Common Boa

Common Boa care at a glance

Adult length

1.2–2.4 m (3.9–7.9 ft)

Adult weight

3–15 kg (6.6–33.1 lb)

Lifespan

20–30 years

Basking / warm side

31–33 °C (88–91 °F)

Cool side

24–27 °C (75–81 °F)

Night minimum

22 °C (72 °F)

Humidity

55–70%

UVB

Optional (low-level is beneficial)

Diet

Rodents; rabbits for large adults

Activity

Nocturnal

Lifestyle

Semi-arboreal

Typical values from common keeping practice, not yet reviewed. Individual animals and setups vary. See the enclosure size guide.

Common Boa morphs and genes

7 genes in our list. Log your animal's genetics and Reptilytics builds its morph name for you, or try the common boa genetics calculator.

Common Boa research

7 published papers in the HerpAtlas library. Most cited below, or see the latest research →

• Tracking Animal Location and Activity with an Automated Radio Telemetry System in a Tropical Rainforest

  The Computer Journal · 2011 · cited 219 times

• Effects of breeding pond isolation on the spatial and temporal dynamics of pond use by the tungara frog,Physalaemus pustulosus

  Journal of Animal Ecology · 1999 · cited 85 times

• INTEGRATING PHYLOGENIES INTO COMMUNITY ECOLOGY1

  Ecology · 2006 · cited 81 times

• Species-specific variations in corticosterone concentrations in captive snake shed skins: implications for housing systems and welfare.

  BMC veterinary research · 2026

• Implications of predator species richness in terms of zoonotic spillover transmission of filovirus diseases in Africa.

  Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · 2025

• COMPLETE UNILATERAL MAXILLECTOMY IN A COHORT OF FIVE COLOMBIAN BOAS ( BOA IMPERATOR ).

  Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians · 2022

• Genotype-Phenotype-Environment Associations and Potential Local Adaptation Signals in the Mesquite Lizard Along the Eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

  Molecular ecology · 2026

Common Boa natural history notes

Field and captive observations published in Herpetological Review's Natural History Notes. Each is a single observation, summarized by us, with a link to the original.