Boa constrictor
Boa constrictor
A large terrestrial cage with two hides, a sturdy water bowl, and a lock. Adult size depends on the locality.
Legal status
- EU Annex B
- CITES II
Boa constrictor is CITES Appendix II because Boidae spp. is in Appendix II except species placed in Appendix I. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/966 places that family listing in Annex B except species in Annex A. It is recorded here as Annex B on that basis, the same way Python regius is recorded. Confirm the current annex before you rely on it. Not venomous. Not on the EU invasive-alien-species list. Not named in 50 CFR 16.15. Live-bearing. Not named in 50 CFR 16.15. Incubation days are empty. Check local rules before you keep, move, or rehome an animal. This record is not a permit and not legal advice.
Official sourceNot legal advice. Rules differ by country, and sometimes by region. Check the law that applies to you.
- Temperature
- 26–32°C
- Basking
- 32–33°C
- UVB
- Ferguson zone 1 to 2. About 0.5–1.0
- Humidity
- 60–75%
- Minimum enclosure
- A secure enclosure at least as long as the snake, often 180 × 90 × 60 cm or more for an adult common boa
- Adult size
- Common boas often 150–250 cm. Some localities stay smaller. Measure the animal you have.
- Lifespan
- Often 20–30 years.
- Difficulty
- advanced
Diet and feeding
Appropriately sized rodents or rabbits. The prey should leave a small bulge, not a struggle. Juveniles about every 7–14 days. Adults about every 14–21 days, sometimes longer.
Substrate
Cypress mulch, paper, or a similar dry-to-moderate substrate.
Health
Inclusion body disease is a real viral concern in boas. Also respiratory infection, mites, and obesity.
Handling
Support the whole body. Do not handle after a meal. An adult is a two-person animal.
Husbandry ranges are general guidance for captive care, not a veterinary prescription or a permit. Confirm the gradient with your own thermometers. UV zones follow Baines et al., Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 4(1), 2016, https://www.jzar.org/jzar/article/view/150. Legal fields use the source link on this species and stay empty when an annex was not verified.