Hogg Island Boa Care Sheet
Introduction
Hogg Island Boas (Boa imperator) are a naturally occurring insular locality of the Common Colombian Boa. They are known for their smaller size, lighter coloration, and calm demeanor, typically reaching 4 to 6 feet in length, making them more manageable than their mainland counterparts. Due to their limited range and past over-collection, they are now uncommon in the wild, though they remain well established in captivity.
Care sheets are only to be taken as guidelines. Just as with all animals, each reptile will have unique traits and personalities special to the individual animal that may require adaptation in their husbandry and care. The following care sheet will address basic requirements but as the primary caretaker of your pet, we encourage you to take notice of your pet's behaviours and preferences and make adjustments as they grow with you and your family. Please also keep in mind that unlike mammals, most reptiles change their behaviour according to seasonal weather changes even if you keep them indoors all year round. Most reptiles also change their behaviour according to their life stages and should not be expected to behave the same their whole life.
We keep Hogg Island Boas in stock at our Toronto store and ship across Canada.
Cheat Sheet
Hogg Island Boa
| Common name | Hogg Island Boa |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Boa imperator |
| Natural location | Hogg Island and the Cayos Cochinos chain of islands |
| Habitat (wild) | Tropical, Coastal Rain Forest |
| Captive enclosure | 20-40gal for hatchlings/juveniles, 4x2x2'+ for adults |
| Substrate | Cypress Mulch, Loose Bark, Coco Husk, Soil Blends |
| Temperature tolerance | Nighttime: 70-72°F (21-22°C), Cooler: 74-80°F (23-27°C) |
| Basking temperature | 85-90°F (30-32°C) |
| UVB lighting | Optional. Can be beneficial in moderate amounts |
| Humidity | Approx. 50%-70% |
| Average adult size | 4-6 feet |
| Captive lifespan | 20-30 years |
| Fun fact | Have the ability to change colour contrast from light to dark very quickly |
Housing
Enclosure: A suitable enclosure for a Hogg Island Boa should provide ample space for movement and thermo-regulation. Juveniles can be kept in a 20-40gal terrarium, but adults would really enjoy much larger space such as 4'x2'x2'. These boas are semi arboreal and will climb if you provide vertical space and will make a great floor to ceiling display if you can provide it. Secure, well-ventilated enclosures made of PVC, wood, or glass are recommended to maintain proper temperature and humidity levels.
Substrate: Choose a substrate that retains moisture without being overly damp, such as cypress mulch, coconut husk, reptile bark bedding, or soil blends. You can also use aspen shavings if you are able to provide adequate air humidity. Avoid substrates that may cause infections in the eyes, mouth, and vents such as coco fibre or sands.
Heating: Maintain a thermal gradient within the enclosure, with a warm side temperature of 85-90°F (30-32°C) and a cool side temperature of 74-80°F (23-27°C). Use dark heat lamps, heat pads, ceramic heat emitters, or radiant heat to achieve and maintain these temperatures. We recommend heat pads for smaller enclosures and radiant heat or heat lamps for larger enclosures. Using heat lamps can cause the enclosure to dehydrate so it is very important to maintain proper humidity and moisture in the enclosure while also providing good air flow.
Hide spots: Hogg Island Boas will spend a lot of time out in the open but providing hide spots is still very important. For smaller enclosures, one hide spot on the warm end is often enough but if you have the room, then provide one on the cool end as well. As your boa grows larger, it is more beneficial to provide more natural looking hide spots such as cork on the ground and foliage canopy up high.
Humidity: Hogg Island Boas must have consistent high humidity as they come from a very tropical region. Maintain humidity levels between 50-70% for most of the enclosure if you can. Mist the enclosure as needed and provide a humidity hide filled with damp sphagnum moss to aid in shedding if you are having trouble maintaining humidity in the enclosure as a whole.
Diet
Feeding: Offer appropriately sized prey items every 7-10 days for juveniles, every 7-14 days for sub-adults, and every 14-28 days for full size adults with prey items matching the girth of the snake's thickest part. Juveniles are typically fed hopper mice and adult mice. We advise against the feeding of rat pinkies and rat fuzzies to hatchling boas as we find that the fat content in rats is difficult for juvenile boas to digest and will often regurgitate it if they cannot process it. Rats are ideal prey when they are 6 months old and above and they can remain on rats for the entirety of their lives. Many owners also offer frozen thawed chicks or quails if you are able to get them, as small birds are part of their natural diet. There is strong debate over feeding live versus frozen thawed and there are pros and cons to both. Nutritionally, one is not better than the other assuming you have acquired your feed from a healthy source. Never leave a live rodent unsupervised with your snake and never leave an uneaten frozen/thawed rodent to decompose overnight. To read more about feeding live versus frozen/thawed, please refer to Karen's Corner.
Water: Provide a water dish filled with fresh, clean water at all times. Ensure the water dish is large enough for your boa to soak in if desired.
Health & Maintenance
Hygiene: Your Hogg Island will only relieve itself once every 7-10 days on average when they are young and every 14-21 days when they are older. Over time, you will learn your snake's bathroom routines. Look out for it regularly and remove all excrements as soon as you see it to prevent the buildup of bacteria and parasites. Remove excrements, shed skin, and uneaten prey items promptly. You may notice small chunks of a white chalky substance, this excrement substance is called urates and should be removed promptly as well. We recommend a full substrate change once per season, 4 times a year. Wood and plant décor can be washed monthly with hot water and dish soap and put back into place.
Handling: Hogg Island Boas are generally calm and tolerate handling well once they become accustomed to their keeper. Handling should be done gently and with proper support, avoiding sudden movements. While they are not typically defensive, young individuals may be flighty or nippy but usually outgrow this behaviour. Avoid handling immediately after feeding or during shedding. Wash your hands before and after handling to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Behavioural observation: Hogg Island Boas are primarily nocturnal but may become active during the day, especially if they feel comfortable in their environment. They tend to be curious and exploratory, often using their strong muscles to climb and investigate their surroundings. Signs of stress include hissing, striking, or defensive posturing, while signs of illness include lethargy, excessive soaking, fragmented shedding, labored breathing, or gurgling while breathing. Observing behaviour regularly can help identify any health concerns early. A healthy and well fed Hogg Island Boa will always have strong muscle tissue and holds itself up well at all times during handling.
Quarantine: Quarantine any new additions to your reptile collection to prevent the spread of diseases.
Common Questions
What is the difference between a Hogg Island Boa and a Colombian Boa?
A Hogg Island is an island locality of the same species. They stay smaller at 4 to 6 feet, run lighter in colour and tend to be calmer, which makes them far easier to house than a mainland boa.
Do Hogg Island Boas really change colour?
They shift contrast rather than colour, going from light to dark quickly. It is one of the more striking things about the locality and something you will see day to day.
What size enclosure does a Hogg Island Boa need?
20-40gal while young, then 4' x 2' x 2' or larger for an adult. They are semi arboreal and climb, so vertical space gets used. A floor to ceiling display suits them if you have the room.
How often do you feed a Hogg Island Boa?
Every 7 to 10 days as juveniles, 7 to 14 days as sub-adults, and 14 to 28 days as full size adults. Match the prey to the thickest part of the snake.
Can you feed rats to a baby Hogg Island Boa?
Not to hatchlings. Rat pinkies and fuzzies carry too much fat for a juvenile boa to digest and often come back up. Start on hopper and adult mice, then move to rats from around six months.
Are Hogg Island Boas good to handle?
Generally yes, once they know their keeper. Young ones can be flighty or nippy and usually grow out of it. Support the body, move slowly, and leave them alone right after feeding and during a shed.
All Reptiles, all the time.
Hogg Island Boas in stock now
We carry the substrates, PVC and glass enclosures, cork, hides, heat pads, radiant heat and sphagnum moss covered in this guide at 1911 Kennedy Rd. Unit 99 in Toronto. Staff can walk you through a full setup in person.
