Giant snakes are very popular with terrarium fans.
The non-poisonous snake species are often kept in the home terrarium.
However, due to their enormous body length, many require very large terrariums.
Dealing with the reptile becomes more difficult, especially for beginners, from a certain size.
But if you are still fascinated by boa, python or other giant snakes, this species is a good choice.
The rose boa is in no way inferior to its close relatives.
We introduce you to this beautiful snake.
We explain to you where it originally comes from and how you can keep it in your terrarium.
| Common name: | Rosy boa |
| scientific name: | Lichanura trivirgata |
| Family: | Boidae |
| Basic colour: | dark brown, khaki-coloured or orange-colored vertical stripes |
| Size: | max. 90 cm |
| Habitat: | Dry savannas from the southwest of the USA and Mexico |
| Food: | Mice, rats, little birds |
The specifics of the Lichanura trivirgata
The rosy boa is one of the smallest giant snakes globally, with its max 90 cm.
They are considered very peaceful and not aggressive.
It is, therefore, a good choice for beginners in the field of terrarium nerds (lacking a better word).
Nevertheless, you should be very careful and keep calm when dealing with a Lichanura trivirgata.
If the rose boa is frightened, it secretes an intensely smelling liquid.
This species tends to curl up into a ball when touched.
The rosy boa is a crepuscular and nocturnal snake.
If kept well in the terrarium, a Lichanura trivirgata can live up to 15 years.
Their natural habitat is the steppe deserts in California, Arizona and Mexico.
They spend most of their time close to the ground, and her need for climbing is not considered to be particularly pronounced.
This is what a terrarium for a rosy boa should look like
The rosy boa is known for not being really demanding.
However, you should urgently consider certain important points when keeping it so that your Lichanura trivirgata feels really comfortable.
With this boa species, keeping in pairs is not only possible but even recommended.
For this, you need a terrarium with the dimensions 100 x 50 x 50 cm (L x W x H).
The rosy boa is a desert inhabitant, so you should use a sand-earth mixture as a soil substrate.
The Lichanura trivirgata hardly climbs, so you don’t have to plan climbing opportunities.
However, the rosy boa needs shelter in which to retreat.
For this, you can use cork pieces, clay pipes, stones, etc.
Even if the Lichanura trivirgata is native to steppe deserts, it is still very grateful for water points.
She then uses it to take a cooling bath because the terrarium should be high for this snake.
During the day, the temperature is ideally between 26-30 ° C.
At night this should not drop below the 20 ° C mark.
In desert areas, there is a low level of humidity.
It would be best to keep this in mind when setting up the terrarium for a rose boa.
Keep the humidity low at around 60%.
A Lichanura trivirgata feeds on small mammals and birds.
It is best to offer mice, small rats or chicks once a week.
