Rosy Boas, small, docile snakes that are native to the Southwest of North America, are called Rosy Boas.
They are the only Boa species in the United States. Their ability to subdue prey through squeezing its bodies is what makes them so special.
These powerful snakes can be identified by their three distinctive stripes. They are also known as three-lined Boas.
Rosy Boas are named after the salmon-pink stomachs of certain specimens from Baja California and southwestern California.
Are you already in love with your snake? Continue reading to find out how to create the perfect environment and how to care about these incredible snakes.
Rosy Boa Snake Overview
Rosy Boas are calm-tempered snakes that can be found in California’s Mojave and Colorado deserts.
They are also found in Arizona’s southwest corner and Sonora, Mexico.
Rosy Boas are scientifically known as Lichanura trivirgata. They belong to the Boidae tribe. Trivirgata is their name because of the distinctive stripes they have on their bodies.
Edward Drinker Cope dubbed these snakes trivirgata when he published the first description of the species in 1861.
Rosies are usually light gray, yellow or tan with a dark maroon, orange or brown stripe color. You can break the stripes or keep them neat and high-contrast.
These snakes are easy to handle and they can be calm. They can sometimes musk their offender by balling in fear. They are small and nonvenomous so they are great for beginners.
Rosy Boas love to eat and can thrive in captivity.
They are not as popular as other beginner friendly snakes, so it is possible to be one of the few keepers of this species.
Rosy Boas: What We Love About It
Pros
- Calm temperament
- Simple husbandry requirements.
- Small size
- Tolerates handling well.
Cons
- Hides during the day
- Prefers to hide and live in rocks.
- High basking temperatures are required.
Species Appearance
Rosy Boa snakes are light-colored with three dark stripes running along their bodies. They have light belly with dark spots and blotches.
Different regions (e.g. Different regions (e.g. Arizona, Mexico) can produce different colors.
- Desert rose boas are gray or light tan with rusty maroon stripes. Their bellies are lined with two rows of dark brown spots.
- The Coastal rosy Boas feature orange stripes on a gray or cream base. They might have pink or spotted bellies.
- Mexican rose boas are pale, creamy colors that have dark brown or black stripes. They have light bellies and dark spots scattered randomly.
The high color variation has caused controversy within the herpetological community.
Some believe that there are three to five subspecies. Some believe they are all one species, and call them three-lined Boas.
How big are Rosy Boa Snakes?
Rosy Boas are long and can weigh up to 1 lb. Males can be as short or as long as 1.5 feet, while females are usually longer. Males tend to have longer tails than females, despite the difference in their size.
Rosy Boas at birth are usually 12 inches in length.
Color and Morphs
Rosy Boas come in a wide range of colors and can be morphed into many different morphs, such as the albino (pictured below). Some morphs are cream with light peach stripes.
Natural base colors are tan, cream yellow, light brown or other shades of gray.
can have brown, black or rusty orange stripes.
Rosy Boa Care sheet
What does a Rosy Boa eat?
The pet snake is a carnivore and eats small rodents like mice and rats. Their diet may include:
- Mice and small rats
- Chicks
- Lizards
- Amphibians
- Other snakes
Rosy Boas are a type constrictor snake. They will eat their prey by biting and wrapping it around, before sucking it to death and eating it head first.
It is best to keep frozen-thawed mice in captivity.
Measure the thickness of the snake’s body to determine how large prey you want to feed. Feed mice slightly smaller than this measurement.
In captivity, they are often very good eaters.
- Juveniles and hatchlings should be fed once per week.
- To maintain a healthy weight, adults should be fed every 10-14 day.
It is safer to keep frozen-thawed mouse in captivity than it is for their hunting skills. This will help you avoid injury to your pet.
To freeze and feed their prey
- Place frozen prey in the refrigerator overnight.
- After the mouse has been thawed, place it in warm water to heat the body to approximately 98-100degF.
- Once the prey has been thawed, hold it in your hands and gently wiggle it at your snake to attract its attention.
- Keep wriggling after they strike to encourage normal constriction behaviors.
A water bowl is essential for your snake’s health. Because they don’t raise humidity, small bowls are best.
Common Health Problems
You should place your new reptile in an easy-to-clean enclosure after you have purchased it. After 30 days, your Rosy Boa should be able to eat and is active.
These snakes can live up to 25 years if they are properly cared for and fed regularly.
They can also become sick, as with any other reptile, if their husbandry is poor. These diseases are common:
- Respiratory infections
- Internal parasites.
- Mites.
- Scale or mouth rot.
Poor substrates , low enclosure temperatures, and incorrect humidity are common causes of respiratory infections and scale rot. It is possible to prevent bacterial growth by proper husbandry.
A vet will usually perform a fecal examination to diagnose internal parasites. Parasite overload can cause snakes to stop eating.
External parasites (e.g. External parasites (e.g. mites) can be treated by increasing cage cleaning and using anti-mite products.
The chart below can be used to determine if your Rosy Boa is ill.
They Are Healthy
- Consistent eating.
- Healthy urate-feces ratio.
- Docile, calm, no unusual aggression.
Sickness Symptoms
- Hesitation, clicking or wheezing.
- Lethargy.
- Over-soaking.
Rosy Boa Habitat
Rosy Boas terrestrial snakes that are native to the deserts of southwestern North America.
They are often seen in very hot habitats so they can be seen during the day or night.
Rosie boas are found in areas where there are granite outcrops and rock piles.
They love to hide between rocks and seldom live in barren areas.
Their tank should reflect the desert’s heat and low humidity. For enrichment, it is important to have plenty of rocks and hides.
Rosy Boas can grow to 3 feet in length, and their bodies are very thick. It is essential to provide your pet with a suitable-sized enclosure.
They can survive happily as hatchlings in a 10- to 15-gallon aquarium. For adults to thrive, they will require a larger tank that is ideal 20-30 gallons.
To prevent escapes, the tank must have a closed top. Glass enclosures can be protected with screen lids, which allow excess humidity to escape.
Large rocks should be placed around the tank for them to hide and shed.
To act as “cool”, and “hot”, hides, there should be hides at each end of the tank. To prevent excessive evaporation, place the water bowl near to the cool hide. Below is the best way to set up a tank:
- Tank Type : Screen-top glass
- Tank Size : 30 Gallon
- Lighting: 75-watt basking lamp.
- Substrate – aspen shavings
Snakes can thermoregulate themselves by moving around in different temperatures. This is why a heat gradient is so important. It is important to have a “hot” or “cool” tank.
A 75-watt bulb basking light should be placed on top of the cage’s hot side. The lamp’s temperature should be between 85 and 90 degrees F.
These nocturnal snakes can also use basking lamps to establish a night-day cycle.
The lamp should be turned off at night. Instead, you can use a lower-wattage ceramic heater or a 60-watt infrared light bulb that is connected to a thermostat. The hot side should stay between 80-85degF, while the cooler side should fall to 75degF.
The tank of a Rosy Boa should have around 40% humidity.
Coconut husk, soil and other substrates with low humidity levels should be avoided. Pine shavings and cedar are known to produce dust, so they should also be avoided.
For their substrate, dry beddings such as large-grain sand or aspen shavings should be used.
Use a sand-soil mix that is organic, perlite, and fertiler-free. Bake the soil for 15 minutes if it is too wet before you mix it.
Clean & Misting Tank
It is essential to keep your snake healthy.
To prevent scum growth, the tank should be cleaned daily with feces.
Deep cleaning your snake’s enclosure should be done at least once per month.
Take out all decorations and wash them with soap and water. Rinse well and let dry outdoors. After cleaning out the interior of the tank, replace all substrate.
Remember that humidity can be increased by moist substrates or decor. Dry it thoroughly before you return.
Rosy Boas are good pets
Rosy Boas are slow-moving snakes that stay in their rock crevices. They can grow up to 3 feet in length, and require very little care. This makes them perfect for beginners.
Rosy Boas, which are shy snakes found in the wild, rarely leave their burrows. This is why much of their wild behavior has been poorly documented.
They rarely bite, it is well-known.
If they feel threatened, they will release a foul-smelling liquid from their vents or roll up their heads and hide.
They will be nocturnal in their enclosure all year. In the wild, they are only nocturnal during the spring and fall.
Keepers may induce brumation in order to imitate wild behavior. Brumation is a form of hibernation in which a snake’s activity and metabolism decreases. It also avoids eating.
Brumation can lead to serious health problems if not handled properly. During brumation, you should be very careful with your snake.
Do Rosy Boas Like Being Handled?
Adults are gentle, can be handled well and rarely bite. Rosy Boas can be frightened of being handled by humans, especially young ones. Before handling them, give them at most two weeks to adjust to the new environment.
To socialize your Boa, you should work together.
You can do this by holding the snake for between 10 and 15 minutes every day for two weeks.
It is essential to wash your hands and practice good hygiene before you attempt to handle your snake. Snakes may occasionally carry diseases such as salmonella. Salmonella) and can transmit them to humans.
Begin by gently touching your Rosy Boa until you notice them. Next, reach in and gently pick them up.
To prepare your snake for a strike, you can use a hook to gently rub them.
After feeding, it is best to avoid handling your snake. Stress can be caused by handling a snake too soon after it has been fed. A recently-fed snake might even regurgitate if this happens.
Summary
Rosies are beautiful, small snakes that can thrive in captivity.
They are the only boas from the United States and one of two in North America.
Rosy Boas can be very tolerant and eat well, and they require very little attention.
They are only visible at night so they can be difficult to see during the day. A Kingsnake might be the right choice for you if you’re looking for a diurnal snake that has similar care needs.
Could the Rosy Boa become your next family member We’d love to hear your thoughts below.
