So just like a child or dog, you need to ensure their activity area is “snake-proof.” You do want to watch them closely because they will find ways to get into any and everything. It’s fun to watch their tongues flick as they sniff the world around them. Handling your snake is really more for your enjoyment than theirs, but boas are extremely curious and love to explore when they’re out of their enclosures. With repetition and consistency, you can get your snake to respond well to target training with the potential for other reinforced behaviors. Check out this video from animal behaviorist Lori Torrini, who does extensive work in snake behavior and training. There is growing research about the intelligence of snakes. These are the simple joys of boa ownership that you’re not going to find in a book or a blog post, and just have to experience for yourself. There is something cathartic about the repetitive motion of this beautiful, smooth creature gliding through your fingers…or face, as boas are apt to do. Olivia is noticeably more calm when Jason and I are handling her than when a stranger holds her, and will actively seek one of us out if she’s uncomfortable.Īs Liv’s gotten bigger, I’ve found comfort in the weight of her, and love observing her scales shift as she slithers along, tongue flicking wildly. They don’t show obvious affection like a dog, but they are capable of recognizing and enjoying the comfort of their people.
Olivia recognizes when we are home, and frequently comes to her cage door to let me know she’d like it opened, even just to rest her head and watch us go about our day. Let me take a moment to dispel the myth that snakes are mindless, soulless creatures. I’m still able to reach in and gently pull her out without issue no matter how long it’s been. When work is super busy, I may only take Liv out once a week, if that. Unlike some species of pet snakes, the common boa remains docile and tame even with infrequent handling.
You should pretty much never hear noise from your snake, because that means they’re either very sick or very angry…or farting, like Olivia occasionally does. When taken care of properly, boa constrictors can live for 20-30 years in captivity, so you’ll have a friend through all the ups and downs. It’s really difficult to say goodbye to a beloved pet, but with boa constrictors, you won’t have to for decades! There are also other species of boas, including dwarf varieties, but that is an extensive subject on its own that I won’t dive into here. For those who want something a little different, and can spend more money, there are dozens of other options. Olivia is simply a wild-type common boa, meaning she closely resembles the look of a boa you’d see in its native habitat. When it comes to patterns and colors, ball pythons take the cake, but boas come in at a close 2nd thanks to all the beautiful morphs that have emerged on the market in recent years. You can watch your boa climb on a branch in her enclosure or you can pick her up and let her climb on you. We wanted something that we could handle and hangout with, but that wouldn’t need our attention on the daily. Fish are beautiful and all, but for the most part, strictly observational. There is a lot of fun in experimenting with better husbandry like cage lighting, water features, live plants, etc, and it satisfies our childhood scientific curiosities.īoa constrictors are a pet you can observe AND easily handle. We enjoy being creative and attempting to mimic Olivia’s natural environment within the confines of our home.
Were you that kid chasing frogs and catching bugs? For people who like nature, having a boa is like keeping a little bit of the outdoors in. The Joys of the Common Boa A piece of the wild…
There are other species and subspecies of boa constrictors, but my experience with them is limited, so for the purposes of this post, I am only focusing on the common boa (BCI). I must stress that she’s not a true Colombian red-tailed boa (boa constrictor constrictor or BCC), which is why I don’t refer to her as such. She is also very inquisitive and easy to handle. Olivia isn’t any special color morph, but I like that she closely resembles the look of a wild boa.
0 kommentar(er)
