The Rosy Boa is a relatively small species of snake that is Native to the American South West. The snake can also be found in the Northern regions of Mexico in Baja California and Sonora.
The United States is not renowned for its Boa species as there are only two Boa species native to the US. These are the Rosy Boa and the Rubber Boa.
These Boas in the United States are much smaller than some of their relatives in South America such as the Boa Constrictor. They are also associated with drier climates than the Boas of the Amazon Rainforest.
Taxonomy
As its name suggests, the Rosy Boa belongs to the Boidae family of snakes (Boas). Therefore it is related to other Boa species such as the Boa Constrictor, Green Anaconda and Brazilian Rainbow Boa.
However, these species are distant cousins. The Boa family of snakes is divided further into 5 Sub-Families. These are:
- True Boas
- Calabar Boas
- Bevel-Nosed Boas
- Sand Boas
- Madagascan Boas.
The Sub-Family that the Rosy Boa belongs to is called Erycinae or Sand Boas. This group of snake consists of 3 genera. Some of the species in this group include the Kenyan Sand Boa and the Rough Scaled Sand Boa.
The genus that the Rosy Boa belongs to is called Charina. The only other species in this genus is the Rubber Boa which is also found in the American South-West. This is the Rosy Boas closest relative.
Description
The Rosy Boa is a small species of Boa that usually grows to a length of 2-3 feet. However, some Rosy Boas will grow a bit larger than this depending on their locality.
They are a relatively slender snake and their colour and patterning can vary depending on their locality. They get their name from the Rosy or Salmon coloration of their bellies.
While the colouration of these snakes is highly variable, they are often similar in appearance. Most specimens will have 3 vertical stripes running along their body.
One of these stripes will run down the centre of the back while the other two will run along either side of the snake. These stripes usually consist of a darker colour on a lighter background.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Rosy Boa is native to the American South West. They can be found in the States of California and Arizona. These snakes can also be found in Northern Mexico in Baja California and Sonora.
In California, it can be found in the Colorado and Mojave Deserts. It can also be found in coastal areas stretching from Los Angeles to San Diego.
In Arizona it can be found in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. The Rosy Boas range in the Sonoran Desert extends into Mexico. It can also be found throughout most of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.
The Rosy Boas preferred habitat is the desert Rocky Outcrops. Here the snake can escape the heat of the day by hiding among the rocks. This also helps them to stay hydrated as the humidity in these rock crevices is higher than on the surface.
They share some of their range with species such as the Mojave Desert Tortoise, the California Mountain Kingsnake, the Ornate Box Turtle, the Sinaloan Milk Snake and the Mojave Desert Tortoise.
Feeding a Rosy Boa
Most Rosy Boas are good eaters and will rarely refuse a meal. However, it is still a good idea not to handle your Boa for a couple of hours before feeding them.
You can feed a juvenile and appropriately sized rodent once a week. The size of the rodent should be slightly smaller than the width of the snake at the snake’s largest point.
As adults are not growing as much as juveniles, they do not need to consume as much. Therefore, you can feed an adult a substantial meal every 10 days or continue to feed weekly, whichever you prefer.
If you are feeding them every 10 days, make sure the meal is a big one. Aim for a rodent that is similar in size to the girth of the snake, at the snake’s largest point.
If you are breeding your snakes, you can continue to feed them on a weekly schedule. It is particularly important to ensure a female is of good weight before breeding.
Rosy Boa Enclosure
A juvenile Rosy Boa can be housed in a small enclosure. A large open enclosure can cause a small snake to get stressed, so it is actually better to house them in a smaller enclosure.
For juveniles, you should keep them in an enclosure that is around 1 foot in length. This will give the snake all the room they need while being small enough to allow them to feel secure.
Some people also house juveniles in a plastic storage box. This is also a good option for a baby Rosy Boa as it allows them to feel secure. It is also easy to raise humidity in a plastic tub.
Adults can be kept in an enclosure measuring around 3ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft. You can go for a larger 4-foot enclosure if you want but 3 foot will give this snake all the space they need. .
You should have at least two hides in the enclosure. One should be placed in the warm end while the other should be in the cool end. A large bowl of clean water is also important.
Light and Heat
You need to provide your Rosy Boa with a hot spot of around 90F. The cool side of the enclosure can drop down to 75-80F. This will allow your snake to thermoregulate.
You can heat your enclosure using an under-tank heat mat or with an overhead heat source, such as a ceramic bulb. Both of these options will work well for a Rosy Boa.
Whichever option you choose, it is important to ensure that the heat source is connected to a high-quality thermostat. This will ensure that the correct amount of heat is emitted.
You do not need any special lighting in the enclosure. However, if you do choose to add lighting, it is important to ensure that it is turned off at night. This is to provide your Rosy Boa with a proper day/night cycle.
Rosy Boa Humidity and Substrate
These snakes do well on a wide variety of substrates. You can keep it basic with newspaper or paper towel for easy maintenance if you like. This type of substrate can be discarded and replaced when soiled.
More natural looking substrates that works well for a Rosy Boa include Aspen Bedding, Coco Fibre and Repti Bark. These substrates can be spot cleaned when soiled and should be completely replaced every month or two.
These snakes don’t need excessively high humidity. They can be found in semi-arid regions of California and Arizona so a relative humidity of around 40% is enough for these snakes.
You can include a damp hide box if you want. This will help the snake when shedding. Alternatively, you can raise the humidity in the enclosure at this time by lightly misting the substrate. Aim for a humidity of around 60%.
Handling a Rosy Boa
A Rosy Boa is generally a docile snake and easy to handle. These snakes rarely bite if handled regularly. However, any snake that is not handled regularly will sometimes hiss or bite.
When handling your snake, always make sure that you support their weight with your hands. You can allow your snake to crawl through your hands and onto nearby furniture.
You should not handle your snake for a couple of hours before feeding them. This is to make sure they are not stressed when you go to give them their meal. A stressed snake may refuse to eat.
You should also refrain from handling them for 24 hours after they have eaten. Excessive handling at this time can lead to regurgitation. This is not good for the snake and will also leave you with a nasty mess to clean up.
Rosy Boa Breeding
You should put your Rosy Boas through a brumation period before attempting to breed them. The cooling period usually starts around the beginning of December. Do not feed your snake for 2 weeks before cooling them. This will give them time to digest their last meal.
At the beginning of March, it is time to turn the heat back on. Some people recommend doing this gradually while others immediately turn on the heat. There are arguments for both sides so the decision is up to you.
Once warmed up, you should begin feeding your snakes. They will be very food orientated and you should heavily feed them at this time in preparation for the months ahead.
After around 6 weeks, the female will shed her skin. This is the signal to start introducing the male. Some breeders will introduce him earlier than this, but you should not wait any longer than this.
If the female has not shed her skin within 6 weeks of warming back up, you should still begin pairing the snakes. All going well, you will notice that the male is showing interest in the female.
You should continue to introduce the pair together until you are sure that the female is gravid. When the female is gravid, you may notice that she is spending most of her time on the warm side of the enclosure. Gravid females are usually ferocious feeders also.
Before a female is ready to give birth, she will start to look huge. Again, she will shed her skin, and this is the best indication that babies are on their way. At this point, you should have all your preparations in place for the new arrivals.
You will need to start checking for babies daily. They are usually born during the night or early in the morning. These snakes give birth to live young so you will come in to find a lot of baby Rosy Boas hiding in the enclosure.
The babies should be removed and setup in individual enclosures. The mother should be washed, and her enclosure cleaned. It is then time to start feeding the female heavily again in preparation for next season.