Care Sheet - New Guinea Ground Boa

Scientific name
Candoia aspera
Cites status
Cites Appendix II, obligation to keep records and register!
Habitat
Moluccas, New Guinea, Solomon Islands. Rain forest, ground dweller,
crepuscular and nocturnal
Size
Approx. 60-90 cm
Life Expectancy
Over 20 years
Reproduction
Live birth of 20 + babies.
Temperature
Ambient air temperature 28-30C at day time, local basking spot up to 33C.
Night temps down to 25C.
Use a ceramic heater in a safety cage and a pulse proportional thermostat set
up.
Humidity
80-100%
Lighting
Daylight fluorescent tubes e.g. "Natural Sunlight" or "Zoo Med ReptiSun 2.0" or
similar.
Substrate

Loose, absorptive substrate Forest bark, Coir, Coconut chips, Aspen. The
substrate should deeper than normal (at least 2 deep) as this species likes to
live under the forest leaves, and likes to be covered by the substrate.
Dcor
Various hiding places like Mopani wood, drift wood Cork bark tubes etc. and a
large water bowl make up the basic configuration of the terrarium.
Food
Mice and rats of an appropriate size
Comments
Candoia aspera lie preferably in shallow water and under the fallen leaves of the
forest floor and lay waiting in ambush for their prey, so they can snappy. Most
calm down after a bit of handling.
John Gamesby