The . Boa Constrictor Manual FROM THE EXPERTS AT ADVANCED VIVARIUM SYSTEMS* Selecting a Boa Constrictor « Heating and Lighting Housing + Feeding and Maintenance + Diseases and Disorders Philippe de VosjoliBod a Constrictor Manual FROM THE EXPER ADVANCED VIVARIUM $ pe de Vosjoli, Roger Klingenberg, DVM, and Jeff Ronne Tue HERPETOCULTURAL LIBRARY Advanced Vivarium Syste Irvine,Vice President, Chief Content Oificer:fane Kikuchi Viee Present, Kennel Cab Books: Andres DePrsco Prnxuction Coonlinatars: Tracy Burns, fessicaJaensch Bowie Press; Jennifer Calvert, Amy Deputato, Lindsay Hanks, Karen fulian, lisbeth 1. MsCaughey, Roger Sips, arell S Sten All photos by Philippe de Vosjoli excopt where otherwise indicated, The additonal photograph in this book are courtesy of David Rarket, pp. 13, 19, 4,58 Patrick Brings, pp. 45, $15 lll Ges, pp 10, 18, Tom Greek p 28 Kevin & Sue Hanley p Pete Kahlapp 8 35: Roger Klingonborg, pp. 7-58, 7-78.82, 81.95, Zig Lscomsnkl. pp Bill Lowe, pp. 14, 16,32, 50 John Mack, p. $5; Tim Mad, p. 11;G &eC Merker, pp. 2, Dian Nediels,p. £2; Michael Novy.pp.7, 55: elf Rorne, pps 9,12 15, $2 Brian Sharp, p.38: Rick Staub, pp. 30,40, 41,72, 24; A St Pere, pp. 1,25; John Tyson, p. #2. Capyright ©1992, 198, 2004 hy Advanced Vivarium System All rights reserved. Ne part of this publication msay’be reproduced or transmitted in any form of by any means, electronic oF mechanieal including photocopy, rcosding ae any information and retrieval system, without permission in writing Grom te publisher, cenvept by reviewer, who any quote rel passages ina revi ICON: 96. 189295, ISBN: 1 8807.75 5 ISBN 1%: 978-188277076-2 aovances: ‘iveniar SYSTEMS An Imprint of BanwTie Press A Division of Bow Tie, lnc. 3 Burroughs Irvine, CA 92618 wwauabookseom |We wanit to heat from you, Wht books wotld you like ta seein the future? Please feel free to write us with any-comments an our AVS books. Printed and bound in China WISI 5678910CONTENTS Introduction... 0. eed 5 1: General Information 6.0... . cece eee 1 2: Before You Buy ....... 2.0... cece eee 20 3: Selecting a Boa Constrictor............. 28 AL HOUSING... 0... cece cece cence een eee 35 5: Heating and Lighting ............0000. 42 B: Feeding ..........cccceeee eee eens 52 7: Maintenance 2.2... 58 8: Breeding Colombian Boa Constrictors ...... Gt 9: Diseases and Disorlers................ 16KNOWLEDGMENTS Special thanks to all of the boa breeders, photographers and good friends who supplied the photos and information that made this book possible, including David and Tracy Barker, Patrick Briggs. Bill Love, Jeff Gee, Steve Hammond, Kevin and Sue Hanley, Rich thle, Pete Kahl, Lloyd Lemke, John Mack, Tim Mead, Jeff Ronne, Brian Sharp, Ron and A. St. Pierre, and Terry Vandeventer.INDEX A acclimation to eaptivity, 29 activity, 38-39 aggressive behaviors, 31-32, 25 AIDS, boa (inclusion bady disease (IBD),5 ait temperature, 1446 American Dederation of Herpetoculture (AFH) 8 22-23 Argentine boa constrictor (B.« occidentalis), 8, 18-19 B background air temperature, 4-46 basking areas, 49-80. also heating, bochavioral fever 88 behaviors aggressive, 31-32, 75 Ibchavioral Fever, 88 defensive, 62 1 to neurological problems, 97 heat hugging, 43 inactivity, 98 ppre-stries 33-35 protectionjeare of newborns, 75 boa AIDS (inclusion body disease) (UD), 5. See also diseases! disorders Roa mranarita, 8 body, problems of, 99 boids, 71, 80 99 bowel movements, 91-92 breathing, 88-90 breeding commercial, 33 bat copulation, 68-70 cyelingiwindow of opportunity, 65-66 ecding breeding females. 55 general careshusbandry for, 65 infertile ova (shugsh.69, 75 introduction/ewurtship, 87-68 live birth, 7 males, 67, 68 newborn boas, 76 0 ovulation, pairings, 66 parturition, 73-74 post-ovulation shed gestation, mR >post-parturition females, 75-76 on swelhing, 68-6 oh 32 sexual maturity, 63-64 buying considerations, 20-21 jpre-ovua probl © ages. See housing, Campbell, Terry, 84 captive-bred versus wild-caught snakes, 28-29 cate of newborns by mother, T95 ceramic heat emits 45,50) characteristics 's (CHES), ‘Argentine boa consiricten (hc ovciclentalis), 19 common boa constrictor 16 (Be. inmperator}, Peruvian black-tailed b constrictor (1c longicaucle), Was short-tailed boa constrictor (B. 6 arava), CITES (Costentior: on International Trace it Endangered Species), 10 cleaning the cage, 60-61 cloaca, 100 cloacal spurs, ? clouded boa constrictor (B. 6 netutosush Colombian boa constrictors 115,31 commercial breeding. 33 common boa constrictor{Be imperator, 8, 15-16 cooling perind for breeding, 65-66 copulation, 69-70 cyelingiwvindaw of opportunity (breeding), 65-66 D dangers, 21, Seealso safety bites from live pu during feeding, 58 fire risks, 45,49 fires, 18 heat buildup from sub-tank heat pads, 47 pt racks, 49) ivermectin spray, 94 live prey, 77 of naturalistic clisplays, 42-43 other pets, 32 overheating, 46,50 protection from IBD, 84-85 securing cage furnishings, 40 to humans, 24 defecation, 59, defensive behaviors, 62 dehydration, 57,92 DeNarelo, Dale 79, 91 diagnosing IBD, 83-84 diet. See feeding dict and growth rate, 1-15, See sso feeding, soners constipation, 91-93 emaciated boas, 57 gastrointestinal problems/ regurgitation, 90-91 ls inclusion body slisease (IBD 1,5, 25-26, 78-87, 101 parasites, 93-94 respiratory disease, #790 salmonellosis, 95 shedding problems, 62 symptoms of, 28-30 ‘thermal burns, 19 troubleshooting char 96-101 distribution of boas, 7 cammon boa constrictor (B.c. imperator), 15 Peruvian black tailed boa constrictor (B.¢. longicasda), > red-tailed baa eonsirictor (5. constrictor), 16 short-tailed boa constrictor (B.¢ amarali), 17 docility, 31-32 E Feuadaran black-tailed boa constrictor (B. 6 arelaragasterh $ emaciated boas, 57, 72 enclosures. See housing endangered species, 10 exercise, 82, 9: eyes, 96 F fasting periads, 66 feeding, afier ovulation, 71 breeding females, 57 fasting periods, 66 first (babies), frequency, 61, 65 gastrointestinal problems and, 0-91 live or pre-killed prey, 54 of prey animals, 54 con sal auubstrates, 39 emaciated boa post-partur poultry flaw), 34-3: power feeding, 36 rey sie, 33 proper methods, 57-58 regimen for, 55-57 6 gastwintestinal problems, 9081, ay growth rates, 13-15, 33) guidelines American Federation of Herpetoculture (AFF), 22-23 prey size, 53 safe feeding procedures, 58 safie handling, 22-25,selecting your boa, 29-31 " handling, 33-34 dluring.a shed, 62 gravid females, 72 hygiene for, #4 of newborns, 76 safe, 22-23 health, signs of good, 29-31. See also diseasesidisorders beat hugging 45 beating esive heat pads, 47-48 background air ce rs heat tapelstrips, 47 hhot spats, 16-49 pernure, in-tank heating units, 48-49 incandescent/infrared bulbs, 49-30 Preferred Optimal Femsperature Zones (POTZs), 88, 89 thermometers, thermostats, 50-51 hemipenes, 11-12, 1000 herpetocultiares $6 21 22-23 hat rocks, 49 hat spats, 46-49 housing above ground shelves, 41 breeding enclosures, 65 climbing/resting branches, 41 design of enclosures, 38 escape-proofing, 36 landscaping. 39-40 overhead shelters 12 regulations for safe cages, 22-23 risks of naturalistic displays, 423 shelters, #0 substrates, 39 humidity, 59, 76,92 busbandiry cleaning the eage, 6-1 for breeding, 65 hygiene, 84 i illnesses. See diseasesidisonders immune system, 88 importation, 28-28 in-tank heating, units, 48-49 inactivity, 93 incandescentfinfrared bulbs, 49-50 inclusion body disease (IBD), 3, 25-26, 78-87, 101, infertile ova (slags), 6%, 75, interaction with your boa, 33-34 introduction fcourtship for breeding, 67-68 J Jacobson, Ellie, 80, 85, 86, 87 K Klingenberg, Reger, 5 Kluge, Arnold G., 7-8 L large snake species, 20-21, 22-23 Jaws, stateflocal, 25 lighting, 51-52 live birth, 7 longevity, LI M maintenance dey care, 60 monthly.6 shedding, 61-62 twice a week, 60 sweekty/bimomthly 61 Malagasy ground boas (crantaphis duemerili and A madagascariensis), 7. males, 67, 68 mites, 27, M1, 79, 93-4 mouth, 96 mouth rot, 82 muscles, 64,99 N nest warmers, £9 neurological problems, 97 neurological system, 92be newborns, 73 peasy 76-77 Northwest Peruvian boa canstrictor (B. ¢ ortonii), 8 nostrils, 96 ° odor of newberns, 73 overheating, 50 ovulation, 70 P pairings, 66 parasites, 29, 79 parturition, 73-74 Peruvian black-tailed boa vcanstrictor (i. c fovgica ada), $1718 plumbing heat tape, 18 pastovu 7-22 past-parturition females, 73-76 pawer for push) feeding, 56 pre-ovulation swelling, 68.68 pre-strike behaviors, 33-35, Preferred Optimal Temperature Zones (POTZs}, 88, 89 premature young, 76 ccidents, tion shedligestation, preventing prabing for sex identification, In problems of breeding, $2 protection, 10 protection /care of newborns by mother, 4-75 protozoal infections, 91 pulse proportional thermostats 51 pythons, 7,885, 101 Q quarantines, 26-27, 84-85 R red-tailed bos constrictor (B. constrievor), 8, 13-15, 1617 regulations, 22-25 regurgitation, 53, 36-57, 90-91 rehydration, 57 research on inclusion body disease (18D), 87 respiratory infections, sheaslals, i rodents, See feeding Kell,6 Ronn 5 Sabo ga Island boa constrictor 1B. 6 slater), 8,9 safety: See alse dangs feeding procedures, 38 handling, 22-23 regulations for safe cages, salmamella, 54-55 San Lucia constrictor (Bc oropliias), 8 Schumacher, luergen, 83,91 scientific names, 8 selecting your boa captive-beed versus wild-caught 28-29 docility, 31-32 suiidelines for, 2 31 number of snakes, 32-33 sexing, 11-12 sexual maturity, 6-64 shedding, 39, 61-62, 71-72, 77,97 shaatt-tailed boa constrictor (Bc amavali), 817 feeding regimens according to of boas, 10-11 of enclosures, 37-38 of newborn babes, 76-7 of prey 53 skin, 29-30, 97-98, sleeping patterns, 38-39 slugs (infertile ova), 69) species of boas, 7-8 “Argentine boa constrictor (B. 6 acetslentalis), 8 clouded boa constrictor (B.cnebulosus), 8 common hoa constrictor 8 (Be, impenato Ecuadoran black-tailed boa constrictor (8. c. melanagester), &Northwest Peruvian boa constrictar (i. ¢. orto), 8 Peruvian black-tailed boa constrictar (8c. longicumda) rred-tailed boa constrictor (Fic constrictor), § Saboga Island boa constrictor (Bic sabagae),9 San Lucia constrictor (Hc omphiash, & short-tailed bos constrictor (B.c.amaralits 8 unrecognized, 8-9 sub-tank heating units, 47-48 substrates, 39 Surinam boas, 90 symmplirins re 88-89 story disease, taxonomy, 8-9 temperament, 31-32 temperatures ioe breeding, 65-66, 7L esl snakes for emi thermometers, ‘thermostats, 50-51 throat, 97 ticks, 79,93-94 timers, 51-32 tongue flicking, 29-30 transporting snakes, 22 u tunder-tank heating units, 47 rales, 72 v viruses/inclusion bedy disease (IBD), 5, 25-26, 78-87. See also dliseases/disorders w water, 57,59 vwild-caught versus captive-bred snakes, 28-29, 95