Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa — origin: Amazon Basin: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and the Guianas (lowland tropical rainforest). Listed under CITES Appendix II (Annex B of the EU Regulation): CITES/traceability documentation and declarations are often required for keeping and especially for transfer of ownership — check your local regulations..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min22 °C

Cool side24–26 °C

Warm side28–30 °C

A nocturnal understory species that runs COOLER than people think: do NOT overheat. No true basking hot spot — a slight horizontal gradient at perch level is enough. Do not exceed ~31 °C, as overheating is a frequent cause of death. A nocturnal drop is beneficial (22-24 °C). Heat sources must always be guarded and thermostat-controlled.

Enclosure (adult)

90 × 60 × 120 cm

Vertically oriented arboreal terrarium, well ventilated, fitted with sturdy horizontal perches at various heights and foliage (live or artificial) for cover.

Minimum dimensions for a single adult; larger is preferable. Height and the availability of stable horizontal perches matter more than floor area. Good ventilation is essential to avoid stagnant air.

Humidity

60–90 %

High humidity with cycling: let it drop during the day (60-70%) and rise at night after misting (up to 80-90%). Avoid permanently stagnant humidity without ventilation: high humidity + confined air = respiratory infections.

Substrate

Coconut fibre (coco husk)Orchid barkSphagnum mossCypress mulch

A substrate that retains moisture but drains well; a layer of damp sphagnum helps maintain humidity without becoming waterlogged. Avoid any standing water (bacterial/fungal risk) and remove droppings promptly.

UVB

Optional

Not essential (strictly nocturnal species). A very low-intensity UVB (Ferguson zone 1) can be beneficial if provided with large shaded areas. Maintain a regular photoperiod of about 12 h.

Water source

Always available

A large bowl of clean water available at all times. Daily misting (ideally in the evening) to form droplets on the perches and foliage: this is the main drinking source for this arboreal species. Watch for signs of dehydration.

Origin

Boidae

Amazon Basin: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and the Guianas (lowland tropical rainforest). Listed under CITES Appendix II (Annex B of the EU Regulation): CITES/traceability documentation and declarations are often required for keeping and especially for transfer of ownership — check your local regulations.

Feeding & health

Diet

Carnivore (mammal- and bird-eater) — Appropriately sized rodents (mice, then rats) offered thawed; in the wild, birds and small mammals caught thanks to the deep heat-sensing pits and long teeth.

Slow metabolism: feed sparingly (adult: one moderate prey item every 2-4 weeks) to avoid obesity and regurgitation. Prey should not markedly exceed the body's diameter. Do not handle after a meal.

Breeding

Viviparous

Litters of large neonates. Demanding to breed, requiring thermal/photoperiodic cycling and females in excellent condition; gestation is taxing. Red/orange neonates turning green with age.

Health watch points

Respiratory infections (insufficient ventilation, stagnant air, poorly managed humidity or unsuitable temperatures)
Regurgitation syndrome (prey too large, handling after a meal, temperatures too low)
Dehydration and kidney damage / gout (lack of water or humidity, insufficient misting)
Dysecdysis — incomplete sheds (humidity too low)
Thermal burns (unguarded heat source) and external parasites (mites), especially in wild-caught animals

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 2 documented genes for Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa.

Melanistic (Black Basin) black basinRec
Pied / Calico (Anomalie)Dom

Pairing calculator

Pick each parent's genotype — clutch probabilities update live. Free, no sign-up.

🧬

Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa × Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa

Probabilities per gene (independent loci).

Expected clutchSelect at least one gene on a parent.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the amazon basin emerald tree boa.

How large is an adult Amazon Basin emerald tree boa?▾

This boa reaches an impressive size as an adult, between 180 and 230 cm, with a massive, heavy body noticeably stockier than its northern cousin's. Newborns display a bright red or orange colour that gradually turns to the characteristic emerald green as they grow.

What terrarium should be provided for this strictly arboreal boa?▾

A well-ventilated vertical terrarium of at least 90 x 60 x 120 cm (length x width x height) suits a single adult, furnished with several sturdy horizontal perches at different heights and dense foliage for cover. The height and strength of the perches matter far more than the floor area: this is where the animal spends its life, coiled up during the day.

Does this boa need an intense hot spot?▾

No, and this is a common mistake: this nocturnal understorey species actually lives cooler than people imagine. Aim for 28-30°C on the warm side and 24-26°C on the cool side, with a beneficial night-time drop to around 22-24°C, never exceeding about 31°C - overheating is a frequent cause of death in this snake. Any heat source must be thermostat-controlled and out of reach.

What humidity and substrate should be maintained?▾

Humidity should be cycled: 60 to 70% during the day, rising to 80-90% in the evening after misting. A substrate such as coco fibre, orchid bark or damp sphagnum helps maintain this atmosphere, but be careful never to combine stagnant moisture with stale air, a combination that promotes respiratory infections.

What does the Amazon Basin emerald tree boa eat and how often?▾

It is a carnivore with a slow metabolism, fed thawed rodents (mice then rats) whose diameter does not exceed that of its body. An adult is content with a moderate prey item every 2 to 4 weeks: overfeeding leads to obesity and regurgitation, and it should never be handled just after a meal.

How does this boa hydrate?▾

It always has a large container of clean water available, but its main source of drinking remains the droplets forming on the perches and foliage after daily misting, ideally in the evening. Watch for signs of dehydration, a risk factor for its kidneys.

Can this boa be handled like a tame animal?▾

No, or very little: it is a display snake, defensive and often nervous, particularly as a juvenile, not intended for regular handling. It is not venomous, but has the longest front teeth relative to skull size of any non-venomous snake, capable of inflicting a spectacular and painful bite.

Where does this boa come from and can it be acquired freely?▾

It is native to the Amazon Basin - Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and the Guianas. The species is listed on CITES Appendix II (Annex B of the EU regulation): traceability documents are often required for keeping and transfer. Strongly favour a captive-bred specimen, as wild-caught animals are fragile, frequently parasitised and difficult to acclimate.

Is this a species suited to a beginner keeper?▾

No, it is rated advanced. Its defensive temperament, its precise thermal requirements (above all do not overheat) and the importance of managing humidity well make it a boa reserved for keepers already experienced with arboreal snakes.

How long does this boa live?▾

Its lifespan is high: 20 to 25 years in captivity, and often more with appropriate care. Taking on this boa is a commitment for several decades.

How does the Amazon Basin emerald tree boa reproduce?▾

It is ovoviviparous and gives birth to litters of 5 to 15 large neonates. Breeding is demanding: it requires precise thermal and photoperiod cycling, as well as females in excellent condition, since gestation is taxing on them.

What health problems should be watched for?▾

The main risks are respiratory infections (insufficient ventilation, stagnant air, poorly managed humidity), regurgitation syndrome (prey too large, handling after the meal) and dehydration, which can affect the kidneys. Humidity that is too low also leads to incomplete sheds, and wild-caught individuals often carry external parasites.

Track your amazon basin emerald tree boa on ReptiNode

Create a free tracking log: weight, meals, sheds, health record, QR codes and breeding projects — with the built-in genetics calculator for over 200 species.

Create a free account