I love Brazilian rainbow boas. They have beautiful iridescent colors and a very unique pattern. They are truly an exotic snake but are they a good pet snake for beginners?
Brazilian Rainbow boas are some of the most beautiful snakes available in the pet trade. Although they can do very well in captivity and make excellent pet snakes, they are generally not recommended for beginners.
We will discuss all the reasons why Brazilian rainbow boas really do make great pets as well as why they are best suited for someone with a little more experience.
Before we go into this topic let’s learn more about Brazilian rainbow boas. They are one of five rainbow boa subspecies and are the most commonly kept as pets. Often, they are referred to as just “rainbow boas”.
Interesting Facts About Brazilian Rainbow Boas
- Where do Brazilian rainbow boas come from? – Brazilian rainbow boas are found in Brazil of course, but they are also found all along the Amazon River Basin from Suriname and Brazil to Colombia and Peru. They inhabit tropical and subtropical forests that are very warm and very humid.
- Are they poisonous? – Like all other boas, Brazilian rainbow boas are non-venomous.
- How big do they get? – Baby rainbow boas are around 8-12 inches and adults average 5 to 6 feet in length. Females get larger than males. Some very large individuals can reach up to 7 feet.
- What do they eat? – In the wild, Brazilian rainbow boas eat rodents, birds and lizards. In captivity they are fed mice and rats.
- How long do they live? – Brazilian rainbow boas are a long-lived snake and can live 20 years or more in captivity.
More About Brazilian Rainbow Boas
Now that we know a little more about Brazilian rainbow boas lets discuss why they make good pet snakes and why they are better for intermediate snake keepers. This discussion will include a list of reasons they are great pet snakes and some considerations you should be aware of before buying one.
Brazilian Rainbow Boas
- Aren’t as large as other boas
- Are pretty available
- Easy to care for
- Are generally docile and adapt to handling well
- Are very beautiful
- Don’t need special UVB lights
Considerations:
- Have very specific humidity requirements
- Babies are nippy
- Eat rodents
Why Brazilian Rainbow Boas Make Good Pet Snakes
Aren’t as Large as Other Boas
Adult rainbow boas reach an average length of 5 to 6 feet in length. Though some can get up to 7 feet that is pretty rare. Even a 5- or 6-foot snake can seem very large but a 5 to 6-foot rainbow boa still won’t seem as large as a 5 to 6-foot common boa constrictor.
This is because they won’t get as thick. Likewise, a 5-foot king snake will not seem nearly as big as a 5- foot rainbow boa because the king snake is more of a slender snake.
The common boa constrictor can get 6-9 feet. Some have been known to reach 10 feet! They are also thick and muscular. This can feel like a little too large of a snake for some people.
If you want a boa that is still a big snake, but don’t want one that big, the Brazilian rainbow boa is a good choice. If you think their size is still too big you may consider a Kenyon sand boa or a rosy boa.
Are Pretty Available
Brazilian rainbow boas are not difficult to find. They are not as common as other snakes, such as ball pythons or corn snakes but you can usually find them at pet stores that specialize in reptiles or exotic pet stores that carry reptiles.
You can usually find them at reptile expos as well as online. They typically go for about $200 U.S. dollars. If you are looking for a rare color morph you can expect to pay much more.
Easy to Care For
Brazilian rainbow boas are easy to care for, if you understand how to meet their specific needs.
An adult rainbow boa needs about a 3-foot by 2-foot by 2-foot sized cage which is pretty large compared to other snakes like corn snakes, but not as large as others such as Burmese pythons.
Like other snakes it is best to provide your rainbow boa with a temperature gradient in their cage. It should be 85 degrees on the warm end and about 72 degrees on the cool end.
This can be accomplished by using flex watt heat tape under the tank, radiant heat elements or even an over the tank heat lamp. Many, if not most experienced snake keepers, prefer under the tank heating. Be sure to use a thermostat so you don’t cook your snake.
It’s a good idea to have a non-contact digital laser thermometer so you can get an accurate temperature reading quickly and easily. This will help you make the necessary adjustments and dial in the temps appropriately.
You will also need to feed your rainbow boa an appropriately sized mouse or rat about once a week. They are very good eaters and rarely refuse to eat which makes them a great pet snake.
Brazilian rainbow boas would make a good beginner snake if their humidity requirements were not so demanding. They come from a very warm and wet environment and require very high humidity levels in their enclosure.
If humidity requirements are not met, they will develop health problems pretty quickly and die.
Some suggest humidity levels as high as 80-90% regularly. Others say the exact percentage is not as critical but making sure they are sprayed with a mist of water every day and allowing it to evaporate overnight is sufficient. If you provide a large enough water bowl for them to soak in it’s even better.
Fresh drinking water, changed frequently, is a requirement. If you are the kind of snake keeper that let’s the water bowl run dry (this is not too hard to do) you could easily end up with a dead snake.
Brazilian rainbow boas are pretty easy to care for If you understand humidity and how to achieve what your snake requires.
The above is not meant to be a detailed guide on how to care for rainbow boas but I hope it gives you some idea of what to expect.
Are Generally Docile and Adapt to Handling Well
Brazilian rainbow boas are very defensive as babies. Once they are allowed to get used to their environment, they will need to be handled frequently if you want a tame snake.
The great thing is that within a few weeks of regular handling they will get accustomed to it and become quite tame. This can be very rewarding as a snake owner. Owning, holding and handling an exotic snake can be pretty cool!
Are Very Beautiful
There is a reason rainbow boas have the word “rainbow” in their names. They have a very high iridescent sheen that emanates from their scales when under the light. On top of there already beautiful coloration, their skin reflects all the colors of the rainbow.
Don’t Need Special UVB Lights
Brazilian rainbow boas to not require special UVB lighting like other reptiles. They don’t require special lights but if you want them to really “glow”, you can place a low wattage fluorescent light in or over their cage. Then watch your snake shine.
Why They Are Best Suited for Intermediate Keepers
Now that we’ve discussed many reasons rainbow boas make good pet snakes lets talk about why they are not generally considered a good choice for beginners.
Have Very Specific Humidity Requirements
As mentioned previously, Brazilian rainbow boas have very high humidity requirements. This can be achieved if you understand humidity. That said, it means a higher level of daily maintenance and attention to detail.
This is a higher level of care than other snakes that are often recommended for beginners such as corn snakes, king snakes or ball pythons. Brazilian rainbow boas are not as tolerant of owner mistakes and this is certainly something to take into consideration.
If you are the kind of person that is not good at daily routines or establishing good consistent habits it’s best to start with another snake.
This could save you the heart ache of losing an animal that you paid good money for, but most importantly, one that you love.
Babies Are Nippy
Most snakes are “nippy” (try to bite a lot) when they are young. This is understandable because when they are young and small, they are a popular menu item for many predators.
Still, this defensive behavior tends to be a little more pronounced with Brazilian rainbow boas than with other snakes. This can be startling and discouraging to someone who has never owned a snake before.
Eat Rodents
You will need to feed your Brazilian rainbow boa mice and later rats. Some people have a problem with this. If you are one of those people a snake may not be the best choice for a pet. Let alone a Brazilian rainbow boa.
Brazilian rainbow boas are amazing snakes that make great pets. Because of some of their special husbandry requirements they are not considered a good choice for beginners. If someone is recommending them for beginners, they are probably trying to sell you one.
It’s not to say that you shouldn’t buy one if that is the snake you really want. It’s just important to be aware that they require more detailed care than most other snakes that are typically recommended for beginners.
I recommend doing as much research as possible before purchasing your new snake. And if you are prepared to give your Brazilian rainbow boa the care it needs, you will have a wonderfully rewarding pet for a very long time.