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Species profile · Boidae

Corallus hortulanus

Complete care sheet and morph genetics registry for the amazon tree boa — husbandry parameters, diet, breeding and pairing calculator.

ATBBoa arboricole d'AmazonieGarden Tree BoaGartenboaColored Boa
Adult size
1.5–1.8 m
Lifespan
15–20 yrs
Difficulty
Intermediate
Temperament
Nocturnal
Activity
Nocturnal
Reproduction
Viviparous
01

Husbandry requirements

Amazon Tree Boa — origin: Tropical South America: the Amazon Basin, the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and Trinidad and Tobago. Lives in the canopy of humid forests and along forest edges (hence the English name 'Garden Tree Boa')..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min23 °C
Cool side25–27 °C
Warm side29–31 °C

A gentle thermal gradient; NO intense hot spot or basking spotlight (a nocturnal forest species). Upper/warm zone ~29-31 °C during the day, cool side ~25-27 °C, nocturnal drop tolerated down to ~23 °C. Always control the heating with a thermostat. Beware of burns: prefer a panel or a ceramic heat emitter (DHP) out of reach rather than a heat cable/rock in contact with the perches.

Enclosure (adult)
90 × 60 × 120 cm

Arboreal terrarium (height greater than width)

Vertical volume is the priority. Install several HORIZONTAL branches of suitable diameter at different heights (a preferred main perch, often the warmest spot), plus dense foliage (live or artificial) for security. An adult is more comfortable in a spacious enclosure; these dimensions are a minimum.

Humidity
60–80 %

Target ~65-75%. Maintain high humidity WITHOUT stagnant air: good ventilation is crucial to prevent respiratory infections. Let it dry out slightly between mistings rather than keeping the enclosure constantly waterlogged.

Substrate
Orchid bark or cypress mulchCoconut fibre / chipsSphagnum mossForest topsoil free of fertiliser and pesticide

A substrate that retains moisture but drains well. The animal lives mostly up high: the substrate mainly serves to regulate humidity. Remove soiling promptly and watch for mould.

UVB
Optional

Not essential, as it is a nocturnal species, but low UVB (Ferguson index 1, ~2-5% UVB) over a 10-12 h photoperiod is beneficial. It is essential to provide foliage and shaded hides so the animal can retreat from it.

Water source
Always available

A large bowl of clean water, renewed regularly. Daily misting: the boa often drinks the droplets deposited on the branches and on its body. Good ventilation prevents stagnant water and infections.

Origin
Boidae

Tropical South America: the Amazon Basin, the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and Trinidad and Tobago. Lives in the canopy of humid forests and along forest edges (hence the English name 'Garden Tree Boa').

02

Feeding & health

Diet

Carnivore (rodent-eater) — Mice and young rats of suitable size (prey ≈ body diameter); occasional chicks

An ambush predator that locates its prey using its heat-sensing pits. Feed with tongs, in the evening. Juveniles: every 5-7 days; adults: every 10-14 days. A real risk of obesity in captivity — avoid overfeeding and prey that is too large. Serve thawed prey warmed to body temperature.

Breeding
Viviparous

Gestation of about 6-8 months; a slight seasonal nocturnal cooling stimulates the cycle. Litters of ~5 to 15 neonates (sometimes up to ~20). Extreme polymorphism: a single litter can contain grey, bright red, yellow or patterned young, and the colour can change with age (ontogenetic change).

Health watch points
  • Respiratory infections (temperature too low, stagnant humidity or insufficient ventilation)
  • Difficult sheds / dehydration (dysecdysis) when humidity is inadequate
  • Mites (Ophionyssus) and internal parasites, very common in wild-caught animals
  • Regurgitation (handling too soon after a meal or unsuitable temperatures)
  • Stomatitis (mouth rot) and obesity linked to overfeeding
03

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 5 documented genes and 1 named combos for Amazon Tree Boa.

  • Leopard leoInc.d
  • Tiger stripedInc.d
  • Patternless (Genetic)Rec
  • CalicoRec
  • Albino (T-) amelanisticRec
Named combos — 1 documented combined morphs
Leopard Tiger
04

Pairing calculator

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

🧬

Amazon Tree Boa × Amazon Tree Boa

Probabilities per gene (independent loci).

GeneParent AParent B
Expected clutchSelect at least one gene on a parent.
05

Frequently asked questions

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

How big is an adult Amazon Tree Boa, and what does it look like?▾
It typically measures between 150 and 180 cm, with some individuals reaching around 200 cm, and has a very slender, strongly prehensile body - much thinner than that of the Emerald Tree Boa. Its large heat-sensing pits, clearly visible along the lips, let it detect prey in the dark.
How should you set up its terrarium?▾
Choose an arboreal terrarium where height exceeds width, with a minimum of 90 x 60 x 120 cm for an adult - a more generous volume is still preferable. Add plenty of horizontal branches of suitable diameter at different heights (the main perch is often the warmest spot) and dense foliage, real or artificial, to make the animal feel secure.
What heating setup should you use without risking burns?▾
Aim for 29-31°C on the warm side and 25-27°C on the cool side, with a nighttime drop tolerated down to 23°C: a gentle gradient, with no intense hot spot or basking light for this nocturnal forest species. Prefer a heat panel or a ceramic heat emitter placed out of reach, controlled by a thermostat, rather than a heat cable or hot rock in direct contact with the perches.
What humidity level and substrate should you maintain?▾
Aim for humidity of 65 to 75%, letting it dry out slightly between mistings rather than keeping the terrarium constantly soaked. Orchid bark, coconut fibre, or sphagnum moss all work well, provided ventilation is good: stagnant humidity is the main cause of respiratory infections.
What does this boa eat, and how often?▾
An ambush predator, it catches mice and young rats close to its own body diameter, as well as the occasional chick, relying on its heat-sensing pits. Feed juveniles every 5 to 7 days and adults every 10 to 14 days, using thawed prey warmed to body temperature: obesity is a real risk in captivity, so avoid overfeeding.
How does this boa stay hydrated?▾
A large bowl of clean water should be changed regularly, but the animal mainly drinks the droplets left by daily misting on the branches and its body. Good ventilation remains essential to keep the water from stagnating and encouraging infections.
Does this boa bite easily? Can it be handled?▾
It has a well-earned reputation for being defensive and bite-prone, with a long reach and fast, repeated strikes; the bite isn't venomous but is still impressive and painful. Handling remains possible, using a hook, with patience and in moderation, but many individuals stay nervous their whole lives.
Where does it come from, and can you freely acquire one?▾
It's native to tropical South America - the Amazon Basin, the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and Trinidad and Tobago - where it lives in the canopy and along forest edges. The species is listed under CITES Appendix II, and many specimens on the market still come from wild-caught stock, often stressed and parasitised: strongly favour a captive-bred animal.
Is this a suitable boa for someone new to keeping arboreal snakes?▾
It's classed as intermediate level: easier to care for than the Emerald Tree Boa, but its defensive temperament and the need to manage heating and humidity carefully still call for some prior experience with arboreal snakes.
Does this nocturnal boa need UVB?▾
It isn't essential, since the species is nocturnal, but a low UVB output (Ferguson zone 1, around 2 to 5%) over a 10-12 hour photoperiod is beneficial. Be sure to provide foliage and shaded hides so it can retreat from it.
Why do colours vary so much from one individual to another?▾
This is one of the species' most striking traits: within a single litter of 5 to 15 neonates (occasionally up to 20), young can be grey, bright red, yellow, or patterned, and their colour can continue to change with age. Reproduction is ovoviviparous, with gestation lasting 6 to 8 months, triggered by a slight seasonal nighttime cooling.
What health problems are most common?▾
Respiratory infections (temperature too low, stagnant humidity, insufficient ventilation) and difficult sheds linked to inadequate humidity are the most common. Wild-caught animals often suffer from mites and internal parasites, while overfeeding leads to obesity and stomatitis.

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