The Diet of Boa Constrictors

The boa constrictor is a large, non-venomous snake that is native to areas of South and Central America, primarily Colombia. Male boa constrictors are generally six to eight feet in total length as adults, with females being one to two feet larger. There are a few subspecies of boa constrictor, and some of these are slightly larger or smaller than the standard boa constrictor. This greatly influences their diet, as a boa constrictor's size influences what types of prey it can swallow.

  1. Diet In The Wild

    • Boa constrictors will generally eat any animal that is small enough for them to swallow and digest. In their native habitat, this can include monkeys, rats, birds, lizards, other rodents and even wild pigs. Their ability to climb trees as well as live on the ground increases their hunting range and their selection of prey animals.

    Diet In Captivity

    • In captivity, boa constrictors are most commonly fed rats or rabbits, depending on their size. Younger boas may eat baby or young rats while adult boas can eat large rats. Very large adult females may reach a length where rabbits are a suitable food item. To accurately determine what size prey item a boa constrictor can handle, the food item should be no larger than the widest point of the snake's midsection. These prey items can be offered live, thawed from frozen or pre-killed. Whether the prey offered is alive or dead, the boa constrictor may constrict it anyway.

    Hunting Prey

    • The boa constrictor uses its tongue to "smell" its prey, and has heat-detecting scales on its face called "heat pits" to help it find prey. Boa constrictors themselves are nocturnal and tend to hunt other nocturnal animals at night.

    Constriction

    • The boa constrictor uses constriction to kill its prey instead of venom. It does this by wrapping around the prey tightly so it can't breathe, suffocating it to death. The boa constrictor does not need to chew its food, and its prey is swallowed whole. Despite the lack of venom and the use of constriction, the boa constrictor does have teeth and uses these teeth to grasp its prey or defend itself.

    Adaptability

    • Like other snakes kept as pets, boa constrictors can survive if released into the wild as long as the area is similar in climate to its native habitat. This is commonly seen in areas like Florida, where a population of wild, non-native snakes has been established. In this case, the wild boa constrictor's diet will consist of rodents, birds or lizards that are native to the area.