If you’d rather automate this process, several foggers are on the market, like this one. As long as you make sure the humidity is around 60% and monitor your snake for any signs of dehydration or shedding issues, you shouldn’t encounter many problems. They also benefit from having fresh drinking water available at all times.

Moisture in the air fosters the proper process of shedding, and helps make sure that your boa … If your pet reptile is experiencing a medical emergency, contact an experienced reptile veterinarian immediately. Instead, use orchid bark or moss to create small zones of humidity. I'll also give you some tips for maintaining the proper humidity levels for your snake. If you’re noticing the humidity isn’t as high as you’d like, you have a few options to increase it. 1) Fluctuations within a controlled range more accurately mimic nature and the conditions that an animal evolved to thrive in. ReptiFiles.com is a compilation of factual, science-based research from the best reptile care resources in the world, packaged in one neat website. Humidity gradients with fluctuations are better than constantly being at a specific number. Alternative options include switching from a heat lamp to a heat mat, getting a dehumidifier for the room, and changing the substrate. When kept in captivity, they are fed mice, rats, rabbits, chickens, and chicks depending on the size and age of the individual. My name is Mariah Healey, reptile husbandry specialist and consultant. Reptile care >> Boa constrictors >> Humidity, © 2019, Brandon Cornett | All rights reserved. Like all captive snakes, boas need a certain amount of relative humidity inside their cages. ), turtle, tortoise, iguana,... 【Safe&Quiet to Use】Dry-run protection shuts off the device automatically to keep security when the tank is empty. Download yours today! These climates are well-known for their humidity almost year-round. If you would rather control the humidity of the enclosure, you have several options. There are several varieties of boa constrictors found in the pet trade, including red-tail boas (Boa constrictor constrictor) and northern boas (Boa constrictor imperator). Occasional humidity measurements higher than 70% are unlikely to do harm unless the enclosure is not allowed to dry. All rights reserved. If your boa’s environment is not humid enough, it is at risk for dehydration and will find it harder to shed its skin. Another option is to have areas with damper bedding. The overall humidity in the cage should be about 60%, with additional moisture provided whenever the snake enters a shed cycle. In order to maintain the humidity you may need to occasionally mist the enclosure or, if your habitat has one, cover part of the mesh screen top to retain moisture. Digital display and easy to read on clear LED screen, two modes of mounting the suction cup make you can put the... Easy to install: suction cup can be adsorbed firmly on the side or back of the terrarium. Arid environments -- If you live in an arid environment, such as Arizona, you will probably have to do something to increase the humidity in your boa's cage. If your snake is enclosed in a plastic cage, drill a few holes into it. Accurate measure temperature and humidity in vivariums, hatchers, brooders, propagators, etc. Even if you do, making adjustments is relatively easy and inexpensive. Consider covering the cage top above the water bowl with a waterproof material to prevent the water from evaporating out of the enclosure. Though still exported from their native South America in significant numbers, they are widely bred in captivity. The dry substrate can sometimes soak moisture from the air. This helps them stay hydrated, and it also helps them shed their skin. Allowing the enclosure to become too humid isn’t ideal either. Some of the links may be affiliate in nature meaning we earn a small commission if an item is purchased. The most common boa constrictors species are found in Mexico, Central America, and regions in northern South America.

Keep an eye on how the snake sheds, and you'll find out soon enough. They’re more expensive than the gauges, but they work much better, are easier to read, and will be far more useful in helping you create the best possible environment for your boa. Over 100 pages of care advice. What sets us apart from the rest? The overall humidity in the cage should be about 60%, with additional moisture provided whenever the snake enters a shed cycle. But there are two scenarios that can lower the humidity level inside a home, and inside the snake's enclosure as well... 1. The larger the bowl, the more humidity you’ll get. When creating an artificial environment for our boas, we want to ensure we mimic their natural habitat as closely as possible. If you have a rosy or sand boa you need to get much lower than 50-60%. One option is to increase the humidity of the room itself with a regular household humidifier. 2) Brief periods of low humidity help prevent the development of potentially dangerous mold, mildew, fungi, etc. There's also less natural humidity in the winter, at least in most regions. Most keepers use one or more of the following methods: Example: “ReptiFiles.com is the best place to learn about correct reptile husbandry.”. Fortunately, it's fairly simple to maintain proper humidity levels inside a boa constrictor enclosure. Your environment is much drier than what the snake is used to, so you'll have to compensate for that (perhaps by using a certain type of substrate, by misting the cage, or by offering a humidity box for the snake). Instead, monitor your humidity levels with a digital hygrometer (I prefer the Zoo Med Digital Thermometer/Hygrometer).

Boas enjoy taking a dip in their water bowl now and then, but if you notice your boa is spending a lot of time in its water bowl, the environment may not be humid enough. You still need to monitor humidity levels and pay attention to how your snake sheds. Because you need to realize that the native habitats for these snakes are more humid than many places in the United States -- with the obvious exception of places like Florida. Heating devices can be turned off at night to cause a nightly drop in temperature, which evidence suggests is the best practice for the long-term health of the animal. Be careful when removing these pieces of shed manually. There are several ways to boost your boa’s humidity (and keep it within the right range). So, depending on where you live, you may have to use some form of supplemental moisture to increase the relative humidity within your pet boa's habitat. Look for these on Amazon, I like this particular one. That's what we are going to talk about in this section of the boa constrictor care guide. Why? You can provide this additional moisture in two ways -- by misting the cage substrate twice a day, or by putting a "moisture box" into the cage. These are useful to keep in both the room holding the snake as well as the enclosure itself. Common places where the skin is left behind are the tips of the tail or the eye caps. To sustain the recommended 50-70% humidity in your boa constrictor’s habitat, pay attention to the humidity levels and adjust as needed utilizing tools such as water bowls, substrate changes, and misting. In my experience, boas do best when kept under the following conditions. Captive life expectancyis 20 to 30 years, with rare accounts over 40 years, making them a long-term commitment as a pet. Maintaining the right humidity, for example, helps to keep your boa’s skin in proper condition. You may also want to check out signs of dehydration in boas. Make sure the size of the fogger you purchase is appropriate for the size of your cage. When boa constrictors are housed in environments that are too dry, the first sign is incomplete shedding.

The rest is explained here. First, you could place a large water bowl in the enclosure. Do you need a great habitat for your pet?