The Colombian Rainbow Boa is a species of non-venomous snake found in the Rainforests of South America. It is a small to medium sized snake that belongs to the family Boinae, which is a subfamily of Boas from South America.
Its scientific name is Epicrates maurus. It is from the genus Epicrates which contains a total of 5 species including the Brazilian Rainbow Boa and the Argentinian Rainbow Boa.
Description
The Colombian Rainbow Boa is the smallest of the Rainbow Boa species and generally doesn’t grow any larger than about 5 feet. Males are usually quite smaller than females in overall length and girth.
Like other Rainbow Boas, these snakes have a distinctive iridescent sheen that you can see when their scales reflect light.
Colombian Rainbow Boas are usually light brown in colour with darker markings. Their colours and patterning aren’t as vibrant as the closely related Brazilian Rainbow Boa and the patterning of the snake generally becoming more subdued as they age.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Colombian Rainbow Boa can be found as far North as the Southern Regions of Central America in countries such as Costa Rica and Panama. Their range extends down into the Northern Portion of South America in countries such as Colombia and Venezuela.
The Colombian Rainbow Boa can also be found on the island of Trinidad and Tobago which is located off the coast of Venezuela in the Atlantic Ocean.
Theses snakes like to live in humid forests among the foliage, but they can also be found in dryer regions.
Colombian Rainbow Boas as Pets
Colombian Rainbow Boas make great pets. They are usually very good feeders and if you provide the proper care, they usually don’t have any problems. This is a snake more suitable for an intermediate keeper due to their humidity requirements.
Like many snakes, juveniles can be a bit nippy. This is something they will usually grow out of fairly quickly with regular handling and they can become very docile and clever pets.
Feeding a Colombian Rainbow Boa
In the wild, a Colombian Rainbow Boa will feed on a variety of prey including rodents, birds, lizards and small mammals. However, in captivity they can be fed exclusively on mice or rats.
Colombian Rainbow Boas are generally good eaters in captivity. You should feed juveniles one rodent of appropriate size once a week. The meal should not exceed the girth of the snake at its largest point.
As the snake approaches adult size, you can reduce feedings to every 10 days or so. You can also choose to continue to feed weekly but reduce the size of the meal. There is no defined recipe for how often you should feed a snake.
You simply need to judge it based on the appearance of the snake. If they look on the skinny side, increase meal duration or size while if they look a bit fat, skip a meal every so often or reduce meal sizes.
Do not handle your snake for at least 24 hours after it has eaten. This will give them time to digest their meal. Excessive handling right after a meal might lead to regurgitation.
Colombian Rainbow Boa Housing
Colombian Rainbow Boas are an active snake and will do well in a decent sized enclosure. An adult snake can be housed in an enclosure measuring 3ft x 2ft x 2ft. A very large female may require a slightly bigger setup, but this will be large enough for most Boas.
While floor space is the most important factor, a little bit of height in the enclosure is very beneficial. If you include climbing branches, the snake will utilise them as they are very good climbers.
Juveniles do better in smaller setups. Large open enclosures can be stressful for such a small snake and they may spend their whole time hiding. A stressed snake may also refuse to eat.
Juveniles do well in small tubs. These enclosures allow the snake to feel secure with the added benefit of retaining humidity which is essential for juvenile Rainbow Boas. As the snake grows you can upgrade them into a larger enclosure.
You should include at least one hiding place at the warm and cool end of the enclosure. This will allow the snake to feel secure while thermoregulation.
Keep in mind when choosing an enclosure that Colombian Rainbow Boas need high humidity. These snakes like a humidity level of around 70-85%, with juveniles in particular needing a higher level of humidity.
Light and Heat
A Colombian Rainbow Boa needs a warm spot in the enclosure of around 85F. The temperature in the cool end can be as low as 70F. This thermal gradient is achieved by placing the heat source at one end of the enclosure.
Your heat source can consist of a heat mat or ceramic heater. Whatever heat source you choose, make sure it is connected to a high-quality thermostat. Any exposed bulbs or ceramic heaters should be covered with a bulb guard.
A Colombian Rainbow Boa does not require any special kind of lighting such as UVA/UVB like many species of lizard need. If you do choose to include lighting in your enclosure, make sure you turn it off at night. This will ensure that the snake gets a proper day/night cycle.
Colombian Rainbow Boa Substrate
A Colombian Rainbow Boa will do well on a wide variety of substrates. Keep in mind when selecting your substrate that these snakes need humidity levels of around 70-85% so you will need a substrate that doesn’t mould easily.
Some commonly used substrates include Eco-Earth or Orchid Bark. These substrates hold humidity well and don’t mould easily. You will still need to clean your enclosure regularly as a warm, humid environment is a breeding ground for bacteria.
Juveniles do great in a tub on damp paper towel. This kind of setup offers very high humidity levels. You will need to change the towel every few days and ensure there is good circulation in the tub.
Try to keep an area of the enclosure relatively dry so that the snake isn’t constantly lying on a damp substrate as this can lead to other problems such as scale rot.
Handling a Colombian Rainbow Boa
Juvenile Colombian Rainbow Boas can be a bit nippy, but they will usually grow out of this with time. You should handle a young Rainbow Boa for a short period of time often. This will allow them to learn that you are not a threat.
An adult Colombian Rainbow Boa can be a very docile pet that enjoys a lot of time out of their enclosure but it is important to build up that relationship from a young age.
Shedding
Like all snakes, a Colombian Rainbow Boa will shed their skin throughout their lives. Young snakes will shed more frequently than adult snakes as they are growing at a faster rate, but all snakes will shed their skin periodically throughout their lives.
If your Boa is going into shed, it is a good idea to raise the humidity. This will help to loosen the skin and allow it to come off in one piece. You can also provide them with a large water bowl to soak in.
If your Colombian Rainbow Boa has some stuck skin after shedding, try giving them a warm bath. After the snake has soaked for 20 minutes or so, you should be easily able to peel away the loose skin. This will not harm the snake in any way.
Breeding Colombian Rainbow Boas
It is important to ensure that your Colombian Rainbow Boas are an appropriate age and weight before attempting to breed them. Females should be at least 3 years old before attempting to breed but it is better to wait until they are in their fourth year.
Males can be bred earlier than females. Most males should be ready to breed by their second year. This is highly dependant on the health of the snake.
Some breeders lower the temperatures of their enclosure at night during the winter months and shorten the hours of light the snakes are exposed to. This is to inform the snake that the breeding season is coming up.
This is not always necessary and if you live in a region with dark, cold winters, the natural drop in ambient temperature and daylight hours will probably be enough to entice breeding. If you do choose to drop the temperature, a 5F drop at night should be sufficient.
Males should be introduced into the female’s enclosure when the temperatures start to drop. This is usually around October or November. You can keep your male with a single female or rotate him between multiple females.
Once the female is gravid, she will often go off her food. You should still offer small meals at this time as they will sometimes accept them, especially at the beginning. The gestation period for a Colombian Rainbow Boa is around 6 months.
After the 6 months, the female will give birth to a litter of live babies. Litter size can vary greatly with most females giving birth to anywhere from 10-20 babies. Don’t be surprised if you find a few slugs among the babies. These are simply unfertilised eggs and are very common, especially with young females.
Hatchlings should be removed and housed in separate enclosures. At this age, it is best to house them in a small tub with damp paper towel. You can offer the hatchlings their first meal a couple of days after their first shed.