Still the most popular large snake in the pet world, the boa constrictor of South America is a hardy, beautiful snake that is fairly docile and considered safe when handled properly. In The Boa Constrictor Manual, world-renowned herp expert Philippe de Vosjoli has written a concise and useful guide, well illustrated with color photographs, that offers all of the information a boa keeper needs to maintain a pet snake safely and in the best of health. This Advanced Vivarium Systems title includes information about selecting and purchasing a healthy boa constrictor, proper housing and maintenance needs, feeding, and safe handling. Dr. Roger Klingenberg, a herp veterinary specialist, has written a special health chapter on diseases and disorders, with particular emphasis on the dreaded boa AIDS (inclusion body disease or IBD) as well as parasitism, respiratory disease, and more. The chapter concludes with a six-page chart on troubleshooting health concerns, which all boa constrictor keepers will find useful for general upkeep and recognizing and dealing with serious issues. Beyond the husbandry and health of boa constrictors, this book offers an excellent chapter by Jeff Ronne on breeding Colombia boa constrictors, beginning with the size and health of breeding and animals and the female’s cycling to the birth and care of newborns. Resources and index included.

Presents information about boa constrictors, including the different species of king snake, their behavior, habitat, and suitability as pets.

Introduces boa constrictors, describing their physical features, habitat, life cycle, and predatory behavior.

Describes the physical characteristics, habitat, and behavior of boa constrictors.

Around the world, skilled animals hunt and catch their prey. Learn more about the boa constrictor and the special characteristics that make it such an excellent predator. This title takes you on the hunt with well-researched, clearly written informational text, primary sources with accompanying questions, charts, graphs, diagrams, timelines, and maps, multiple prompts, and more! Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Core Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.