Viper Boas are a fantastic species of snake to search at. They are quite strong, with rough ‘keeled’ scales and an arrow like head. They are commonly a relatively boring brown, while can be a wonderful bright red or orange. They do on the other hand, improve colour with seasons, temperature and possibly temper modifications. I have had great orangey specimens transform a darkish brown with time. Virtually all Viper Boas are wild caught, in simple fact, I have not listened to of any profitable breeder who has bred and reared these. Gravid (expecting) ladies are generally imported and have their young in captivity. Nonetheless, most of these die within 6 months for minor or no obvious cause. In time, we can hopefully discover additional about this species and productively reproduce it in captivity. Viper Boas are rather relaxed snakes, but when handled incorrectly can swipe from facet to side with lighting speed. While they are non-venomous, they have fairly a horrible chunk. Grownup ladies can get to 80cm males are fewer than fifty percent the measurement.
Housing
When keeping any snake as a pet, you usually want to be capable to see the snake from the outside the house of its enclosure, in the most organic environment you can give. This will be extra aesthetically satisfying and also assist in the standard affliction of the snake. If the snake likes its environment, it will have a much better feeding response and typically mature more quickly. A larger vivarium also delivers far more interest to the snake’s lifetime, and by incorporating branches and other pure solutions you will greatly enhance the high quality of daily life the snake has, and end it from turning into lethargic and obese. Also, staying stronger it really should have more of a resistance to any viral bacterial infections or any other challenges that it may possibly face afterwards in lifestyle.
For an adult Viper Boa, a vivarium 60cm Length x 45cm Width x 45cm Height is sufficient. This is a timid species numerous specimens when bought into captivity can go for many months with out feeding. It is significant that this transitional time period is as worry-cost-free as achievable. A modest, confined enclosure with no added lighting, away from human ‘traffic’ may possibly be required. After the boa is feeding on a normal foundation, a more substantial vivarium with lighting may perhaps be supplied.
Snake enclosures can be designed from a quantity of products. Most normally applied is a melamine coated wood which addresses all sides except the entrance, which has glass sliding doors. Aquariums can also be utilized for Viper Boas, whilst a expert lid need to be acquired or produced alternatively than the initial aquarium lid. It is crucial when contemplating about what variety of enclosure you use, you believe about these 6 ‘SSSHHH’ components:
1) Security – Can the snake or operator injure by itself from the enclosure or any appliances held within?
2) Protected – Can the snake escape through any modest hole or cavity?
3) Size – Will the enclosure be properly sized?
4) Heating – Is the enclosure in a position to regulate the temperature appropriately?
5) Humidity – Will the enclosure past very well in humid disorders? Is there enough air flow for the humidity to escape?
6) Hygienic – Will the enclosure develop up a large amount of micro organism in tiny cavities? Is it effortless to thoroughly clean?
By subsequent the techniques over, you can have a ideal enclosure designed from a range of materials.
Décor
Décor in your tank serves two needs. Very first being added deal with for your snake and 2nd, allowing for a extra all-natural and satisfying look. When deciding upon décor, think about the safety of the snake. Make positive that what ever you come to a decision to use, it is securely fastened and that no rocks, wooden or nearly anything hefty can tumble and maybe injure, or even destroy the snake. You ought to also make guaranteed that every thing used is parasite totally free. If something has been picked up from outside the house, or has at first arrive from outside the house, these types of as cork bark, you need to both boil it, or spot the item in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes. Freezing works for some parasites, on the other hand other people have been acknowledged to survive months in freezing situations. Some parasites found in English problems previous winters in minus temperatures, so it is not totally helpful.
At the time all your décor is parasite absolutely free, it is then harmless to put within your enclosure. As a common rule, if you can place tension on an product to knock it down, a Viper Boa is undoubtedly able of doing so. When positioning rocks or hefty objects, make sure they are completely secure. If it is continue to uneasy, screw them or use superglue to deal with them securely. If it is not achievable, the rule is basic: Do not spot the item in the vivarium!
If you make a decision to go for a larger sized enclosure, you have to give plenty of protect and hiding areas. A hiding area can be everything from a tupperware box with a gap minimize out to a naturalistic piece of cork bark. There are quite a few brand names of fake plants and décor you can use which is both safe for the animal and satisfying to the eye. Cork bark is obtainable from nearly any reptile pet shop in the United kingdom, and can be ordered in if they do not have it in inventory. This is great deal with for any reptile and is 100% natural. 1 issue you will have to consider when thinking about the sizing of the vivarium, is the greater you go, the a lot more hiding parts you will have to supply. I propose at minimum just one hiding place for every foot in size of the enclosure.
Take note: Never ever use sticky tape in an enclosure this is an accident ready to occur. Consider me taking away sticky tape from any snake is no quick task!
Heating
Viper Boas are observed on dense forest flooring and are uncovered to a fairly frequent air temperature. They do not bask in the sunshine and so it is not as vital to offer them with a committed sizzling spot. Rather, acquiring a fairly continual air temperature of 85-90ºF all through the day and 80-85ºF in the course of the night time is high-quality. A massive drinking water bowl need to be supplied for the snake to thoroughly submerge if necessary. If your viper boa does this continuously, the vivarium is most probably also warm and must be cooled down a bit.
In my viewpoint, the great way of heating a Viper Boa’s enclosure is to use a electric power plate. This is a tiny skinny sq. plate, about 25mm thick which is screwed into the top of the vivarium. It does not have to have to be shielded, as there is no way a snake can grip on to it. It is pretty much invisible to the eye as it merely sits on the ceiling of the vivarium. The only brand readily available in the United kingdom is HabiStat Reptile Radiator it is 75 Watts and is adequate for any vivarium up to 4ft prolonged and perhaps larger sized. It produces no light-weight and consequently in a vivarium you will want a sort of lights as properly. A power plate really should be applied in conjunction with a HabiStat Pulse Proportional Thermostat, which will cease the energy reaching the power plate as shortly as the temperature goes above the setting, and turn again on as quickly as it is much too amazing. This is a single of the most exact thermostats on the market place today.
Ceramic heaters, spot bulbs and heat mats are also approaches of heating a vivarium. These all have their pros and shortcomings, but in my opinion, none pretty weigh out to be as great as a electricity plate.
Lighting
Viper Boas are mainly nocturnal, this means they venture out in the darkish of evening. This is when their key predators are sleeping, and their prey is awake. Lighting for this species is not essential. However, having artificial mild in a vivarium is aesthetically pleasing to the owner, and is a very good addition to a snake’s enclosure. They will use this as a photo-time period, and their standard time clock will normally alter to the options on which you have your light set to.
They do not need any sort of unique lights, this sort of as a D3 Ultra-Violet gentle generally utilized for diurnal species. An Arcadia Purely natural Sunlight Fluorescent Lamp is a great form of lighting. This comes in lengths of 12″ up to 48″ and I propose you use the biggest size equipped to suit within your vivarium.
Humidity
Viper Boas manifest around a lot of New Guinea and encompassing Islands and for that reason are uncovered to a significant humidity. This really should be replicated in captivity to support to the typical well being and nicely-currently being of your snake. A 80-90% humidity variety will allow to snake to slough it can be pores and skin correctly and grow to be significantly less prone to any troubles these types of as respiratory bacterial infections.
Feeding
Juveniles or males ought to be provided fuzzy or little mice, and as they grow the mice or rats should grow to be bigger. An grownup female viper boa should really be fed on weaner rats. 1 of these every 2 weeks is ample. An adult male might choose fuzzy rats or massive mice. Juveniles need to be fed on a frequent foundation, every 7 times is excellent. Their metabolic fee is bigger than adults and as they are rising, they need a good deal much more food stuff to retain them going. Viper Boas have a low metabolic process in contrast to many snakes, they shift incredibly little and do not demand the exact same amount of meals that numerous other species do. Snakes have the ability of constructing up a huge fat reserve, and grow to be obese quite effortlessly. Getting the excess weight off having said that, is a substantially extra tough task. Obese snakes will not reside practically the duration as a nutritious snake would thanks to liver and kidney difficulties. If you are not sure about your snake’s weight, verify with a reptile veterinarian.
