Common boa constrictor (Constrictor constrictor, Boa constrictor). Common boa constrictor Dramatic weight loss in boa constrictor

Distributed in South and Central America and the Lesser Antilles. Exists a large number of subspecies of the common boa constrictor, which are distinguished by a variety of colors. The coloring is very elegant, bright and contrasting. The darkest, almost black, boas are from Argentina, the reddest, but alas, not the most contrasting, from Brazil.

Soil crushed bark

Twilight lifestyle

Boas from Peru are characterized by their ash-gray back with bright brown spots and a brownish-red tail. Perhaps the most elegant boa constrictors live in Southern Mexico and Central America. The color of the latter is the brightest and most contrasting. Despite its bright colors, the boa constrictor is perfectly camouflaged under leaf litter or a scattering of stones.

Distribution area

A large massive snake that can reach up to 3.5 meters in length. It has a calm, phlegmatic character, which allows many reptile lovers to keep this snake at home without much fear.

Two year old male from our nursery

They lead both terrestrial and arboreal lifestyles. They climb vertical surfaces well, which allows them to get food not only on the ground. They swim excellently, usually located near bodies of water. They feed on various rodents, small mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles.

The terrarium must have good ventilation. The background temperature should be 25-27 degrees, in the heating zone about 30-35. At night the temperature can be reduced to 20 degrees. You can create a warm corner for your boa constrictor using a thermal mat, placing it under a terrarium, or an incandescent lamp.

The diet of a boa constrictor in captivity consists of laboratory mice and rats, chickens, and rabbits. A young individual is fed once every 5-7 days, adult snakes once every 7-10 days.

Puberty in captivity in boas occurs approximately in the 3rd year of life, and the size of the male should be more than 1.5 m, and the female 1.8 m. To breed boas, it is necessary to place the snakes and arrange for them to spend the winter, lowering the temperature to 15-18 degrees for 2 - 2.5 months. After wintering, the female is placed next to the male, and after lengthy courtship, mating occurs, which lasts several hours. The female's pregnancy lasts 5-6 months; at the end of this period, she can give birth to about 40 babies measuring 45 cm. The babies appear in a transparent egg shell, which is immediately torn. This type of birth is called ovoviviparous. After a week, the babies molt and begin to hunt on their own. Sometimes babies begin to feed on their own only after 1-2 months.

Boa constrictor is non-venomous snake, which belongs to the class reptiles, order squamate, .

Russian word“Boa constrictor” arose due to the peculiarity of these reptiles to squeeze the caught victim before swallowing.

Boa constrictor - description, structure, characteristics, photo

Among the boas there are real giants, for example the common anaconda (lat. Eunectes murinus), reaching a length of more than 10 meters.

Common anaconda (lat. Eunectes murinus). Photo by: Dave Lonsdale

The smallest boas are ground boas, ranging in size from 30 to 60 cm.

Cuban ground boa (lat. Tropidophis melanurus). Photo by: Thomas Brown

The coloring of boas is similar to the dominant colors in their habitats. It can be in gray-brown tones in species that live on the ground, or bright, sometimes contrasting colors in individuals living in trees or on the forest floor. Some boas have stripes on their bodies, as well as large or small spots of round, oblong or diamond-shaped shapes and a wide variety of colors, and the spots can be with or without eyes.

In some species, the skin can have a metallic sheen in all the colors of the rainbow (for example, the rainbow boa). Ground boas have the ability to change color, becoming lighter or darker in color. At night, light-reflecting spots and stripes appear on their body, which create a phosphorescent effect.

Characteristic feature Boa constrictors, in addition to a flattened head and lack of limbs, have a long, muscular body with a round cross section. The body of sand boas has a cylindrical shape, it is very dense and with developed muscles.

Sand boas have no narrowing in the neck area, the tail is blunt and rather short.

The boa constrictor's skull has a unique structure that allows it to swallow large prey. This is achieved thanks to the movable connection of the bones of the facial part, as well as the elastic articulation of the parts lower jaw between themselves. Sharp teeth are located not only on the jaws, but also on the bones that make up the oral apparatus (palatine, pterygoid and premaxillary). This is due to the fact that boa constrictors do not need teeth for grinding caught prey, but only for holding or pushing it deep into the esophagus. On the surface of the head there are large keratinized scutes, grouped in a certain order. Unlike pythons, boas do not have supraorbital bones.

Unlike other boas, in Mascarene boas the maxillary bone is divided into 2 movably connected parts: the anterior and posterior.

The structure of the shortened and flattened head of sand boas is interesting. The wedge-shaped upper jaw, which serves as a digging tool, is noticeably pushed forward, so the opening of the mouth is located below.

The large intermaxillary shield extends onto the upper part of the head, taking on the entire load as the boa moves through the soil. The front teeth of the upper and lower jaws of the sand boa are slightly longer than the back ones.

Unlike other reptiles, which completely lack the girdles of the fore and hind limbs, boas have preserved pelvic bones in a rudimentary state. In addition, they retained the remains of their hind limbs, which appear as paired claws located on either side of the anus.

True, there is an exception here: for example, Mascarene boas completely lack these rudiments.

Paired claws in the cloaca area of ​​a common boa constrictor. Photo by: Stefan3345

Depending on the size of the boa constrictor, the number of vertebrae that make up the spinal column can range from 141 to 435. A characteristic feature of the structure of the snake’s skeleton is the absence of a sternum, which makes the ribs extremely mobile.

All internal organs these reptiles have an elongated modified shape due to general structure bodies. Paired organs are located asymmetrically and may be unevenly developed. For example, the right lung is significantly larger in size than the left. In ground boas (lat. Tropidophiidae), the typical left lung is absent - it has turned into a tracheal (tracheal) lung and is formed by the expansion of the posterior part of the trachea.

The nervous system of boas consists of a small brain and a well-developed spinal cord, which determines high accuracy and speed of muscle reactions.

Boas navigate the surrounding space thanks to the organs of smell and touch.

In addition, most of the information is brought by thermosensitive receptors located on the front of the muzzle and a forked tongue, which transmits information to the brain using special paired organs, which are a kind of chemical analyzers.

The vision of boas is not particularly sharp. This is partly due to the fact that eyes with vertical pupils are always covered with a film formed from the eyelids fused together.

The eyes of sand boas are small and slightly turned upward - this arrangement is convenient because, even when buried in the ground, the boa can observe everything that is happening on the surface without sticking out its head.

Due to the fact that reptiles lack external auditory openings and the middle ear is underdeveloped, all snakes have difficulty distinguishing sounds that travel through the air.

The body of boas is covered on the sides and top with diamond-shaped scales, slightly overlapping each other. Such plates are arranged in longitudinal or diagonal rows. Between the scales of the longitudinal rows there are areas of skin that are collected in small folds, allowing the integument of the body to greatly stretch. The plates located on the belly of reptiles have a transversely elongated shape and are also connected to each other by sections of skin.

As they grow, the outer coverings age and peel off. The molting process occurs, with the first change of skin occurring a few days after the snake is born. In healthy boas, the frequency of changing covers does not exceed 4 times a year.

Taken from the website: www.reptarium.cz

Where do boa constrictors live?

Boas live in South and Central America, Cuba, the west and southwest North America, in northern Africa, in South and Central Asia, on the islands of the Malay Archipelago, Madagascar, Jamaica, Haiti, the island of Trinidad, and New Guinea. Some species (rubber snakes and California boas) live in the western states of the United States, as well as in southwestern Canada.

Sand boas, or boa constrictors, are widespread in Central and South Asia, as well as in Eastern and North Africa, in the Middle East, Asian countries (Iran, Afghanistan, Western China, India, Pakistan). Several species live in Russia (Dagestan, Central and Eastern Transcaucasia) and CIS countries (Kazakhstan, Mongolia).

Ground boas inhabit Mexico, South and Central America, and are found in the Bahamas and the Antilles.

Madagascar boas live on the islands of Madagascar and Reunion.

Different types of boas live in different places: some species prefer dry or wet forests, where they live in the branches of trees or shrubs, others live in deciduous or grassy litter, others choose arid open landscapes as their habitat, others inhabit the waters of rivers or swamps, low-flowing creeks, branches and lakes, as well as wetlands lowlands. Certain species of boa constrictors are found near human habitation. The snake can be found on plantations and in abandoned houses. By the way, there are even almost domesticated species, for example the common boa constrictor, which local residents kept in houses or barns so that this snake catches rats and mice.

Sand boas have a more or less burrowing lifestyle: they live in steppes, deserts and semi-deserts, are found not only in sandy, but also in clay and even gravelly soils, deftly make their way through fairly narrow cracks in the soil or under stones, and bury themselves in the sand and rubble, crawling briskly inside such a shelter.

What does a boa constrictor eat?

The diet of boas is very varied. It includes not only small or medium-sized animals, birds and amphibians, but also more major representatives animal world (,). Small boas feed on possums, waterfowl and other birds and their chicks (, and). Agoutis, pakis, and peccaries also become prey for snakes. Cuban boa constrictors, among other things, catch. Larger boas, for example, anacondas, can easily attack capybaras, small crocodiles (caimans), as well as large ones. Also, a boa constrictor can attack a domestic animal that has approached a watering hole: or a duck.

Having pounced on the victim, the boa constrictors wrap their rings around it. However, they never break the bones of their victims, so as not to harm their digestive system.

The diet of sand boas includes small rodents (jerboas, gerbils, etc.), small birds (sparrows, wagtails), as well as lizards (geckos, agamas, roundheads, foot-and-mouth lizards). Young individuals also feed on darkling beetles. When hunting, snakes easily crawl into rodent burrows. Sand boas hold caught prey with their teeth and easily kill it, wrapping 2-3 rings of their muscular body around the victim.

Scientists who study snakes and have lived for a long time in the Amazon, they claim that a giant boa constrictor is capable of swallowing prey that is thicker than its body, if the weight of the prey does not exceed 60 kg ( wild pigs, small size and antelope). Young individuals of larger animals can also become their victims.

Unlike other snakes, these reptiles are able to hunt in complete darkness. They have special receptors located between the nostrils and eyes that are sensitive to heat. This allows boas to notice approaching prey even from a distance by the heat emanating from its body.

Boas eat little. After consuming a large piece, they can remain without food for several weeks to several months.

How do boa constrictors kill their prey?

Despite the prevailing opinion that the boa constrictor strangles the victim, this belief turned out to be not entirely true. Initially, scientists were doubted by the fact that fatal strangulation required at least several minutes, and victims of boa constrictors died within about 60 seconds. In the mid-90s, American zoologists finally established and substantiated that victims of boa constrictors die not from a lack of oxygen, but from circulatory arrest, which naturally causes cardiac arrest.

To conduct experimental studies, rats were used, in whose arteries and veins catheters were implanted to measure blood flow pressure and electrodes to monitor heart rhythms. Rats prepared in this way were given to boa constrictors for execution, but after the snake squeezed the rodent to death, the victim was selected and thoroughly analyzed. As a result of the experiment, zoologists found out: at the moment of the snake’s deadly embrace, the rodents’ arterial pressure and the venous pressure also rose rapidly, which led to instant stagnation of blood. Unable to cope with pumping blood under very high pressure, the rats' hearts began to work intermittently and as a result stopped.

Types of boas, photos and names

Previously, various types of boa constrictors belonged to the following families in the suborder of snakes:

1. Mascarene boas, or bolyeriids (lat. Bolyeriidae),
2. Ground boas (lat. Tropidophiidae),
3. Pseudopods, or boa-like snakes (lat. Boidae).

Currently, the classification has been changed, and, according to the www.itis.gov database, different types of boas belong to the following families:

1. Boidae (Gray, 1825)
2. Bolyeriidae (Hoffstetter, 1946)
3. Calabariidae (Gray, 1858)
4. Candoiidae (Pyron, Reynolds and Burbrink, 2014)
5. Charinidae (Gray, 1849)
6. Erycidae (Bonaparte, 1831)
7. Sanziniidae (Romer, 1956)
8. Tropidophiidae (Brongersma, 1951)

Many species are rare and endangered. Below is a description of some varieties of boa constrictors.

• Madagascar boa constrictor ( Acrantophis madagascariensis)

It lives in wooded areas in the north of the island of Madagascar. The length of the boa constrictor reaches 2-3 meters. The upper part of the snake's body is decorated with a pattern formed by diamond-shaped spots, and the skin on the sides has complex drawing of concentric eye spots. The belly of this reptile is painted in grayish-olive tones with dark splashes. The entire body has a strong blue-green metallic tint.

• Wood boa of Madagascar ( Sanzinia madagascariensis, synonym Boa manditra)

It is a typical endemic of Madagascar. Adult snakes of this species can reach a length of 2.13 m, although most are only 1.2-1.5 m in length, with females being larger than males. The color and size of tree boas depend on their habitat. In the western part of the island there are larger individuals, colored yellow-brown, and in the eastern part they are grayish-green or pure green. Regardless of their distribution area, these reptiles prefer to settle near open water bodies. They are most active during twilight and night hours. Tree boas spend almost all their time in the dense crown of trees or thickets of bushes, near water, although they can also hunt on the ground, usually descending from the trees at night.

• Common boa constrictor ( Boa constrictor)

It lives in the countries of South and Central America, as well as in the Lesser Antilles. It was brought to the state of Florida, where it successfully took root. The size of adult individuals is practically independent of gender - they can be up to 5 meters long. The common boa constrictor weighs from 10 to 15 kg, although the weight of some individuals exceeds 30 kg. The back of these reptiles is painted in different shades of light brown, coffee or red, on which transverse dark brown stripes of a bizarre shape with yellow spots inside are clearly visible. The sides of the common boa constrictor are decorated with dark diamonds, inside of which, as on the back, yellow spots are visible. These boas are active night image life, so they go hunting already at dusk.

• Candoya ribbed, or keeled scaled Pacific boa, ( Candoia carinata)

Previously, it belonged to the family of pseudopods, and since 2014 it has been assigned to a separate family, Candoiidae. There are two subspecies, slightly different from each other and living on New Guinea and the islands located nearby (Sulawesi, Mooluk, Santa Cruz, Solomon). Adults rarely grow to 1.5 meters in length. The weight of the boa constrictor varies from 300 g to 1.2 kg. The color of the back and sides of the candoya can be olive-gray, yellowish or light shades Brown. A rather wide dark brown stripe runs along the back of the snake, shaped like a zigzag. This type of boa constrictor lives in trees, where it usually hunts in the evening and at night.

• dog-headed boa constrictor, aka green tree boa (Corallus caninus)

Lives in humid forests of countries South America, along the Amazon River basin. The species received its name due to some external similarity of the muzzle of a boa constrictor with the head of a dog. The length of adults is often 2-3 meters. Woody image life became the reason for the bright green color of the back and sides of this reptile. The yellow color of the belly, as well as white spots, merging into thin stripes running along the back and forming a clear diamond-shaped pattern, serve as excellent camouflage in the lush crown of vegetation. Newborns and young individuals are colored red-orange (coral). The front teeth of a boa constrictor, which hold prey, can reach a length of 38 mm. During the daytime, the dog-headed boa constrictor rests, and crawls out to hunt at dusk.

• Garden boa (narrow-bellied boa) ( Corallus hortulanus)

It lives in humid forests in southern Colombia and Venezuela. Populations are found in the north and west of Brazil and Ecuador. In addition, the habitat includes Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Bolivia and other countries of South America. The average length of a boa constrictor ranges from 1.5 to 1.8 meters, although some specimens can reach 2.5 meters. The color of garden boas can vary from yellow, orange and red to light gray, brown or even black. There are contrasting blurry spots along the back, which on the sides are replaced by clearer diamonds. During the day, the boa constrictor rests in hollow trees or abandoned bird nests, and at night it goes out hunting. IN in rare cases descends to the ground.

• Rainbow Boa ( Epicrates cenchria)

Also has a name aboma. The species inhabits the humid forests of Central and South America. You can meet this beautiful reptile in Argentina, Brazil, Peru and other countries of the South American continent. Adults reach a length of 1.5-2 meters. The main body color of rainbow boas depends on the subspecies and can be brown, reddish or fawn. In some subspecies the body has a solid color without spots, in other subspecies there are dark or light spots or white thin longitudinal stripes on the body. All scales of the boa constrictor have a metallic tint. Despite the fact that this boa constrictor can swim well, it leads a terrestrial lifestyle.

• Black and yellow smooth-lipped boa (Chilabothrus subflavus, syn. Epicrates subflavus)

It is a rather rare endemic species found in Jamaica. In English, the name of this snake sounds like “Jamaican boa constrictor.” Females are slightly larger than males and grow up to 2 meters or more. The front part of the snake's body has a yellow color with dark inclusions, which increase in size closer to the tail and merge into a single color on the tail, forming a black-brown background with small yellow spots. The tail of the boa constrictor is black, the head is painted in grayish-smoky tones. The snake's eyes are yellow, with characteristic stripes behind the eyes. Juveniles are pinkish-orange in color with faint stripes throughout the body. Jamaican boas inhabit humid coastal and mountain forests, lead a terrestrial lifestyle and are more active at night. Often black and yellow boa constrictors hunt bats, the diet also includes rodents and various birds.

• Dominican smooth-lipped boa (Chilabothrusfordii , syn. Epicrates fordi i )

Distributed on the islands of Tahiti and Gonave. Representatives of this species are rare and small in size, reaching a length of 85-90 centimeters, with females being much larger than males. The body of the individuals is quite slender, colored in reddish or light brown tones, which is why this snake also has the unofficial name “red boa constrictor”. Over the entire surface of the skin there are dark spots that have different shape. Under the rays of the sun, the scales shimmer with a variety of colors. Dominican boas lead a secretive terrestrial lifestyle, hunting at night.

• Giant anaconda (Eunectes murinus)

It is rightfully considered the largest reptile from the family of boa constrictor snakes. The water boa, as it was previously called, belongs to. There are individual individuals whose length exceeds 5 meters. Some sources even indicate a maximum length of 11 meters. The weight of an anaconda can exceed 100 kg (for example, National Geographic indicates a maximum weight of 227 kg). Along the entire back of the snake, painted in dark green colors, there are two rows of brown spots. On the sides, the spots are yellow in color and edged with a dark border. The belly is painted pale yellow and covered with black spots. The giant anaconda is found in tropical forests South America, where it lives in the waters of rivers and swamps, including the Amazon. Hunts both at night and during the day.

• Sand boa ( Eryx miliaris)

Previously it belonged to the family of pseudopods, but is now placed in a separate family Erycidae. The snake is perfectly adapted to a burrowing lifestyle. The boa constrictor lives in desert areas Central Asia, found in the eastern territories of Ciscaucasia. The snake, with a body reaching a length of 40-80 cm, is colored in yellow-brown shades; brownish spots with blurred contours stand out against the general background. The head of the sand boa has a flattened shape, and the eyes look almost vertical. The activity of the reptile depends on the time of year: in spring and autumn the animal is active during the day, but in summer it prefers to hunt exclusively at night. The food of the sand boa is small birds, lizards, as well as rodents, into whose burrows it calmly crawls.

• Mascarene boas

A family that includes 2 genera (the genus Boleria and the genus Mascarene tree boas), representatives of which are endemic to the small island of Round, located northwest of Mauritius. The existence of the first kind, the only representative of which is multicarina bolieria (Bolyeria multocarinata ), today it is questioned - most likely, this snake disappeared due to changes in living conditions. Tree Mascarene boa (Schlegel's Mascarene boa) ( Casarea dussumieri) - a very rare snake that is endangered, so the island is being developed special programs for population restoration. The length of the boa constrictor reaches 1-1.5 meters, there is a clearly defined cervical interception between the head and body, the snake’s tail is long, with a sharp tip. The color is greenish-olive, with longitudinal dashed lines of a dark tone running along the main color. There is a lyre-shaped pattern on the head of the reptile.

Taken from: sustainablepulse.com

The common imperial boa constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator) is a non-venomous snake belonging to the subfamily of boas and the family of pseudopods. The non-aggressive and non-venomous snake is quite easy to keep, so it is very popular not only among experienced reptile connoisseurs, but also among beginners.

Appearance and description

The imperial boa constrictor is not too large in size, but has a fairly strong and muscular body. IN natural conditions Imperial boas reach a length of five meters. Despite its powerful body, the boa constrictor has a rather elegant head.

This is interesting! At home, such a reptile has a more modest size, and the body length, as a rule, does not exceed a couple of meters.

The imperial boa constrictor is most often characterized by an attractive light color and a large, well-defined pattern of red and brown spots, but some individuals have a beige, light brown, brown or almost black body color.

Range and habitats

Main habitat imperial boa constrictor very wide. The snake is distributed from Argentina to Mexico. The large territory allowed nature to obtain simply a huge variety of biotopes adapted to different external conditions climate and environment.

This species of boa constrictor prefers to live in forests and on open area, in mountainous areas and open forests overgrown with low-growing bushes. The imperial boa constrictor itself is a fairly ecologically flexible species, so this reptile can lead both a terrestrial and semi-arboreal lifestyle.

Buying an imperial boa constrictor, price

There are no fundamental differences in the size and coloring of the body between males and females, so it will be quite difficult for non-professionals to choose a snake of the desired gender.

In this case, you need to pay attention that the male’s tail is longer and has a characteristic thickening at the base, turning into a cone. Females have a shorter and straighter tail. Among other things, the female is usually more massive and larger than the male.

Important! It is best to purchase an imperial boa constrictor in pet stores that specialize in selling exotic pets and reptiles. The boa constrictor must be completely healthy, quite active and well-fed.

The cost of such an exotic pet varies greatly depending on many factors, including rarity of color, age, size and sex. For example, the average cost of an imperial boa constrictor from Costa Rica, which is one of the smallest representatives of this species, is about 6.5-7.5 thousand rubles. The cost of rare copies easily reaches two tens of thousands of rubles.

Imperial boa(Boa constrictor emperor)

Class - reptiles
Order - scaly

Family - pseudopods

Genus – common boa constrictors

Appearance

A spectacularly colored snake 2-3 m long. The main light brown, reddish or coffee background of the back is covered with wide dark brown interceptions with bright yellow spots inside, and on the sides there are diamond-shaped dark spots, bordered by a light rim and with yellow spot inside.

Differences between the sexes: There are no fundamental differences in the size and color of males and females. In males, the tail is long with a characteristic thickening at the base; from the anus it is cylindrical, then turns into a cone. Females have a shorter tail, without thickening at the base, and cone-shaped. In males, relatively large, claw-like rudiments of the hind limbs are clearly visible, located on the sides of the anus; in females they are smaller and less prominent. Females are usually more massive and larger than males.

Habitat

Distribution: Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, all Central American countries and Mexico

The imperial boa constrictor is found in forests and among bushes, in dry places, and enters the middle zones of the mountains.

Lifestyle

The imperial boa constrictor is a calm, phlegmatic animal, easily becomes tame, and does not bite unless it is hungry.

It climbs trees well, in some parts of its range it leads a semi-arboreal lifestyle, and in others it is purely terrestrial. Spends the day in crevices, forest rubble and other shelters, hunting in twilight, night and morning hours. It swims well and can stay in water for a very long time. Residents of cities and towns keep boa constrictors in their houses, where they hunt rodents.

Reproduction

During the breeding season, the imperial boa constrictor brings 15 to 64 live cubs up to 50 cm long. In two years they grow up to 3 m long and become sexually mature.

There are no difficulties with breeding the imperial boa constrictor. If the snakes are healthy, after preparation (lowering the temperature to 18 C, shortening the duration daylight hours up to 6-8 hours) or even without it they mate in February - March. Up to 60 young, with a length of 35 to 50 cm, are born 150-210 days after the first mating. They molt for the first time 1-3 weeks after birth. There are no problems with raising young animals - immediately after the first moult, boas begin to eat mice, grow quickly and reach maturity by 3 years.

Boas live in captivity for about 10 years, but sometimes much longer - up to 23 years.

Boa(Boa constrictor) is native to the forests of Central and South America. The length of the boa constrictor rarely exceeds 3 meters. He feels good in a very spacious, comfortable terrarium with local soil heating, climbing trunks and a large container of water. The temperature during the day should be between 25-32"C, at night it can drop to 20-22"C.

Healthy boas have an excellent appetite, which can lead to obesity. And obese boas are practically unable to reproduce. Therefore, they should be fed little by little and as varied as possible. Thus, young boas eat domestic and white mice, voles, young rats, hamsters, sparrows, chickens, chicks, pigeons; adults - rats, guinea pigs, kittens, puppies, rabbits. It should be noted that when feeding boas with feral domestic pigeons, there is a risk of salmonellosis.

Common boa constrictors have already bred several times in the terrarium. To do this, you need to keep the most common forms of this species. About obtaining offspring from Boa constrictor occidentaens And Boa constrictor ottoni, as well as cases of hybridization of subspecies have been reported less frequently. This terrarium boa has almost become a domestic animal, but, unfortunately, the purebred subspecies is very rare.

No special preparation is required for breeding boas. They mate from August to September and from February to May. Mating lasts several hours after restless climbing around the terrarium, sometimes for a whole day. The gestation period is defined differently by terrariumists - from 17 to 42 weeks. Finally, the female begins to lay eggs - approximately every three minutes, a transparent egg, inside of which young boas are visible. Some snakes immediately poke their heads out of the egg and begin to vividly explore their surroundings with their tongues.

Childbirth lasts 2 - 3 hours. As a result, the female boa constrictor loses about half of her weight (about 4 kilograms). There are usually 20 - 30 snakes in a litter (but there can be over 60). The number of unfertilized eggs or dead fruits also varies.

There are very productive producers. One female gave birth to about 350 live boas over 9 years. Naturally, important role The animal’s strong constitution and good conditions played a role here.

Most newborn boas are released from the shell very quickly, and without any help from humans. But some help may be useful. Sometimes it is necessary to help tear the shell of the egg. If newborn snakes, connected to the yolk sac by an umbilical cord about 15 centimeters long, cannot immediately bite it on their own, the umbilical cord should be cut with scissors. The part of it that remains with the animal (about 10 centimeters) soon dries out and disappears after a few days. Swimming in warm water immediately after birth, it helps the snake free itself from the mucus that covered it at birth.

Newborn boas are 35 - 55 centimeters long and weigh 45 - 95 grams. In most cases, their length is 50 centimeters and their weight is about 60 grams. The characteristic coloring remains throughout life.

Growing boas, as a rule, does not present any particular difficulties. Already 5 hours after birth, they make their first attempt to catch a mouse, but do not eat it. At three weeks of age, the first molt occurs and the skin becomes firm and yellowish in color. After this, the strongest boas begin to eat adult mice. Sparrow chicks are a special delicacy.

At first, boas grow slowly, and by the age of one year they reach a length of about 80 centimeters and a weight of 300 grams. IN good conditions they can become sexually mature at three years of age.