As its name implies, the emerald tree boa is a tree-dweller. It spends its time in the trees, high up. It is a single-eyed snake that can be found in lowland tropical rainforests in South America’s Guianan and Amazonian regions.
The adult emerald trees boas can reach over 2m in height. Males tend to be smaller than females and have bigger spurs. Both the male and female have well-developed front teeth that are much larger than those of other non-venomous snakes.
Emerald Tree Boa Appearance
Emerald is the name of this snake because of its beautiful green coloration. These snakes are distinguished by their striking white markings, which can be found at the dorsal middleline.
These are called lightning bolts and run down the belly and back. Its striking marking and bright colors are very distinctive among South American snakes.
These markings might be missing in some snakes. Some snakes have a black dorsum instead of white.
Before ontogenetic coloring sets, younger snakes are able to display colors ranging from red to brown. The juvenile snakes will turn emerald-green as they age and will resemble their parents. Contrary to popular belief there are no yellow juveniles within the emerald trees boa.
These snakes are unique in that their sizes vary depending on where they live. Snakes that live in the Amazon River basin are the most likely to grow the largest. They are also more patient than their Northern cousins.
Some specimens in this area reached lengths up to 9 feet. The average length of emerald trees boas in this area is 6 feet.
The majority of the Emerald tree boas found at the southern end in Peru’s range are darker in color. Most of them have one uninterrupted white dorsal line. However, snakes around Surinam and Guyana have a variety of white markings.
Also, you will notice that the snouts of snakes from Amazon Basin are smaller than any other counterparts.
There are also hybrid forms of the Northern Shield Corallus Caninus and Amazon Basin, with different sizes, color patterns and snout size.
This snake is strikingly similar to the green tree-pythons found in Australia and Southeast Asia. Although these two species are not closely related, their head escalation patterns and the location of pits around their mouths are very similar. This is an excellent example of convergent evolutionary.
Care for the Emerald Tree Boa
It is easy to care for an emerald trees boa. If you plan to care for an Emerald Tree Boa, the habitat is the first thing you need. Management of emerald trees boas can be complicated because of their tree-dwelling lifestyle.
The snake’s enclosure should be higher than its width or depth. Also, ensure that the cage is secured with tight fitting lids. Make sure that there are two sides of the cage that are screen-covered for fresh air. Fresh air is essential for the emerald trees boa.
A simple cage design is also recommended for easy cleaning.
Substrate
Newspaper and butcher paper are the best substrate options. Orchid bark and cypress Mulch are also options. Newspaper and butcher paper are more affordable options.
They are easy to clean and snakes won’t ingest them. Orchid bark is the best choice for higher humidity.
Cypress can also hold moisture and maintain high humidity levels. Orchid bark and cypress are both resistant to mold and fungus. They also look great. You should approach your snake’s food differently once you have decided between these two.
You should not place food on the ground. Instead, use a container to ensure that the snake doesn’t ingest the material.
Place several horizontal branches inside the cage. These branches should be different in width and height. PVC pipe can be used to make branches that are easy to clean.
Temperature
The emerald-tree boa’s cage temperature should be slightly lower that other neotropical boids.
Ideal daytime temperatures should be between 24-28degC. A basking spot should be 30 degrees Celsius. The nighttime temperature should be between 22-24 degrees Celsius. You can use heat emitters or lamps to provide heat. These should not be placed under the cage.
Water and humidity: The key to Emerald Tree Boa’s success
High humidity is required for Emerald tree boas. To ensure proper shedding, humidity levels must be between 80-90%. For optimal respiratory function, the snakes require high humidity.
You can use misting, a humidifier, or a water bowl to maintain humidity levels within your desired range.
This snakes live in a natural environment where they are often rained upon. They are used to having lots of water around. It is important that the snakes are properly hydrated.
The snake could end up with large urates and retained stool if the hydration levels aren’t high enough. Incomplete sheds or embryos that are stuck can also be a result of poor hydration.
Water bowls should be placed higher than the enclosure, and ideally near perches. Water should be changed frequently. It is recommended that water be changed at least once per week to encourage drinking.
These snakes are able to sense freshwater so if you give them water they will likely drink it.
Emerald Tree Boas: Size and Design
The dimensions of breeding enclosures for adult emerald trees boas are approximately 33 inches in length, 28 inches deep and 28 inches high. To make an enclosure, you can use hollow core extruded PVC PVC. These materials are great for maintaining temperatures.
Most people use tempered glass with magnet latches to open the doors. You can add planters to the cages to increase humidity and make it look natural.
Keep the juvenile snakes in cages that look like adult enclosures. These cages must not contain plants. Habitat system racks made of Rubbermaid polycarbonate clear bathtubs are necessary for newborns.
These should be approximately 18 inches in length, 12 inches deep, and 9 inches high. The perches should be placed in smaller cages so that juvenile snakes can reach the bottom of your tub for water and food.
A heat tap can be embedded in the tubs’ back to maintain heat gradient. Humidity can also be maintained by changing the position of the water bowl relative to the heat source.
You will need to measure the enclosure in order to view the adult emerald trees boa. It should be approximately three feet long, two-foot tall and two-foot deep.
Clear sides are not allowed in the display enclosure. This will make the snake feel unsafe. Only live or artificial plants can be displayed in the enclosure’s front. Artificial plants can be used to give the snake some cover.
Feeding
The emerald-tree boa is a carnivore. The snake eats small mammals and birds. It eats rats, squirrels and lizards.
Small reptiles and amphibians can be eaten by younger snakes. You should feed your snake with mice once per week to keep it healthy.
Life expectancy & health concerns
An emerald trees boa is able to live for approximately 20 years in captivity. Their lifespan in the wild is much shorter. In the wild, emerald tree boas can live up to 15 years.
Retention of stool
One of the most common problems associated with emerald trees boas is stool retention. The pressure that the cloaca experiences when the snakes retain their stool can be prolonged by these snakes.
Many believe that these snakes only urinate when it rains in the wild. To make sure that predators don’t find the stool, it is best to wash it away with the rain.
You can create a rain chamber to simulate this behavior. This can be used to stimulate the bowel movements of your snake and aid in water retention by placing it into a rain chamber.
You can place removable perches inside the enclosure to make it easier for the snake to visit the rain chamber.
While it’s not necessary to create a rain chamber for an emerald tree Boa, it is essential in order to keep your snake healthy.
The snake will usually vomit within minutes after being placed in an active rain chamber. The snakes are usually cycled through the chamber by experienced keepers at least once per month. It can also be done when necessary.
If the snake sheds while being held in place, a rain chamber can help. It is important to make sure that the rain chamber is always stocked with clean water.
The snake will drink water when it is placed in the chamber. It would prefer to not drink any recycled water.
Boas Diseases of Emerald Tree Boa
The emerald-tree boa can become stressed easily. This leaves it vulnerable to many diseases, infections, and other opportunistic pathogens. These are some common conditions that can affect this snake.
Respiratory
Very low humidity and temperatures can have a significant impact on the emerald trees boa. These conditions can make the snake more susceptible to respiratory infections.
Wheezing, difficulty breathing and excessive mucus production are all signs of a respiratory infection in an emerald trees boa.
A fungal and bacterial culture is the first step to managing this condition. The correct antibiotic choice can then be made by performing sensitive tests.
To fully recover your snake, you should make all necessary husbandry changes. This will ensure that the condition doesn’t return. Chlamydiosis, which can also affect emerald-tree boas, is another common condition.
Digestive
Emerald tree boas can be affected by gastrointestinal issues. These conditions include anorexia and diarrhea as well as constipation and regurgitation.
Imported snakes can be very susceptible to digestive problems. They are usually stressed and often have a high parasite load, which can make them anorexic.
The vulnerability of Emerald tree boas to Cryptosporidium infection is high. Chronic regurgitation is a sign of these infections. Dehydration is another common cause of digestive problems.
One of the most common problems that can result from dehydration is constipation. Their stool becomes dry and difficult to pass due to a lack of water. Overfeeding can also cause constipation.
Neurologic
Retroviruses that cause inclusion body disease are very common in the boids. This virus affects the nervous systems and can also cause regurgitation. Research also suggests that secondary pneumonia can be caused by this virus.
To diagnose the condition, a biopsy can be taken of the liver, esophageal tonsils and kidneys. The vet will also perform a complete blood count. Once a snake has been infected, it cannot recover. All infected snakes must be killed.
Skin
Dysecdysis is one of the most common skin conditions found in emerald trees boas. Low humidity is the cause of this condition. It can also be caused due to mite infestations, poor nutrition, or improper handling.
It is best to soak your emerald trees boa in warm (lukewarm), water for at least half an hour if it has dysecdysis. To remove any remaining skin, you can rub the affected area with a towel.
To avoid permanent injury to the cornea, it is necessary to remove any eye caps that the snake may have retained.
Behaviour
Ambush hunters are the Emerald tree boas. They hunt at night, and they often stay up in the branches to attack small rodents who move beneath them.
Communication & perception
The eyes of the Emerald tree boas can detect prey by sight. There are also infrared heat sensors located on their labial scales. These pits can be used to detect prey at night.
The emerald trees boa, like all snakes, uses its tongue and vomeronasal organs for chemical cues from the wind. They can also sense vibrations. These snakes do not communicate much.
They are a single species and have no interactions with other animals or mates. If the males are too close together, aggressive behavior may be observed.
Males will fight when a female is present if they are kept in the same enclosure. Males will mount, chase and writhe until one of them gives in.
The winner will chase the other snake, and then constrict its neck with its end.
Breeding
The breeding season for the emerald boa lasts from April through July. When the females reach 4 to 5, they will begin to mate, while the males are sexually mature at 3 or 4.
They only reproduce once every two years. After a six- to seven-month gestation, they can produce up to 20 babies. Their eggs hatch internally, so the young can come out of them alive, unlike other snakes.
Juvenile snakes are able to climb up and begin to defend themselves as soon as they are born. They don’t require any help from their parents, which is quite remarkable.
Emerald tree boas have been called ‘live-bearing’ snakes because of their reproductive behavior. The emerald tree boa will not have a placental attachment with its young, unlike mammalian species.
All you need is a gelatinous bag that holds each unborn snake.
It is believed that the snake can mate at any time and lay eggs throughout the year. Most mating activities occur in the northern hemisphere between November and January.
For them to begin mating, they need a daytime temperature between 24 and 17 degrees Celsius (75 degrees F).
You will see a lump in your snake’s middle when it is ovulating. The lump usually lasts between 8-24hrs.
Once the female has finished ovulating, it will undergo what is called a post-ovulation she shed. It will take between 20 and 30 days to complete the shed.
Pregnant emerald trees boas love to bask at temperatures between 30-32degC. These snakes will give rise to their babies between 100 and 110 days after ovulation.
Safety
Emerald tree boa bites have not been linked to any human deaths. These snakes do not have venom. Their bites will not cause any severe problems. They are also very small.
Their constriction does not pose a threat to people. Their prey, which consists of birds and small mammals, is only strong enough to restrict them.
Price/Cost
Online, you can purchase young emerald boas for as low as $300-$400. For your order, you can choose to have a male or a female snake. The majority of snake sellers cannot guarantee sex.
Delivery to your door will cost you an additional fee.
It is therefore important that you read all shipping information before placing an order for the snake. This will allow you to determine if the shop ships to your area.
Fascinating facts
- Common Name: Emerald tree boa
- Scientific Name: Corallus Caninus
- Boas – Family Name
- Reproductive season: April-July
- Pregnancy duration – 6-7 months
- Number of snakelets: 20
- Genus Name – Neotropical tree boas
- Range – Lowland tropical rainforests of the Amazonian, Guianan and other regions in South America.
- Adult Size – 6 feet (1.8m) in Length
- Lifespan: 20 years in captivity, 15 in the wild
- Similar Species/Popular Alternates – Green tree Python
Summary
Carolus Linnaeus discovered the emerald-tree boa. It is an emerald-green snake with white stripes and a yellow underneath.
The emerald trees boa, like most reptiles is cold-blooded. The head is characterized by large bulges at the back.
These bulges give the head of the emerald trees boa a heart-shaped shape. The powerful fangs of the emerald trees boa make it easy for them to catch their prey.
These fangs cannot be used to inject venom, as the snake is not venomous. It also has a strong prehensile tail that it uses for fighting and hunting.
Emerald tree boas can be kept in good condition. You will need to ensure that you follow the correct maintenance procedures so you don’t have any problems.
See more: Green Tree Python
