Argentine boa (Boa constrictor occidentalis)

Short answers

Argentine boa: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 300×150×200 cm for an adult animal. The official 1997 expert report sets 0.75 × 0.5 × 0.75 of total length for American boas over 1.5 m and caps the height at 2.00 m regardless of the calculation — for a 3 m female that gives 225×150×200 cm as the lower limit.

Argentine boa: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–30 °C ambient temperature with a clear gradient toward the cool side, basking spot 32–35 °C at the warmest spot, at night 20–25 °C.

Argentine boa: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Optional (a low dose is recommended).

Argentine boa: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 20–30 years.

Argentine boa: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–30 °C ambient temperature with a clear gradient toward the cool side

Night temperature

20–25 °C

Basking spot

32–35 °C at the warmest spot

Humidity

60–70 %

UVB

Optional (a low dose is recommended)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 300×150×200 cm for an adult animal. The official 1997 expert report sets 0.75 × 0.5 × 0.75 of total length for American boas over 1.5 m and caps the height at 2.00 m regardless of the calculation — for a 3 m female that gives 225×150×200 cm as the lower limit

Substrate

Bark mulch or coco humus, a large water basin

Feeding

Food

Rodents or rats; large animals also take rabbits (frozen-thawed)

Feeding interval

Adults every 2–3 weeks (a slow metabolism)

Key facts

Adult size

males 1.8–2.4 m, females 2.4–3 m, individual females larger still

Life expectancy

20–30 years

Origin

Northern Argentina, Paraguay and southeast Bolivia; dry and thorn forests of the Gran Chaco

Protection status

CITES Appendix I / EU A – proof of origin and registration are mandatory

Brumation

A cooler rest period of ~6–8 weeks (for breeding, a slight drop)

Cohabitation

Single housing; only put together for mating and under supervision. Feeding is always done individually, ideally in separate boxes — two snakes striking at the same prey at the same time injure each other, and in the worst case one swallows the other.

Notes

Non-venomous, but a powerful, large-growing constrictor – not one for beginners. A strictly protected CITES I local form, lawful to keep only with unbroken papers.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Argentine boa (Boa constrictor occidentalis) in the marketplace →

Related species

• 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
• Hog Island boa (Boa constrictor imperator) – Intermediate
• Common boa – Costa Rica (Boa constrictor imperator) – Intermediate
• Common boa – Honduras (Boa constrictor imperator) – Intermediate
• Common boa – Colombia (Boa constrictor imperator) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Argentine boa (Boa constrictor occidentalis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 300×150×200 cm for an adult animal. The official 1997 expert report sets 0.75 × 0.5 × 0.75 of total length for American boas over 1.5 m and caps the height at 2.00 m regardless of the calculation — for a 3 m female that gives 225×150×200 cm as the lower limit), substrate (Bark mulch or coco humus, a large water basin), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.