Red-Tail Boa Frequently Asked Questions

What should I know before owning any snake?
You should know that snakes are not cheap. They're not toys. They're not dogs or cats. They are very fragile and the things you need to care for them can be quite expensive at times. You should also know that many breeds of snake can be extremely complicated, particularly Boa Constrictors. If you are looking for a snake that doesn't require much experience or knowledge, and you're not willing to invest much time or money, a good place to start would to be getting a Corn Snake or a Garter Snake, as most types are usually easier to care for than a Boa or Python.

Please assure that you always have plenty of money and time to care for these beautiful creatures before you consider purchasing and caring for one. If you are interested in caring for one, they can be the most lovable, gentle creatures in the world, and your love for them can get to be uncharted! They are truly unique and beautiful, but you must treat them with care and ALWAYS make sure you are prepared.

Why should I get a Red-Tail Boa?
Red-Tail Boas are widely considered one of the most tame, friendly and manageable snakes on the market. If properly cared for, any Red-Tail Boa will very rarely strike or even become defensive, unless you give them a reason to. Most of the time, they will never feel an urge to attack or become defensive if they are being cared for properly. On top of all of that, they are among the most beautiful and gentle snakes you'll ever encounter.

Why do they call it a "Red-Tail" Boa?
The name "Red-Tail Boa" is a loosely used term to describe the genus/specie Boa Constrictor. Most localities of Red-Tail Boa have a bright red tail compared to the rest of their body, and it will depend on which specie, subspecie and locality they are. Some Boa Constrictors have little or no red on their tails, but they are still loosely called "Red-Tail Boas".

Red-Tail Boa

Why do snakes flick their tongues all the time?
Snakes use their tongues to both smell, and determine what is in their vicinity. Their sense of smell is both their strongest and the sense they rely the most on for basic survival skills. It's also useful in determining an appetising meal from an unappetising one, and determining whether something is even food or not.

Tongue Flick

How big do Red-Tail Boas get?
Depending on what type of Red-Tail Boa you have, they can reach anywhere from 4-12 feet in length, as adults. This also depends on the subspecie and genetics of your Red-Tail Boa. It's very rare for a Red-Tail Boa to reach 12 feet. A maximum length of 7 to 10 feet is more common.

How fast do Red-Tail Boas grow?
Depending on the genetics of the snake, it's normal for a Red-Tail Boa to grow 2 feet per year. When they are born, they are usually 15-18 inches in length (depending on what subspecies it is), and they will grow on an average of about 2 inches per month. Again, this is all dependant on their genes and scientific classification.

How long do Red-Tail Boas live?
In the wild, it's completely random as how long they live. They could be snatched up by a predator the second they are born, or they could live to be 20 years old.

In captivity, a good, average lifespan for a Red-Tail Boa that dies from natural causes, is anywhere from 15-25 years. On rare occasions they will top the 30 year mark. It all depends on how well the snake is cared for. 25 years is definitely reasonable if the animal is properly cared for and remains healthy throughout it's life.

What's the difference between a Python and a Boa?
They both exist in varying parts of the world. They have similar habitats, but differing care should be practiced on each. This also varies between what TYPE of Python or Boa you have. Again, this caresheet is for Red-Tail Boas, or the classification of Boa Constrictor, only.

Red-Tail Boas come from South America, Central America, and the islands surrounding each. All types of Boa give live birth (except one type of boa), where as pythons will generally lay eggs.

How do I tell if a Boa is a male or female?
There's really no way to tell by looking. Most people can guess by looking at the tails, but a lot of the time it's not accurate at all unless you're looking at an adult. The best way to tell is to have a vet probe the snake. There are also forms of "popping" that can be used, but I wouldn't condone, nor recommend popping, even by a professional.

Do Red-Tail Boas need some type of UV light to survive?
No. Unlike many reptiles, they do not need any type of UV light to obtain essential vitamins. They are naturally burrowers and ground dwellers, and will rarely see the sun in the wild. They do, however, need some type of light and dark cycle in captivity, to keep their "biological" clock in tune.

How do snakes defecate?
Snakes have a small hole located about 10-25% up their body from the end of their tail. This is also known as a "vent". They also urinate (or produce urates) out of this same vent. Their sexual organs are also located in the same place.

Do snakes have ears?
No, they do not have EXTERNAL ears, so they cannot hear every sound a human can. They have what remains of an inner ear, so they hear only by vibrations. You could scream as loud as you could, or even play very loud music and all they would pick up would be the vibrations sent out by the sound. Loud TVs, vacuums, or anything loud that doesn't produce vibrations won't affect a snake at all. However, people like to tap on glass to try to get their attention. DON'T do that to your snake. It's really annoying and really stressful for them, and it makes them feel like they are in danger. If they feel in danger in their home, they certainly won't like it when you try to take them out, and you might get bit by an angry snake!

What's the difference between a Red-Tail Boa, a Rainbow Boa, and a Tree Boa?
They are just different species of Boa that require different kinds of care. Keep in mind that a tree, sand, rainbow, or any other type of Boa is not classified as a BOA CONSTRICTOR. All types of Boa are within the same genus, but the specie type between other types of Boa are completely different than that of a Red-Tail Boa (Boa Constrictor). They each have specific needs that aren't always mentioned in Red-Tail Boa's caresheet that should be adhered to.

If you're thinking of buying any type of Boa besides a Red-Tail boa, consult the appropriate caresheet(s).

How many different types of Red-Tail Boa are there?
Just the scientific class (Genus/Specie) Boa/Constrictor has many different subspecies and localities within them that will determine what characteristics the Boa carries.

The most common difference is the subspecie the Boa is classified in. There are many subspecies within the Boa Constrictor classification, such as Boa Constrictor Imperator (BCI), Boa Constrictor Constrictor (BCC), Boa Constrictor Longicauda (BCL). Within the subspecies exists several localities. A Boa from Suriname and a Boa from Venezuela could both be classified as a BCC, but still look very different. For more information on this, consult sites such as www.riobravoreptiles.com or www.boa-constrictors.com, if you are interested.

Why do snakes bite?
Snakes will only bite or get aggressive if they feel that they are in danger, are irritated by something or someone bothering them, or if they mistake something for food. Some breeds of snake will naturally be aggressive, but most breeds of captive kept Red-Tail Boa are not known to be particularly aggressive.