Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Farther down the forum I asked about captive care of hog island boas and was refered to the Rio Bravo website. Unfortunately, though there was a good deal of scientific info, there wasn't much on captive care other than "adequate cage, adequate heat". What I really want to know is if they can be maintained in a 20 gallon for their entire lives. I know that similar sized spotted pythons do well in a cage that size. Also what is a good substrate? Reptibark? Orchid bark? Sani Chips?
What is their ideal basking temp? 85F?
Do they need alot of humidity?
Any info would be great! Thanks!

Although I have never kept Hoggs I would tell you this.
1. A 20 gallon will NOT be a good home for it's intire life. I would buy a 4' Vision or Neodisha and that will be good for life.
2. Temps should be between 92 and 80 (hot and cold sides) and in most cases a good size water bowl will be a good source of humidity. Not too many people keep boas and have mist systems and whatnot. That is more for arboreals and things like that.
3. I would not use and bark. If you use any wood substrate at all, I would use Aspen shavings. I use it from time to time, but with that said, and you will find quite a few breeders/keepers use it, I would keep your snake on newspaper. Reasons are, it is easy to clean. fewer places for bugs to hide and this way you will see them if they are there as opposed to them hiding in the knoock and cranies of bark, and it is just cost effective.

There is a BIG difference between spotted pythons and Hogg Island boas. Although they do stay smaller than other boas, it is not uncommon to find them pushing 6'......average would probably be 5' for an adult.

Good luck and hope this helps!
-----
Brian Oakley
Phoenix, Arizona
BrianOakley@cox.net

A 20 gal is not going to keep even a hogg for long. The smallest adult hogg you usually hear of is in the 4 ft range (always a male). Many will get a bit larger and if there is any Colombian blood mixed in, a bit bigger still. 4x2 enclosure will be big enough, maybe one of those big three foot Visions (36x28x18) if it is a small male. The humidity in your part of the country can help you decide what kind of substrate to use, but you can't go wrong with newspaper. If you live in a dry or cold part of the country you may have to mist sometimes/daily. If you have a UTH set at 90 degrees and shoot for a 82 degree summertime ambient temperature (a little lower abient in the winter is fine) to you'll be good.

has a whole article on the "mini" Boas. They suggest a 3 to 4 foot long by 24 wide by 18 tall. 18" tall because they are more arboreal. Temp 90 degrees. Ambient should be 83 in the summer 72 in the winter.

About the substrate it just depends on the humidity in the house or your reptile room. Aspen tends to absorb moisture. Hoggs need to be at 60% to 80% I believe. Aspen helps keep my sand boas at 40 to 60%.
-----
Jeff
0.1 Wife
1.2 Kenyan Sand Boas
1.1 Smooth-Scaled Sand Boas
0.1 Doberman
1.0 Pitbull
1.0 Collie

I've got my Hogg on cypress mulch, which holds moisture a bit better.
-----
"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch