Amazon tree boa (Corallus batesii)

Short answers

Amazon tree boa: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 190×125×200 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, tree boas, arboreal).

Amazon tree boa: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–29 °C, basking spot 30–32 °C at the topmost branch, at night 22–25 °C.

Amazon tree boa: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Weak UVB recommended.

Amazon tree boa: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 20+ years.

Amazon tree boa: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–29 °C

Night temperature

22–25 °C

Basking spot

30–32 °C at the topmost branch

Humidity

70–90 % during the day, dropping between mistings; no permanent wetness, air must keep moving

UVB

Weak UVB recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 190×125×200 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, tree boas, arboreal)

Substrate

Coco humus, horizontal resting branches at several heights, dense planting

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed mice and rats

Feeding interval

adults every 14–21 days

Key facts

Adult size

180–250 cm, individual animals up to 270 cm (females larger)

Life expectancy

20+ years

Origin

Amazon basin (Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, southern Venezuela and southern Suriname), lowland rainforest up to 1000 m altitude

Protection status

CITES II

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Snakes are solitary and do not seek company — a shared hide is competition for the best spot, not social behaviour. The concrete reason is the feeding accident: if two animals grab the same food item, one can swallow the other along with it. On top of that, once they are kept together you can no longer tell which animal has eaten and which is losing weight. For breeding, put them together under supervision and separate them again afterwards.

Notes

Arboreal; it rests coiled on horizontal branches. Very sensitive to heat – above 32 °C is tolerated poorly. High humidity with good air movement, otherwise respiratory infections. Not one for beginners.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Amazon tree boa (Corallus hortulanus) – Intermediate
• Emerald tree boa (Corallus caninus) – Expert
• Annulated tree boa (Corallus annulatus) – Expert
• Argentine boa (Boa constrictor occidentalis) – Intermediate
• True red-tailed boa – Guyana (Boa constrictor constrictor) – Intermediate
• True red-tailed boa – Peru (Boa constrictor constrictor) – Intermediate
• True red-tailed boa – Suriname (Boa constrictor constrictor) – Intermediate
• True red-tailed boa (Boa constrictor constrictor) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Amazon tree boa (Corallus batesii) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 190×125×200 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, tree boas, arboreal)), substrate (Coco humus, horizontal resting branches at several heights, dense planting), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.