Help on deciding on a boa species [Archive]

Will0W783

09-03-09, 08:45 AM

Is your viv set up more tropical or temperate? You want to consider the ambient temps and humidity levels your viv will be getting. Rainbow boas are beautiful display animals and tend to be fairly docile, and need a humidity around 70-80%, they get 5-6 feet and fairly slender. They also require lower temps than most other snakes - 75-85 degrees. 90 degrees will kill a rainbow boa as their enzymes denature at those temps. Red-tailed (common) boas need lower humidity (50-60%) and higher can give them respiratory infection; they need a basking area in the 90's and ambient temps in the 80s. They will get 8-10 feet long and fairly thick- 20Lb snake. Amazon tree boas are pretty similar to emeralds, and rainbows, in that they need higher humidity. They also favor 76-85 degree temps, but are not as rigid as the rainbows. Emerald tree boa is another beautiful, amazing snake, and probably my favorite boa. They tend to do well in vivs because the plants help keep the humidity up. That being said, if you get an emerald, be careful to make sure the environment stays optional; they don't tolerate variations in temps and humidity as well as a lot of other snakes. The reputation they have for being aggressive is, in my opinion, unwarranted. I have a female ETB who is as docile as my ball pythons, if not more so, and I know several people who have or have had docile ETBs. It's all in how you handle the snake. I know you said you're into boas, but a green tree python might be something to consider if you like emeralds but don't want to devote the time and energy. GTPs are fairly similar in color and shape to ETBs but with a different face, and they tend to be much hardier.
It comes down to how much maintenance you want to put in, and what you are looking for. Best of luck with your decision. If you decide on a species and want more input, feel free to message me. I have all the snakes I've mentioned except for amazon tree boas.