.
It is possible for the levels of humidity in the house are too low in this particular snake and the enclosure must be misted on a regular basis.
Utilize the hydrometer to measure the humidity. If it’s consistently low (below 70 percent) you might want to consider installing an air-tight hide.
Substrate
Wood shavings make a fantastic option to build The Rainbow Boa because they replicate the Brazilian rainforest.
However wood shavings aren’t easy to clean and can take a long time to get rid of.
You can also utilize shredded coconut hulls as for a substrate. The shredded coconut is antibacterial and has properties that can be very beneficial in humid environments and is easily cleaned.
If you choose to use loose substrate, you should also consider using an additional enclosure for feeding to prevent impaction.
The boas like to be left to themselves most of time. A few owners would prefer substrates that clean quickly (e.g. newspapers and newspaper) and is as quiet as it is.
Substrate must be cleaned whenever needed, and then completely replaced every month however, not every week since it can strain you and your pet.
| Tank Tips | |
|---|---|
| Tank Type | Glass vivarium, with blockboard base that is plasticized |
| Lighting | 40 watt spotlight |
| Heating | Heating pads for under-tanks |
| The Best Substrate | Newspaper |
What is the best food for a Brazil Rainbow Boa?
In the wild, a Brazilian Boa is known to consume birds or fowl (and their chicks) in addition to smaller mammals such as rodents and bats. They take their prey and kill it by striking it with their tiny tooth-like teeth before strangling the animal. In rare instances they may attempt to eat eggs of birds and will not be able to digest it and then re-inject.
They are said to eat once a week while in the captivity and aren’t completely discerning about their food choices!
As they get older, you must decrease the frequency of feeding. When they reach adulthood, you can cut down on feedings to once every fortnight prior to a monthly meal after a couple of years.
Babies can begin eating pinky mice as early as 5-10 days after birth. They when they get bigger, will begin to eat larger prey. The adult Brazilian Rainbow Boas will eat up to two rats in one feeding. It will be contingent on their size and body condition:
- Females tend to be bigger than males, and they enjoy eating rodents
- Males are, however, more likely to have problems digesting rodents, and mice are the best choice.
Freshly thawed rodents or mice is the best choice to feed.
The excess food you consume should be cleaned as required and you should be aware of any food-related regurgitation because it could indicate digestive issues (more on this subject in the section on health).
The Brazilian Rainbow Boa must have fresh drinking water that is stored in shallow dishes because they prefer to “hide” in their dish. The dish that they use for water should be large enough to allow them to sit in for lengthy durations of time.
| Diet Summary | |
|---|---|
| Fruits | The diet is 0%. |
| Insects | The diet is 0 percent. |
| Meat | 100% of diet – small/medium sized rodents |
| Supplements are required | N/A |
Common Health Problems
The Brazilian Rainbow Boa is extremely healthy when kept in captivity and with an excellent husbandry!
There are many issues that arise with this snake if they’re living in areas of low humidity. They thrive in humid environments and a boa that is dehydrated is likely to have an indented, swollen scale. It is important to ensure that you have clean water , and make sure the tanks are regularly misted.
Another health problem that results from poor grazing practices is emaciation, or obesity. To prevent this from happening, you must feed rodents that are appropriate dimensions for the boa. Be sure to carefully check the length of your snake in order to know the food you’re feeding it is excessive or too small.
Another female health issue is dystocia at birth.
It is a term that is that refers to general issues during birth, but more specifically, it’s described as a situation where the newborn is in the wrong place. If the boa is coelomic masses, this could be a sign of an issue and should be addressed with surgery.
How Long Will Rainbow Boas Live?
The Brazilian Rainbow Boa may live around 10 years wild however, they can live as long as twenty years when kept in captivity, if they receive regular and correct management.
Tank Cleaning
Misting is recommended every day in particular when the air is dry in your home. The cage must be cleaned regularly (i.e. the removal of food and waste when required) and deep-cleaned on every calendar month (e.g. total clean and change of substrate).
Take care to remove your snake from the enclosure prior to deep cleaning and place them away in a safe area for a brief period of time. If you’re using newspaper as a substrate you should have relatively quick and simple cleaningp.
Feces must always be dark brown. They might contain undigested rodent parts (such for fur). It’s fine in the event that it occurs frequently and your dog is functioning normally. However, should your dog be sick and continues to act this way this could be an indication of digestive issues. Check out the table below to learn about healthy and sick signs:
| Health Signs That They Are | The symptoms of sickness |
|---|---|
| Normal eating, most likely to go to bed | Notably overweight or underweight |
| Hiding, being solitary | Regurgitating food |
| Shy when handled | Doesn’t seem to struggle when handled |
Are Rainbow Boas aggressive?
Rainbow Boas are solitary snakes who prefer not to interact with one another as well as other snake species..
They only get together in the breeding season, when males battle over females. They will surround one another and apply pressure until one surrenders; dominance and aggression can be seen in tongue flicks.
When one of them submits to the pressure, they rest their head down and then move away from the boa who is dominant. Boas that are submissive to one another and will have only a limited amount of communication. They may also be able to defend themselves through striking with rage.
In captivity The Brazilian Rainbow Boa will be also solitary. They must also be the only resident of their enclosures, since they seldom interact with one another in the wild.
They’ll be playing in a log or shoebox, or any other container else you can provide them with to cuddle into.
Handling Advice
Certain species will be more tolerant of handling than others, especially older snakes.
In general they’re not an avid handler and they may even attempt to bite. Most often, around 2 years old,, they get calmer and are much more comfortable.
They are best handled as rarely as is possible, and the sole reason to try handling is to assess their health and keep their terrariums clean.
Brazilian Rainbow Boas are not poisonous, but young snakes are more likely to strike or bite. A thick leather glove can provide protection from this when the snake is young.
As they get older, it is not recommended to use gloves since it assists them to discover your scent and connect them with being safe.
Make sure that the snake’s entire body weight is supported and place them on their head in order to avoid getting attacked. They are equipped with tiny, curved teeth and can cut gloves.
Appearance
There are numerous varieties of Epicrates cenchria, with E. C. cenchria one of the best breed in captive. This Brazilian Rainbow Boa has distinctive stripes and a bright rainbow which is the characteristic that this species is most well-known for.
They can range between orange and a deep red, and can be silver-gray with sides. Their patterns can be comprised of black spots that are solid or stripes like peacocks-like spots. Young boas can have similar patterns, but they tend to be lighter in color and they’ll attain their final colors by the age of two years of age.
They are, in fact, extremely iridescent, particularly after they shed. Their scales create an “rainbow-like hue” when they shed. Boas shed their hair for the first time in 10 days after birth, and shed up to three or four times in the course of a year.
How Big Can Rainbow Boas Get?
Babies Boas are born between 15 to 20 inches in length The yearlings will have reached 36 – 40 inches. Adults are between 5 and 6.5 feet.
Females tend to be more likely to reach that length (this is also the sole evident distinction between the genders). The snakes are slightly larger than typical pet snake They are thought as sexually mature when they reach five feet long, between the ages of 4 and 5 years old.
There isn’t any major difference between females and males apart from the fact the fact that females are generally larger.
Are Rainbow Boas the best pets?
Brazilian Rainbow Boas are widely kept in captivity and there are numerous breeders who have them. You should ensure that the breeder has an knowledge of the health of your snake as well as their usual behaviour and genetics.
They must be able to properly take care of this species, which includes managing their unpredictable behavior and high humidity requirements. A boa that you buy should be healthy size and is not willing to be handled.
What is the cost of a Brazilian The Rainbow Boa cost?
typically $200 to $350 USD typically, with females in the higher end of the price band. Albinos and boas that have albino genes will be an investment that is more costly ($1000 USD) and rare stripe boas fetch more money. “Candy stripe” or “candy stripe” or “picasso stripe” is available for upwards of $2000 USD.
Babies Brazilian Rainbow Boas develop inside their mother and come into the world live, which is known as oviviparous. They measure about 15 inches long at birth and can achieve their color set at two years old.
Sexual activity can come to the surface by decreasing the temperature of the tank to 68 degrees (close to the temperature of room) during the period of 6 weeks prior to the snakes are introduced. Always take the female snake to the male’s enclosure to prevent any aggression.
Breeders are more likely to mat the boas they have in January. The gestation period typically lasts five months and they typically have babies in July or June. The babies are born in an ointment that they have to tear out after birth.
Care Guide Summary
| Why We Are In Love With Them | What makes them difficult? |
|---|---|
| Beautiful, unique color | The requirement for high-humidity |
| Easy to feed and does not require | Agressive and sly when handling |
| Simple husbandry requirements | Not suitable for novices. |
It is the Brazilian rainbow Boa is fairly easy to maintain, requiring only lighting, some heating and a misting every day. They only eat once per week and their diet consists of rodents in small quantities.
They are difficult to manage when they are young and can bite. Due to this, they’re not the best choice for snakes that are new to the hobby. A lot of beginners begin with an Ball Python, or other boas that are more gentle like those of Sand and Rosy.
This species is known because of its rainbow glow and snake owners love their beauty they have.
They are a wonderful addition to any home that is in need of a bit of colour, and are a fantastic pet for anyone seeking a more difficult and attractive reptile. If this is your ideal pet get ready to be your own owner of one the most vibrant snakes!
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