Hi, I’m looking for some advice from people with experience on the right size of an enclosure for my female boa constrictor, who is 1 year and 2 months old. I bought an enclosure that’s 4x2x2 feet, and I’m unsure if I should let her have access to the whole thing right away or section it off. I’ve read mixed opinions – some say the enclosure should grow with the snake, while others disagree. She’s very gentle and a bit shy, and I don’t want her to develop any behavioral or feeding issues.
With a good amount of hide zones and cover, so they don’t feel exposed, I think you’ll have one spoiled, happy little boa on your hands. You can cover part of the glass doors while they settle so they feel more comfortable exploring their new area.
I have always been a person that puts my boas in their adult size enclosures. I’ve never had any issues with it. Just make sure that you provide them with enough hides and coverage and they’ll be happy. Boas tend to be pretty bulletproof lol .
that is a great size enclosure for her size and you should let her have the entire enclosure as long as there is more than two hides and a lot of leafage and foliage (also humidaty hide)
giving them more space is never a bad idea, just give it a bunch of stuff to hide & climb on.
behavioral issues stem from lack of routine make no mistake their memory is much different in how the neurons fire than ours, any time you go to pick her up as a baby, tap the back of her head gently with something like a paper towel roll inside, or a small hook (be consistent in what you use to do this whatever it is (plastic spoons can work also on babies etc), also rub their back gently with it midway down the animal, then, grab the animal confident and securely, be sure you dont smell like feed and carry her around /socialize for a bit. This will teach it the difference in prey being in the habitat and you, also we have made it routine to feed them now after a long social session, almost to simulate a reward. so we follow our cage removal protocols, socialize, then let the animal re enter its habitat with food awaiting inside, it will learn food is only inside this cage. (this is also beneficial as they will display hunger/prey drive when they are hungry if they ever go on a food strike for a week or two)
Also, if you are raising babies, you need to practice bath time at a young age, make it a positive experience, room temp water 70 or 75 ish , pure water at first always, let them go into it, put things like icebergs (cork bark flats and clean dish style towels for us) in the sink/bath/tub to give an anchor point, teaching them to swim essentially so that if a problem ever arises as an adult, a bath is no big deal.
Theres alot to this I tried to simplify, this is what helps us and a factor in why we have some of the most docile snakes in USA, feel free to message me anytime you need help.
Boas aren’t nervous or shy like a lot of other species. If it eats for you in that space and the temps are good, send it.