My Hypo/Hog Island Boa

[JaJa]

So I need help!

I am recent new owner of my first hypo/hog island Boa. I named her JaJa and as of now she is the calmness snake I could ask for.

12/21/15 I would have her a month and I am realizing that taking care of a snake is much different than taking care of a dog lol.

The actions, color change, hissing, and reaction are hard trends to pick up. I have a few questions that if anyone could help answering it would be greatly appreciated...

Female
3+ Feet long
1.5yrs-2yrs old
Originally Sandy Brown color


1.How often should I feed her?

2.What is the ideal tank size?

3.What should the climate/humidity be?

4. What does color change mean?

[bigsnakegirl785]

1) Every 2 weeks.

2) Anything Length+Width=snake's length or bigger. At 3', I'd say she's at a good size to move into a 4'x2', which will last her until she's 6'.

3) 70-80%

4) With boas, it means the light/dark phases they go through daily. Hog Islands have some of the best color changes of the boa constrictors. It can be due to mood, time of day, or temperature. Doesn't really indicate anything is off.

[Justinbolleurs]

1. A nice size meal ones every 10 days, maybe like a weaner rat.

2. I'd say 3x2x2 (l.b.h), but I've seen it does no harm to put a boa in a fairly large cage that will last a life time, just make sure she has a couple hide outs when making a bigger cage. I have a 3 foot boa that's gonna live in a 5x3.5x2 cage a higher cage is nice if they feel like climbing which mine loves.

3. 50-60% but 70 won't do any harm but not lower then 50.

4. Could be because she's shedding or even may turn darker for basking. I've found my boa vary a couple times a day, one day she was really dark in color and in the next day she goes back to being lighter in colour. just keep an eye on her to make sureif she is shedding

[JaJa]

Thank you! That information is definitely helpful

[JaJa]

I have been feeding her either a small rat or two mice on a weekly basis. I see that she does change colors frequently as well. I think I might be handling her a bit too much. The only pattern I have seen is that she tends to be in a better mood and lighter in coloer if I don't handle her as much.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by JaJa

I have been feeding her either a small rat or two mice on a weekly basis. I see that she does change colors frequently as well. I think I might be handling her a bit too much. The only pattern I have seen is that she tends to be in a better mood and lighter in coloer if I don't handle her as much.

After a year old, a boa constrictor should only eat every 2 weeks at most. Once they're 3 years or older, a 3-6 week schedule is best. I've been slowly increasing my Colombian BCI's schedule to 6 weeks by 1 week a year, but I might wait until he's 6 to move him onto a 6 week schedule, or just keep him permanently on a 5 week schedule. It all depends on him. He's almost 4.5 years old now, ~6.5' and currently eating a large rat or x-small rabbit every 5 weeks.

I fed him weekly until he was 2.5 years old, and he was 2' bigger than would would be expected of a 2 year old boa, and 2-3 lbs overweight. Took a year to slim him out.