Boas and Pythons Caresheet

Ball Python / Royal Python
scientific name: Python regius

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Geographical Extension: West Africa; From Senegal to Uganda
Habitat: from moist to dry savannah, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: approx. 130 cm
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: lays 4-8 eggs, incubation period at 29-31°C approximately 70 days.
Temperature: ground temperature 26-28°C, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night setback to 20-23°C.
Humidity: 60-80%, temporarily also above 90%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate. No grit or sand!
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration of the terrarium arrangements. A moist hiding box is recommended.
Terrarium Size (for long term care): Minimum requirement 1x0.5x0.75 (LxWxH) of the overall length of the animal for one pair. We recommend at least 150x80x100 cm.
Food: mice, young rats and other rodents. After familiarisation feeding with dead (frozen) feeding animals is possible. As a rule young animals eat their food without problems. If the snake refuses the food, a freshly killed mouse should remain in the terrarium over night. Other options would be to vary the food range and the situation.
Comment: The Ball Python is a docile animal to conspecifics, several of them can be tended together without problems.

Blood Python (Python curtus)

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Geographical Extension: Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo
Habitat: tropical lowlands, close to bodies of water, swampy area, dusk to night active
Size: approx. 180 cm
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: lays approx. 25 eggs, incubation period at 29-31°C approximately 70 days.
Temperature: ground temperature 26-28°C, locally up to 33°C. Night time temperature drop to 24°C.
Humidity: 80-100%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate. More cage substrate should be used for filling as this species likes it to dig itself in.
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities not essential, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration.
Terrarium Size (for long term care): 2x1x1 m (LxWxH)
Food: large rats and other rodents, quails
Comment: The Blood Python is a docile animal to conspecifics, as a rule several of them can be tended together in a roomy terrarium without problems.

Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria cenchria)

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Geographical Extension: South America
Habitat: tropical rainforest
Size: approx. 180 cm
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: viviparous, up to 20 young animals
Temperature: ground temperature between 26-28°C, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night setback to 22°C.
Humidity: 60-80%, temporarily also above 90%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate. No grit or sand!
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration of the terrarium arrangements. A moist hiding box is recommended.
Food: mice, young rats and other rodents
Comment: The Brazilian Rainbow Boa is a docile animal, as a rule several specimen can be tended together without problems.

Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus)

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Geographical Extension: amongs others Myanmar(Burma), from South China to Indonesia (e.g. Java, Sumbawa)
Habitat: tropical forests, bush territories, near bodies of water, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: over 6 m
Life Expectancy: over 30 years
Reproduction: up to 100 eggs, incubation period at 29-31°C approximately 60-90 days
Temperature: ground temperature 26-28°C, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night setback to 24°C.
Humidity: 80-100%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate.
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities are essential, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration.
Food: depends on its size; rats, guinea pigs, hares, fowls und small pigs
Comment: depending on their size they require appropriately sized terrariums. Moreovere there are many colour variations of the Burmese Python available.

Calabar ground python (Calabaria reinhardtii)

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Geographical Extension: West Africa
Habitat: from moist tropical forests to rain forests
Size: up to 100 cm
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: 2-4 eggs, incubation period at 29-31°C approx. 34-45 days
Temperature: ground temperature between 26-28°C, local heat spots up to 30°C. Night setback to 22-24°C.
Humidity: 70-80%, temporarily also over 90%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate. More cage substrate should be used for filling as this species likes it to dig itself in.
Cage Furniture: a firmly affixed water container, hiding and climbing facilities, as this species likes to climbs and does it well.
Terrarium Size (for long term care): 0.8x0.5x0.7 m (LxWxH)
Food: freshly born mice and rats

Carpetpython (Morelia spilota variegata)

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Geographical Extension: From parts of New Guinea to NW-Australia
Habitat: from several forest areas to eucalyptus savannahs, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: over 2 m
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: over 30 eggs, incubation period at approx. 29°C between 70 and 80 days
Temperature: air temperature at day 28-30°C, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night-time temperature drop to 23°C.
Humidity: 70-90%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate.
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities are essential, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration.
Food: mice and rats of appropriate sizes
Comment: Specimen from New Guinea don't grow as large as specimen from other regions of origin.

Carpetpython (Morelia spp.)

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Geographical Extension: From parts of New Guinea to NW-Australia
Habitat: from several forest areas to eucalyptus savannahs, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: over 2 m
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: over 30 eggs, incubation period at approx. 29°C between 70 and 80 days
Temperature: air temperature at day 28-30°C, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night-time temperature drop to 23°C.
Humidity: 70-90%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate.
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities are essential, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration.
Food: mice and rats of appropriate sizes
Comment: Specimen from New Guinea don't grow as large as specimen from other regions of origin.

Children's Python (Antaresia childreni)

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Geographical Extension: Australia: North Eastern West-Australia, N-Northern Territory and NW-Queensland and several islands near to the coast.
Habitat: various woodlands, from rainforests to Eucalyptus-savannahs and desert-like regions, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: up to 112 cm, more often than not smaller
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: up to 15 eggs, incubation period at 29°C between 70 to 80 days.
Temperature: air temperature at day 28-30°C, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night setback to 23°C.
Humidity: 70-80%, temporary even higher
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate.
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities are essential, various hiding places and a water bowl make up the basic configuration of the terrarium.
Terrarium Size (for long term care): 120 x 50 x 50 cm (LxWxH), a larger size is recommended
Food: mice and rats of appropriate sizes

Colombian Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria maurus)

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Geographical Extension: From Middle America to northern South America
Habitat: tropical rain forest
Size: approx. 140 cm
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: viviparous, up to 20 young animals
Temperature: ground temperature between 26-28°C, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night setback to 20-23°C.
Humidity: 60-80%, temporarily also over 90%
Lighting: daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate. No grit or sand!
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities, various hiding places and a large water container make up the basic configuration of the terrarium arrangements. A moist hiding box is recommended!
Terrarium Size (for long term care): Minimum requirement is 1x0,5x0,75 (LxWxH) of the overall length of the animal for one pair. At least 150x60x100 cm are recommended.
Food: mice, young rats and other rodents
Comment: The Colombian Rainbow Boa is a docile animal, as a rule several specimen can be tended together without problems.

Cuban Boa (Epicrates angulifer)

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Geographical Extension: Cuba and surrounding islands
Habitat: tropical rainforests, scrubland, wet savannah. Nocturnal and crepuscular
Size: over 300 cm
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: viviparous, generally between 4-15 young animals
Temperature: ground temperature between 26-28°C, local heat spots up to 35°C. Night setback to 22°C.
Humidity: 60-80%, also more than 90%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate. No grit or sand!
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration of the terrarium.
Terrarium Size (for long term care): at least 2 x 1 x 2 m (LxWxH), very large specimen have to be accommodated accordingly.
Food: mice, rats and other rodents

Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus)

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Geographical Extension: South America
Habitat: tropical lowland rain forest, tree dweller, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: between 150 and 230 cm
Life Expectancy: Over 20 years
Reproduction: viviparous, up to 20 young animals
Temperature: 26-28°C air temperature, local heat spots higher temperatures. Night setback to 23°C
Humidity: 80 to 100% e.g. "Sorry Link missing"
Lighting: daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate. No grit or sand!
Cage Furniture: horizontal climbing facilities are essential. Their thickness depends on the diameter of the snake. A large water bowl and various hiding places in the upper parts make up the basic configuration of the terrarium.
Food: depending on the size of the snake; Mice and sub-adult rats. The offered food shouldn't be too large.
Comment: The Emerald Tree Boa is often a problematic nursling and should only be given to experienced hands. Moreover it is very sensitive in regard to nourishment or rather the digestion thereof.

Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus)

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Geographical Extension: Amazon lowland (amongst others Brazil, Guyana, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela)
Habitat: rain forests, wet savannahs, near bodies of water, flood plains, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: females over 6 m, males considerably smaller
Life Expectancy: over 30 years
Reproduction: viviparous, up to 90 young animals
Temperature: ground temperature between 26-28°C, local heat spots up to 35°C. Night setback to 20-22°C. Water temperature 24-28°C.
Humidity: 80-100%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate.
Cage Furniture: tendance in aqua-terrariums is possible, but at least a very large water basin should exist; climbing facilities and various hiding places make up the basic configuration.
Terrarium Size (for long term care): At least 4x2x2 m (LxWxH), very large specimen have to be accommodated appropriately
Food: depending on size: mice, rats, guinea pigs, hares, fish, chicken and small pigs.
Comment: Depending on its size the animals require appropriately sized containers. As a rule the Yellow Anaconda is an impetuous snake and larger specimen should be treated with caution. The animals are very bite happy.

Green Tree Python (Chondropython [Morelia] viridis)

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Geographical Extension: New Guinea, some preliminary islands and a small area of the Cape-York peninsula in Australia
Habitat: tropical rain forest, lowlands as well as in heights up to 2000 m, tree dweller, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: approx. 120-200 cm
Life Expectancy: over 25 years
Reproduction: about 12-26 eggs, incubation period at 29-30°C approximately 45-56 days
Temperature: air temperature at day 28-30°C. Night setback to 23°C
Humidity: 80-100% e.g. "Sorry Link missing"
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate.
Cage Furniture: horizontal climbing facilities are essential. Their thickness depends on the diameter of the snake. A large water bowl and various hiding places in the upper parts make up the basic configuration of the terrarium.
Food: depending on its size; mice and sub-adult rats
Comment: There are spreading-caused species known. Among other things one distinguishes between specimen from Aru, Biak, Cape-York, Karubaga, Lereh, Sorong and Yapang

Madagascar Ground Boa (Acrantophis madagascariensis)

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Geographical Extension: north and northwestern Madagascar
Habitat: semi-moist to moist forests
Size: over 2 m
Life Expectancy: over 25 years
Reproduction: viviparous, up to 16 young animals
Temperature: ground temperature between 26-28°C, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night setback to 24°C.
Humidity: 60-90%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate.
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration of the terrarium arrangements.
Food: among other things mice, rats and freshly born poults

Mueller's sand boa (Gongylophis muelleri)

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Geographical Extension: West Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Benin, Niger, Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan
Habitat: dry savannah to adjoining wet savannahs, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: up to 90 cm
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: lays eggs, incubation period at 29-30°C approximately 14 days.
Temperature: ground temperature between 26-30°C, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night setback to 24°C.
Humidity: 60%, temporary up to 80%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate.
Cage Furniture: a firmly affixed water container, hiding and climbing facilities, as this species likes to climbs and does it well.
Terrarium Size (for long term care): 80x50x60 cm (LxWxH)
Food: freshly born mice and rats

New Guinea Ground Boa (Candoia aspera)

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Geographical Extension: amongst others: Moluccas, New Guinea, Solomon Islands
Habitat: rain forest, ground dweller, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: approx. 60-90 cm
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: gives birth to over 20 young animals
Temperature: air temperature 28-30°C at day time, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night setback to 25°C.
Humidity: 80-100%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate. More cage substrate should be used for filling as this species likes it to dig itself in.
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities are not essential, but various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration of the terrarium.
Food: mice and rats of an appropriate size
Comment: Candoia aspera lie preferably in shallow water and live hidden, sometimes they are a bit impetous.

Pacific Ground Boa (Candoia carinata)

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Geographical Extension: From Indonesia (amongst others Moluccas, Sulawesi, New Guinea) to the Pacific Islands (amongst others Solomon Islands)
Habitat: rain forests, does not shy the vicinity of human settlements, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: between 60-100 cm
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: depending on the subspecies gives birth from 6 to 60 young animals
Temperature: air temperature 28-30°C at day time, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night setback to 23°C.
Humidity: 70-100%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate. No grit or sand.
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities are essential, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration of the terrarium.
Food: mice of an appropriate size. In the great outdoors they primarily eat small lizards and frogs.
Comment: males stay considerably smaller than females. Candoia carinata paulsoni becomes larger and more massive than C. c. carinata.

Papua Carpet Python (Morelia spilota harrisoni)

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Geographical Extension: New Guinea and Australia.
Habitat: Woodlands and rainforests.
Size: 2-4 meters
Life Expectancy: over 25 years
Reproduction: 10-40 eggs
Temperature: basking spot of 86-88F and an ambient temperature of about 75-78F
Humidity: 40-60%
Lighting: fluorescent daylight tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate. No grit or sand!
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration of the terrarium arrangements.
Terrarium Size (for long term care): Minimum requirement 36x18x24 (LxWxH) of the overall length of the animal for one pair.
Food: mice, rats and other rodents
Comment: Carpets make great and easy captives. They are low maintenance and have good personalities, not to mention they are beautiful and most subspecies are a manageable size for anyone.

Redtail Boa(Boa constrictor imperator)

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Geographical Extension: South America
Habitat: Tropical rain forest, moist savannah, dusk and night active
Size: over 300 cm
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: viviparous, about 40 young animals
Temperature: ground temperature between 26 and 28°C. Night setback to 22°C.
Humidity: 60-80%, also over 90%
Lighting: fluorescent daylight tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate. No grit or sand!
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration of the terrarium arrangements.
Terrarium Size (for long term care): Minimum requirement 0.75x0.5x0.75 (LxWxH) of the overall length of the animal for one pair. We recommend at least 200x80x150 cm.
Food: mice, rats and other rodents
Comment: The Redtail Boa is a docile animal to conspecifics, as a rule several of them can be tended together without problems .

Redtail Boa (Boa constrictor constrictor)

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Geographical Extension: South America
Habitat: Tropical rain forest, moist savannah, dusk and night active
Size: over 300 cm
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: viviparous, about 40 young animals
Temperature: ground temperature between 26 and 28°C. Night setback to 22°C.
Humidity: 60-80%, also over 90%
Lighting: fluorescent daylight tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate. No grit or sand!
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration of the terrarium arrangements.
Terrarium Size (for long term care): Minimum requirement 0.75x0.5x0.75 (LxWxH) of the overall length of the animal for one pair. We recommend at least 200x80x150 cm.
Food: mice, rats and other rodents
Comment: The Redtail Boa is a docile animal to conspecifics, as a rule several of them can be tended together without problems .

Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus)

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Geographical Extension: India, South-East Asia, from Indonesia to Philippines
Habitat: tropical lowlands, near bodies of water, swampy areas, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: considerably more than 5 m
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: about 40 eggs, incubation period at 29-31°C over 80 days
Temperature: ground temperature between 26-28°C, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night seback to 24°C
Humidity: 80-100%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate.
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities are essential, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration.
Food: depending on its size; rats, guinea pigs, hares, fowls and small pigs
Comment: The Reticulated Python is a rather impetuous snake and larger specimen should be treated with caution. But some individuals may become more or less docile.

Savu Python (Liasis mackloti savuensis)

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Geographical Extension: Indonesia (Savu-Island)
Habitat: dry forests, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: up to 120 cm
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: up to 5 eggs, incubation period at approx. 31°C over 60 days
Temperature: ground temperature between 26-28°C, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night setback to 24°C.
Humidity: 50-70%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate.
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration.
Food: mice and rats of appropriate sizes

Three Striped Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata)

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Geographical Extension: From southern USA to Mexico
Habitat: dry regions, from steppes to deserts, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: up to 100 cm
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: viviparous, up to 12 young animals
Temperature: ground temperature between 26-30°C, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night setback to 20-23°C.
Humidity: 50-60%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loamy soil or grit. Also loose absorptive substrate
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities, various hiding places and a water bowl make up the basic configuration of the terrarium arrangements.
Food: mice
Comment: The Tree Striped Rosy Boa is a docile animal towards conspecifics.

Timor Python(Python timoriensis)

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Geographical Extension: Indonesia
Habitat: from Monsoon to dry forests, crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: over 2 m
Life Expectancy: over 30 years
Reproduction: up to 8 eggs, incubation period at 31°C over 60 days
Temperature: ground temperature 26-28°C, local heat spots up to 33°C. Night-time temperature drop to 24°C.
Humidity: 50-70%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate.
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities are essential, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration.
Food: mice and rats of appropriate sizes
Comment: The Timor Python is a hectic and nervous animal and needs due to this quality a roomy terrarium. Python timoriensis has a fast metabolism.

White Lipped Python (Leiopython albertisii)

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Geographical Extension: New Guinea and its adjacent islands, among other things Bismarck-Archipelago
Habitat: rain and monsoon forest, near bodies of water; crepuscular and nocturnal
Size: over 2 m
Life Expectancy: over 20 years
Reproduction: up to 20 eggs, incubation period at 29-31°C approximately 60-70 days
Temperature: ground temperature between 26-28°C, locall heat spots up to 32°C. Night setback to 20-23°C.
Humidity: 80-100%
Lighting: Daylight fluorescent tubes
Substrate: loose, absorptive substrate.
Cage Furniture: climbing facilities are essential, various hiding places and a large water bowl make up the basic configuration.
Food: mice and rats of appropriate sizes