Alain Grant As you peer into the glass tank, you can’t help but be captivated by the stunning creature before you. The Amazon Tree Boa, with its unpredictable colors and patterns, is a fearless climber that commands attention. This arboreal snake is not for the faint of heart, but for those willing to put in the effort, it can be one of the most rewarding pets to own.
Native to South America, the Amazon Tree Boa is an ambush hunter with heat sensing pits, making it a formidable predator. However, with the right care and preparation, this snake can thrive in captivity.
In this article, we will delve into the world of Amazon Tree Boas, exploring their care, diet, physical characteristics, and more. With our guidance, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of these beautiful creatures and the joy they can bring to your life.
So, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Tree Boas are popular climbing snakes with a fearless personality and specific care needs.
- They are polymorphic, producing an unpredictable variety of colors and patterns, and are ambush hunters with heat sensing pits.
- The total cost of owning an Amazon Tree Boa, including enclosure, hides, décor, substrate, and equipment, is $1,000 to $2,000.
- Best suited for intermediate keepers due to their defensive and aggressive nature, they require an arboreal tank made of glass with tall tanks being essential to encourage climbing and coiling on branches.
Amazon Tree Boas: Care and Habitat
If you want to keep an Amazon Tree Boa, you should know that they require a specific arboreal tank made of glass and tall enough to encourage climbing and coiling on branches. The enclosure design should be carefully thought out as these snakes are arboreal and require a lot of vertical space.
The tank should be at least twice as tall as the snake’s length. This is important as Amazon Tree Boas love to climb and coil around branches. The enclosure should also have hiding spots, plants, and decor to make the snake feel safe and secure.
In addition to the enclosure design, Amazon Tree Boas require specific temperature requirements. They do not bask on the ground, so an overhead heating element is important for this species. The temperature gradient should range from 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit on the cooler side to 88 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit on the warmer side.
To maintain a humidity of 50 to 70%, an absorbent substrate such as coconut fiber or fertilizer-free topsoil is necessary. Misting the enclosure twice daily will also help to keep your humidity between 50 and 70%.
With these specific care requirements, Amazon Tree Boas can thrive and be a rewarding pet for experienced keepers.
Physical Characteristics
To fully understand the physical characteristics of these snakes, you should know that they have a long and slender body with bright, reflective eyes that allow them to see well at night. The Amazon Tree Boa is polymorphic, which means they come in a variety of colors and patterns, making them a popular choice among snake enthusiasts. They have two distinct color phases: colored and garden. The colored phase can have a range of colors, including red, orange, yellow, brown, and black, while the garden phase is typically green and brown, allowing them to blend in with their surroundings in the rainforest.
Another unique feature of the Amazon Tree Boa is their heat sensing pits, which are located on the upper and lower lips. These pits allow them to detect infrared radiation emitted by their prey, helping them to locate and ambush their target. Their long, slender body and heat sensing pits make them excellent climbers and ambush predators, allowing them to thrive in their natural habitat in South America.
Amazon Tree Boas: Feeding and Nutrition
You should feed your Amazon Tree Boa a variety of vertebrates, such as birds, bats, frogs, lizards, rodents, and small marsupials. Hatchlings should be started on pinky mice and fed every seven days. Sub-adults and adults can be fed every two weeks.
When selecting prey, ensure that the size is appropriate for your snake’s size and offer a variety of prey items for necessary nutrients. Feeding frequency depends on the snake’s size and age, with young snakes requiring more frequent feedings than adults. Monitor your snake’s weight and adjust feeding frequency accordingly.
In addition to prey items, provide a water bowl large enough for soaking. Amazon Tree Boas are prone to dehydration, so always ensure they have access to clean water.
Challenges and Precautions
Oh, you thought keeping a highly aggressive and overly defensive snake with specific care needs would be easy? Think again. Amazon Tree Boas are not for the faint of heart and require careful handling to avoid accidental bites. In addition to their defensive nature, they are also prone to diseases such as inclusion body disease and obesity. It is important to take precautions to ensure the health and safety of both you and your snake.
One way to prevent diseases is to practice good hygiene and sanitation. Regularly clean and disinfect the enclosure, substrate, and all equipment. Additionally, it is important to provide a balanced diet and maintain proper temperature and humidity levels. When it comes to handling safely, it is best to start with a young snake and handle them frequently to get them used to human interaction. Always approach your snake slowly and calmly, avoiding sudden movements that could startle them. With proper precautions and care, Amazon Tree Boas can be a rewarding and fascinating species to keep.
| Challenge/Precaution | Description | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Aggressive Nature | Amazon Tree Boas are highly defensive and can be aggressive towards humans. | Handle your snake carefully and frequently from a young age to get them used to human interaction. Approach them slowly and calmly to avoid startling them. |
| Disease Prevention | Amazon Tree Boas are susceptible to diseases such as inclusion body disease and obesity. | Practice good hygiene and sanitation by regularly cleaning and disinfecting the enclosure, substrate, and all equipment. Provide a balanced diet and maintain proper temperature and humidity levels. |
| Proper Enclosure | Amazon Tree Boas require a tall, arboreal enclosure with plenty of climbing branches and hiding places. | Provide an arboreal tank made of glass with tall tanks being essential to encourage climbing and coiling on branches. Decor and plants are important to help your snake feel safe and secure. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Amazon Tree Boas suitable for beginners or only experienced keepers?
As a beginner, Amazon Tree Boas may not be the best choice due to their defensive and aggressive nature. However, with proper care requirements, they can be rewarding pets. Pros include their colorful appearance, while cons include their susceptibility to diseases like inclusion body disease and obesity. Care requirements include an arboreal tank, specific temperature gradients, and a humidity of 50-70% through misting and absorbent substrate.
How often should Amazon Tree Boas be handled?
Like a delicate instrument, Amazon Tree Boas require careful handling. To tame these defensive snakes, frequent handling is important, but each session should be brief to avoid stress. Slow movements and gentle touches are key.
Can Amazon Tree Boas be kept together in the same enclosure?
Amazon Tree Boas cannot be kept together in the same enclosure due to their territorial behavior and aggressive nature. Breeding habits involve a male and female being introduced for a short period and then separated to avoid injury.
What is the average lifespan of an Amazon Tree Boa in the wild?
An Amazon Tree Boa’s lifespan in the wild is similar to its captive counterpart, living 15-20 years. They mate in the trees of their rainforest habitat, with males searching for females using their sense of smell.
How do Amazon Tree Boas defend themselves in the wild?
Amazon Tree Boas use their camouflage techniques to blend in with their surroundings and avoid predators. They are ambush hunters, targeting prey such as birds, bats, frogs, and small mammals. In defense, they tend to be solitary and highly aggressive.
Conclusion
Congratulations on making the decision to keep an Amazon Tree Boa as your pet! These snakes are undoubtedly one of the most rewarding species to keep, with their fearless personality and polymorphic colors that will leave you in awe.
However, as an intermediate keeper, you must be prepared to handle their specific care needs, physical characteristics, feeding habits, and aggressive nature.
To provide your Amazon Tree Boa with the best possible care, you must ensure that they have a suitable arboreal tank made of glass and tall tanks that encourage climbing and coiling on branches. Keep their habitat clean and maintain the right temperature and humidity levels to keep them happy and healthy.
Feeding them different types of vertebrates will keep them satisfied, but you must be cautious when handling them as their highly aggressive nature can be dangerous.
In conclusion, owning an Amazon Tree Boa will require a lot of effort and time, but the rewards are worth it. Imagine waking up to your snake coiled around a branch, its polymorphic colors shining in the morning light, and its fearless personality reminding you of the courage you need to tackle the day.
With the right preparation and enough experience, there’s no doubt that you’ll form a strong bond with your Amazon Tree Boa, one that will last a lifetime.
