Brazilian Rainbow Boa

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

Brazilian species, measured in feet and sheds

The rainbow boa keepers usually mean is Epicrates cenchria from northern South America. Adults commonly reach 5 to 7 feet. Lifespan is 20 to 25 years or more. Care is intermediate because the humidity has to stay high without turning the cage into a mold box. Temperament starts nippy and, in captive-bred lines, usually settles.

Hold the cage around 75 to 85°F, with a basking area near 90°F and humidity of 70 to 90 percent. An adult cage should be at least 4 by 2 by 2 feet. Give a climbing branch, a soaking bowl, and substrate you can spot-clean. If the walls drip all day, add airflow before you add more water. If the shed comes off in flakes, the cage is too dry. Those two failures look opposite and both are common.

A rodent diet and a single occupant

Thawed mice and rats are the food. Size them to the snake's widest part, not to a wish for faster growth. House one boa. Wash after handling and after cage chores. Salmonella advice for reptiles is ordinary hygiene, not a reason to panic or a reason to skip handwashing.

Weight loss with a good appetite can be parasites. Weight loss with no appetite can be temperatures or illness. Either one is a reason to call a clinic listed by ARAV.

Rainbow boa questions

Which rainbow boa is the larger pet?

Epicrates cenchria, the Brazilian species this page covers, often reaches 5 to 7 feet. Colombian rainbow boas are a smaller relative and a different animal.

What cage humidity should I actually hold?

Aim for 70 to 90 percent, and with a basking spot up toward 90°F and the ambient cage at 75 to 85°F. Measure both. A wet hide plus a drier perch gives the snake a choice.

Do rainbow boas tame down?

Juveniles are nippy. Adults usually settle with age. Believe the first half while the snake is small, and use tongs at every feeding.