How long can red tail boas live?

Columbian Red Tailed Boa Fact Sheet

Class: Reptilia
Species: boa constrictor constrictor
Life span: 20 years in the wild 40 years under human care
Egg Gestation: 120 – 150 days
Number of young at birth: 30 on average

Are red-tailed boas dangerous?

They can become aggressive without warning. The Red Tail Boas have a non-venomous bite, but uses its bite to grasp the prey and quickly coils around it, squeezing and eventually suffocating the prey. They do not always hunt their prey, but often camouflage themselves and wait for the prey to walk by.

How can you tell the age of a red tail boa?

The best way to tell the age of a boa constrictor is to talk to the breeder who hatched him. Without this knowledge, you may tell the boas age by their length and weight and possibly by looking at their coloration.

How expensive is it to own a boa constrictor?

Captive-bred boas are generally healthier and more docile than their wild-caught counterparts. The prices can widely vary, depending on the type. But many varieties commonly kept as pets cost around $50 to $200. What Types of Snakes Make the Most Popular Pets?

Why did my red tail boa strike at me?

All red tail boas should be fed pre-killed prey for the safety of the snake. Snakes fed in their cage can come to associate the lid or door opening with food, and may strike at your hand when reaching in to clean or to take the snake out for some other purpose.

How big does a red tailed boa get?

Within a year your Red-Tailed Boa will be over three feet long: by age three it will be near its full growth of five to seven (or more) feet.

How long can a red tailed boa go without eating?

In the wild Red-Tailed Boas regularly go weeks or months without eating. Your Red-Tailed Boa will be happiest with an appropriately sized meal served at proper intervals. Boas are also less tolerant of high-fat meals than Pythons.

Why is the b.c.constrictor called the red tailed boa?

This coloring gives B. c. constrictor the common name of “red-tailed boa”, as it typically has more red saddles than other B. constrictor subspecies. The coloring works as very effective camouflage in the jungles and forests of its natural range.

What’s the life expectancy of a boa constrictor?

Captive life expectancy is 20 to 30 years, with rare accounts over 40 years, making them a long-term commitment as a pet. The greatest reliable age recorded for a boa constrictor in captivity is 40 years, 3 months, and 14 days. This boa constrictor was named Popeye and died in the Philadelphia Zoo, Pennsylvania, on April 15, 1977.

Where did the Red Tail boa come from?

Red tail boas are known for their docile nature and have been a part of the captive exotic pet trade for decades. Because of their size and nature as well as their beautiful pattern and color, red tail boas have been imported into the United States dating all the way back to the 1800’s.

What’s the difference between a common boa and a red tailed boa?

If you have an interest in boas, you may have come across the terms “common boa,” “Colombian boa,” “red-tailed boa,” “BCI” and “BCC.” But what do these different names mean? True red-tailed boas are larger, lighter in color, and have more vivid red tails than the boa constrictor imperator.

How big does a red tail boa constrictor get?

The red tail boa constrictor is a medium to large sized snake from the northern parts of South America. They can get to an impressive adult size of eleven feet in length or more. They all have a beautiful silver or grey body pattern with different tones of rusty to deep red in their tails.

What does IBD mean for a red tail Boa?

IBD is marked by poor appetite and excessive saliva, and in serious or more advanced cases, IBD causes snakes to lose control of their bodily movements. Red tailed boas also are susceptible to respiratory infections, marked by wheezing and nasal discharge.