![]() ![]() Plastic/PVC: PVC is well known for holding both heat and humidity very efficiently, and it’s also very durable, making it the most popular reptile housing option in the hobby. For best results, help the boa feel more secure by using an opaque material like construction paper to cover 3 of the enclosure’s 4 walls. ![]() When done right, glass enclosures are very attractive and easy to clean. It also helps encourage a natural cycle of drying in the enclosure, which discourages mold growth in a humid environment that could otherwise go out of control very easily. But it’s because of that latter quality, glass is one of the best materials at dissipating heat, and that it makes creating a temperature gradient much easier. They do tend to be expensive, heavy, not very durable, and can present some trouble with maintaining consistent temperatures and humidity. Glass: Contrary to popular belief, glass enclosures (aka aquariums) are not evil. It’s not a very attractive option, but it is much less expensive, great at maintaining steady humidity, and you’re less likely to lose track of your baby. If you’re still worried by the idea of putting a tiny baby in a huge adult enclosure, you can use a plastic storage tub with ventilation holes as a temporary grow-out space. Large (deep) water bowls can pose a drowning risk.Difficult to monitor defecation schedule.The primary concerns with keeping a very young boa in a large enclosure are the following: Also partially cover the climbing branches to provide arboreal hides. Provide lots of places to hide: cork bark half-buried in substrate, loose burrowable substrate, foliage, dead leaves, caves, etc. Providing lots of hides/cover is the key to success when you’re putting a young boa in a large enclosure. So think of it more as taking an enclosure-sized slice out of their native habitat. Think about how boas grow up in the wild - they don’t confine themselves to a small box just because they’re young. In fact, babies can be housed in a full adult-sized enclosure if you set it up correctly. So if you buy a baby, it’s generally cheaper and more efficient to start with a larger enclosure to accommodate that rapid growth. Although boa constrictors are generally considered slow-growing, babies can still triple in size by the end of their first year. Photo contributed by Rhonda Miller Can you house a baby boa constrictor in a larger enclosure? If you don’t have the space or don’t want to make/pay for a big enclosure, then a large snake is simply not for you.Ī gorgeous example of a spacious boa enclosure. ![]() (Read more about temperature gradients on the next page.)īe prepared to make your own enclosure. Without a good temperature gradient, your boa can’t regulate its body temperate and will most likely get very sick. The enclosure also must be large enough to create an appropriate temperature gradient for the snake to thermoregulate with. You might not always see it in action when you’re awake (during the day), but boas cruise around quite a bit at night since they are nocturnal. At absolute minimum, this means the sum of the length and width of the enclosure should be equal to the length of the snake. The enclosure must be large enough to allow its occupant to stretch out to its full length and exercise. But larger, and especially taller, is strongly recommended. ![]() This changes somewhat as the snakes reach adulthood and large pre-made enclosures become harder to find and less affordable. Snake length x half snake length x half snake length Large adult (longer than 8’) - 8’L x 4’W x 4’HĪ good rule of thumb for boa constrictor enclosure dimensions is:.Here’s the minimum dimensions for your boa constrictor enclosure, based on snake length: Boa constrictors are medium to large, semi-arboreal snakes that require an enclosure which provides both floor space and height to accommodate their semi-arboreal lifestyle. ![]()
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