The Columbian Boa Contristor is found almost all over South America. They are obviously found in Colombia, but they are also in Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Hogg Island, Venezuela, and many more places throughout the continent.
There are many different types of Boa's, but the Columbian Boa is a reddish brown, with possible splotches of grey. It has a long skinny neck with a diamond shaped head. There is a few subspecies of the Columbian Boa, mainly found in Mexico, but the Columbian Boa's name comes more from origin itself than species. These anaimals breed well in captivity, so extinction is not a current worry or problem.
On average the Columbian Boa Constrictor will grow between 6 and 9 feet, but they can reach lengths of up to 12 feet. They tend to weigh between 40 and 50 pounds. Like other reptiles, the Columbian Boa can live a pretty long life, approximately 40 years on average. In most cases they are a slow moving and docile snake.
Scientists are not yet in agreement as to whether this species of Boa needs a cooling down period, but they do agree that when the snake stops eating it is usually time for breeding season. A female Boa should be about 2 years old before she starts breeding. The Columbian Boa is one of the few reptiles who will give birht to live young, generally about 30 or 40 babies at a time.
An enclosure for a Columbian Boa in captivity should be at least 6 feet wide and 2 feet deep, at the minimum ! Of course you can give it a bigger cage if you'd like :) Baby Boa's can eat small mice, and by the time they are fully grown it's best to feed them large rats, rabbits, or even chickens. Substrates that promote humidity are the best kind for Columbian Boas such as bark or Coco bedding. The warmer end of the cage should be between 82 and 88 degrees, while the cooler end should be between 70 and 75 degrees.
Columbian Boa's are very calm and docile animals making them great for pets if you can afford and have the right equipment. Newborns tend to be a bit more feisty, but if you take good care of your pet, over time they become much more even tempered.
