
This allows for bacterial growth and is easily prevented with correct husbandry. Respiratory infections and scale rot are typically caused by poor substrates, incorrect humidity, or low enclosure temperatures. However, just like any reptile they can become sick if they receive poor husbandry. With correct husbandry and a routine feeding schedule these snakes can live to 25 years old. If your Rosy Boa appears to be healthy, active, and eating then move them out of quarantine after 30 days. Known Health IssuesĪfter purchasing a new reptile you should keep it in a simple enclosure that is easy to examine and keep clean. Small bowls are recommended as they will not raise the humidity too much. Your snake should always have access to a water bowl.
Continue wiggling after they strike to encourage normal constricting behaviors. After thawing the prey hold it with tongs and wiggle it to get your snake’s attention!. Once thawed, placed the bagged mouse in warm water to raise the body temperature to roughly 98-100☏. Remove frozen prey from the freezer and place in the refrigerator overnight. This can help to avoid any injuries to your pet. Adults should be fed every 10-14 days to maintain a healthy weight.Įven with their expert hunting skills it is much safer to feed frozen-thawed mice in captivity. Hatchlings and juveniles should be fed once a week. They are typically very good eaters in captivity: To determine the size of prey to feed you should measure the thickest part of your snake’s body and feed mice that are slightly smaller than this measurement. In captivity it is best to feed frozen-thawed mice and the occasional frozen chick. To eat they will bite and encircle their prey before squeezing it to death and eating it head-first. Rosy Boas are a type of constrictor snake. This pet snake is carnivores and feeds primarily on small rodents such as mice and small rats. Their stripes can be brown, black, rusty orange, or maroon. Natural base colors include tan, cream, yellow, light brown, or various shades of gray. Some morphs can be cream with light peach stripes. Rosy Boas have a naturally large color range and also have many morphs such as the albino (pictured above). Despite the size difference males typically have longer tails relative to their body size.Īt birth Rosy Boas are typically 12 inches long. Females tend to be longer and males can be as short as 1.5 feet. Generally Rosy Boas have a maximum length of 3 feet and weigh up to one pound. Others think they are all the same species and call them three-lined Boas. Some people believe there are actually three to five subspecies. Their high color variability has led to controversy in the herpetological community. They also have light bellies with randomly spaced dark spots. Mexican rosy boas have pale, creamy base colors with dark brown or black stripes. Coastal rosy boas have orange stripes on a cream or gray base. They have two parallel rows of dark brown spots down their bellies.
Desert rosy boas are light tan or gray with rusty-maroon stripes.California, Arizona or Mexico) can produce various colors: They also have light bellies with dark spots and blotches.ĭifferent regions (e.g. Rosy Boa snakes have a light base color with three dark stripes along their bodies. Rosy Boas are great eaters and thrive in captivity.ĭespite their minimal husbandry requirements they are less popular than other beginner friendly snakes so you could be one of a small group of keepers for this species. However they are small and nonvenomous and are well suited for first time keepers. Sometimes they may ball up in fear and musk their offender. These snakes are calm and tolerate handling well.
The stripes can be broken or neat and high contrast. Typically Rosies have a light gray, yellow, or tan base with a deep maroon, orange, or brown stripe color. The name trivirgata comes from the three distinct stripes on their body.Įdward Drinker Cope named these snakes trivirgata in 1861 when he produced the first species description. The scientific name for Rosy Boas is Lichanura trivirgata and they belong to the Boidae family. They can also be found in the southwestern corner of Arizona and the state of Sonora In Mexico. A Rosy Boa is a calm tempered snake commonly found throughout the California sections of the Mojave and Colorado deserts.