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Boa Constrictor

Boa constrictor

Also called Red-tailed boa, Common boa, Jiboia, Macajuel

SpeciesShort profile

From Tropical South America and nearby islands, from Colombia and Venezuela south to northern Argentina and Uruguay, including Trinidad and Tobago and several Lesser Antilles islands. Lives in rainforest edges, woodland, grassland, dry forest and scrub up to about 1,000 m.1 2

At a glance the quick version

Weight, female10 to 15 kg1

Length150 to 300 cm1 3 2

Lifespan20 to 35 years1 2 3

Sizelarge

Females typically 10-15 kg; very large individuals can reach about 27 kg. No male range found.

Calm, placid nature in the most common forms

Long-lived companion

Strikingly patterned, with a red-tinged tail

3 1 2

Looks how to spot one

Smooth scales; heavy-bodied constrictor

A powerful, thick-bodied snake with an arrow-shaped head marked by three stripes. The cream, grey or brown body carries darker saddles that turn richer and redder towards the tail, which is where the name red-tailed boa comes from.1 2

Colourscream, grey or brown basedark brown saddlesreddish-brown tail saddlesalbino (common in captivity)1 2

Personality what they are like

The boas most often kept as pets are known for a steady, placid temperament and usually become very tame with regular handling. They are mainly active at night and around dusk.3 1 2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Semi-arboreal: moves well on the ground and also likes to climb, so the enclosure needs floor space to stretch out plus sturdy branches for climbing.2 4

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Raise humidity to around 75-85% during sheds and offer a humid hide lined with damp sphagnum moss on the cool side. Prefer frozen-thawed prey over live.5 6

Home where they are happiest

Enclosure roughly snake length x half length x half length. Typical adult (1.8-2.4 m): at least 180 x 90 x 90 cm; larger adults about 240 x 120 x 120 cm. Basking area 30-32 °C, cool side 24-26 °C, night down to about 20 °C. Humidity 55-75%.4 7 5

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Whole prey such as rats, mice, young rabbits and birds (chicks, quail). Meals should be no more than about 10% of the boa's weight or no wider than its widest point. Young boas eat every 10-12 days; adults over 4 years every 4-8 weeks.6

Company who they like around

Solitary. Boas should always be housed one per enclosure.4 2

The story where it all began

Linnaeus named the species in 1758, and it remains the only animal people regularly call by its full scientific name in everyday English. It has long been one of the most popular large snakes in the pet trade, and many generations have now been bred in captivity.1 2

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
It is the only species commonly called by its full scientific binomial, Boa constrictor, in English.1
2
A boa named Popeye at the Philadelphia Zoo lived for 40 years, 3 months and 14 days.1
3
Boas give birth to live young, averaging about 25 babies per litter.2
4
They can sense warmth through special cells in their lips.1

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List (as reported by Wikipedia): Least Concern.1
CITES: Appendix II for most populations; B. c. occidentalis is in Appendix I.2
Taxonomy (Wikipedia): Four subspecies recognised (constrictor, longicauda, occidentalis, ortonii); the Central American form has been raised to its own species, Boa imperator.1

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Boa Constrictor. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

Fresh waterevery day
Temperature checkCheck the warm and cool endsevery day
Humidity checkevery 2 days
Spot cleanevery 2 days
FeedingHow often depends on species, age and sizevaries
Shed checkNote each shed in the diary; a complete shed is a good signvaries
Weigh inevery month
Full cleanevery month
Vet check-upFind a vet who sees exotic petsevery year

Start a free diary

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

Boa constrictor - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for names, range, size, weight, lifespan, colours, taxonomy, conservation, fun facts
Boa constrictor - Animal Diversity Web animaldiversity.orgused for range, habitat, length, lifespan, behaviour, reproduction, CITES
Boa Constrictor Care Guide - ReptiFiles reptifiles.comused for adult length, lifespan, temperament
Boa Constrictor Enclosure Size - ReptiFiles reptifiles.comused for enclosure size, climbing, cohabitation
Boa Constrictor Humidity - ReptiFiles reptifiles.comused for humidity, humid hide
What Do Boa Constrictors Eat - ReptiFiles reptifiles.comused for diet, feeding frequency, prey size
Boa Constrictor Temperatures - ReptiFiles reptifiles.comused for temperatures

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.