Although rarely referred to as a pet, a rubber boa is definitely an interesting creature and is in my opinion the best snake a person can own, especially for a first pet. Everything about a rubber boa snake is easy from its temperament, care, feeding and hygiene. Most snakes are kept as pets to be observed but not to be played with. Rubber boas are the kind of pet a person can interact with, as they enjoy the warmth of a hand and snuggle into one for hours. The feeling is mutual, as the human hand enjoys the soft touch of these docile snakes.
What makes a rubber boa so cool?
one. Interactive: Rubber boas will be a pet that you can hold, touch, hold and not be afraid of it running away while playing with it. They are quite slow and will prefer to hang out in a warm hand on any given day and stay there for a long time. The feel of your skin is much like its name, Rubber, but even softer than that.
two. Attractive: Rubber boas have been used as a form of treatment for snake phobias in a number of cases. While most snakes are fast and quick to bite, these boas are slow, docile, and almost never bite (I’ve never seen or heard of a bite, but it could happen). If they are going to bite a person, it will be harmless and most likely painless. What impresses me most about these snakes is their soft texture, which is why they are called Rubber Boas.
3. Easy to care: Rubber boas are very easy to care for. They do best in an area that has similarities to their native range, which is mostly confined to the northwestern US and southwestern Canada. They can be found both in arid forests and in the tropical jungles of the coast. Their temperature preference is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, like room temperature in a house, and they need a decent sized water dish for them to soak in. The only cleaning necessary is to change the water once defecated.
Four. Easy to feed: Rubber boas feed primarily on young rodents in the wild while fending off parents with their blunt tails. Therefore, it is better to feed them pink mice and several at once. They have been known to overeat and then not eat for a month or two. That is why they will eat several in one place.
A rubber boa has many benefits over other snakes. Here is a list of just a few, as well as the negative.
Profits:
• Interactive: easy to hold
• Soft to the touch
• Slow movement
• It does not bite
• Safe around children
• Easy to care for
• Long service life: 15-25 years
Negative:
• Hard to find in the wild and hard to find for sale.
While there aren’t too many bad things about this species of snake, the biggest drawback is the lack of places to buy a rubber boa. I’ll keep an eye out and list any links I can find that sell them. The ones I’ve had, I’ve caught on the road after dark, since I live in northern Idaho, where they are common. They are amazing hideouts and I have never seen one anywhere except on the trail. I wouldn’t try to go looking for them, although many times where they live there are also areas where you can find rattlesnakes, unless of course you’re into that sort of thing.
