Peruvian long-tailed boa (Boa constrictor longicauda)

Short answers

Peruvian long-tailed boa: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 200×100×150 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, American boas, official formula 0.75 × 0.5 × 0.75 times the total length), with sturdy climbing branches and a bathing pool.

Peruvian long-tailed boa: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot 33 °C, at night 22–25 °C.

Peruvian long-tailed boa: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 5.0).

Peruvian long-tailed boa: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 20–30 years.

Peruvian long-tailed boa: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–32 °C

Night temperature

22–25 °C

Basking spot

33 °C

Humidity

60–75 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 5.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 200×100×150 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, American boas, official formula 0.75 × 0.5 × 0.75 times the total length), with sturdy climbing branches and a bathing pool

Substrate

Bark mulch or coco humus, a cork hide, sturdy branches, a water dish

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed rats of a suitable size

Feeding interval

Juveniles every 7–10 days, half-grown animals every 10–14 days, adults every 3–4 weeks

Key facts

Adult size

150–200 cm

Life expectancy

20–30 years

Origin

Northern Peru – the Tumbes region

Protection status

CITES II

Brumation

A cooler spell of 6–8 weeks

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

A local form with a striking black head pattern and a long tail. It stays smaller than the Guyana boa. Live-bearing; pure lines are in demand, so have the origin documented.

Do you keep this species?

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Peruvian long-tailed boa (Boa constrictor longicauda) currently offered

• 1.0 Boa c. Longicauda 100% het zero – Het zero · Hünfeld · 100 €

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Related species

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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Peruvian long-tailed boa (Boa constrictor longicauda) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 200×100×150 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, American boas, official formula 0.75 × 0.5 × 0.75 times the total length), with sturdy climbing branches and a bathing pool), substrate (Bark mulch or coco humus, a cork hide, sturdy branches, a water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.