How to Feed a Boa Constrictor

Boa constrictors are large non-poisonous snakes native to South America. Because of habitat loss, all of the sub-species of boa are considered endangered. In captivity they are even-tempered and have become popular as pets--and rather impressive ones. An adult boa will reach 8-10 feet in length and be as wide as a man’s thigh. In the wild they hunt small animals such as mice and other rodents. Boas in captivity will almost always accept dead food which makes it much easier to feed a boa constrictor.

Things You'll Need

  • Supply of food (most owners order frozen packages of whole mice or rabbits)
  • Container for feeding
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buy a supply of food for your boa constrictor. For young boas you can purchase packages of frozen mice. Adults (6 feet and over in length) can eat larger animals. They must swallow their food whole, so you need to limit food to animals no wider than the snake’s body. You can buy frozen rabbit carcasses to feed a boa constrictor when it’s full grown. Pet supply stores often carry these items but if not, they can order them for you.

    • 2

      Avoid overfeeding your boa constrictor. For very young boas a mouse a week is plenty. When it gets a bit larger (about 3 feet or so) 2 mice a week are about right. Feed an adult only every 10 to 14 days.

    • 3

      Prepare a container to feed a boa constrictor in. Boas like to be left alone when feeding. Provide a container that is that is closed off or dark to give the snake privacy. Before you feed your boa, be sure the food is thawed completely through, but do not use a microwave as this will partially cook the food.

    • 4

      Place the food in the container before you put the boa in. This is a safety precaution. A boa will bite its prey and can easily get you instead of the animal carcass if you try to put the food in with a hungry snake.

    • 5

      Leave the boa constrictor alone while it feeds. For adults allow about 20 minutes and about 10 minutes for juveniles. After your boa has eaten, don’t handle it any more than absolutely necessary for 24 hours. A boa that is disturbed while eating or handled too much while digesting a meal is likely to regurgitate it.

    • 6

      Don’t worry if your boa constructor does not eat for several weeks. All constrictors have periods in which they eat little or nothing for weeks or even a couple of months as part of their normal behavior. Simply monitor the snake’s weight. Unless there are symptoms of illness you only need to take it to a veterinarian if it loses more than about 15 percent of its normal weight.