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Species profile · Boidae

Sanzinia madagascariensis

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

SanziniaSanziBoa arboricole de MadagascarMadagaskar-HundskopfboaMandarin Phase Boa
Adult size
1.2–2.2 m
Lifespan
20–25 yrs
Difficulty
Intermediate
Temperament
Docile
Activity
Nocturnal
Reproduction
Viviparous
01

Husbandry requirements

Madagascar tree boa — origin: Endemic to Madagascar (humid, mid-altitude forests of the East for the green form; drier areas of the West for the mandarin/Volontany form). PROTECTED SPECIES: listed in CITES Appendix I and Annex A of the EU regulation — keeping, import and transfer require CITES documents/intra-EU certificates (CDC/AOE type depending on the country). Acquire only captive-bred animals with traceability; absolutely avoid wild-caught specimens (illegal and fragile)..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min22 °C
Cool side23–26 °C
Warm side28–30 °C

A nocturnal forest species: NO intense heliophilic-type hot spot. Maintain a gentle gradient, hot spot 28-30 °C (up to 31 °C occasionally), cool zone 23-26 °C, nighttime drop to around 22-24 °C tolerated and beneficial. Avoid overheating. Always regulate the heating with a thermostat and protect any heat source (risk of burns on a climbing snake).

Enclosure (adult)
120 × 60 × 120 cm

Well-ventilated semi-arboreal terrarium, both tall and offering a good floor area; sturdy horizontal/diagonal branches, vines and hides up high AND on the ground.

Minimum dimensions for an adult of the green form; provide larger (150 x 70 x 120-150 cm) for the Volontany form. This species uses the ground as much as the branches: combine robust perches and ground-level resting areas. Horizontal and vertical thermal gradient, several hides. A well-sealed terrarium (a powerful animal and a good escape artist).

Humidity
60–80 %

Moderate to high humidity: 60-70% during the day, rising toward 75-85% at night and during sheds. Ensure good ventilation to avoid stagnant air (respiratory risk); misting in the evening and a substrate that holds moisture rather than a permanently waterlogged terrarium.

Substrate
Coco fibre (coco humus)Orchid bark / cypress mulchSphagnum moss (humid zones / shedding box)Fertiliser-free forest topsoil

A substrate that retains moisture but drains well, kept humid without being waterlogged. Avoid fine softwood shavings (cedar/pine), which are irritating. Remove droppings regularly to prevent mould and skin infections.

UVB
Optional

Not essential as it is a nocturnal species; a low-intensity UVB source (Ferguson zone 1, T5 5% filtered/at a distance) can benefit the metabolism if the animal can take shelter from it. Provide shaded hides. A regular photoperiod (12 h) is important.

Water source
Always available

A large container of clean water, stable and wide enough to allow a bath and hydration; renew frequently. The animal often drinks the droplets after misting. The water point also contributes to ambient humidity.

Origin
Boidae

Endemic to Madagascar (humid, mid-altitude forests of the East for the green form; drier areas of the West for the mandarin/Volontany form). PROTECTED SPECIES: listed in CITES Appendix I and Annex A of the EU regulation — keeping, import and transfer require CITES documents/intra-EU certificates (CDC/AOE type depending on the country). Acquire only captive-bred animals with traceability; absolutely avoid wild-caught specimens (illegal and fragile).

02

Feeding & health

Diet

Carnivore (mammals and birds) — Appropriately sized rodents (mice, then rats/multimammate mice), thawed; occasionally chicks. In the wild: small mammals, including lemurs, and birds.

Prey of a diameter close to the widest part of the body. Lively feeding response: use long tongs and a feeding signal. Indicative schedule: neonates/juveniles every 5-7 days, subadults every 7-10 days, adults every 10-21 days. Do not overfeed (risk of obesity). The heat-sensitive pits are located BETWEEN the labial scales (not inside them), helping to detect warm-blooded prey in the dark.

Breeding
Viviparous

Reproduction triggered by a seasonal cycle (a drop in temperature and photoperiod in the cool season, ~20-24 °C at night for a few weeks). Gestation of several months. A litter of 4 to 16 neonates. In the Eastern form, a marked ontogenic colour change: born RED/orange, gradually turning green with growth. Breeding a CITES I species entails marking/declaration obligations.

Health watch points
  • Respiratory infections (insufficient ventilation, poorly managed humidity or too low a temperature)
  • Dysecdysis (difficult/incomplete sheds) linked to too low humidity
  • Stomatitis (mouth rot), often secondary to stress or poor conditions
  • Internal and external parasites (especially in wild specimens or poorly quarantined ones)
  • Obesity and regurgitation due to overfeeding or prey that is too large
03

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 2 documented genes for Madagascar tree boa.

  • Axanthic (Hypothetical) aneryRec
  • Melanistic / DarkDom
04

Pairing calculator

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

🧬

Madagascar tree boa × Madagascar 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 madagascar tree boa.

Can a Madagascar boa be kept freely?▾
No: this species is listed in CITES Appendix I and Annex A of the European regulation, which requires CITES documents or an intra-Community certificate depending on the country. It is imperative to acquire a captive-bred animal with clear traceability, and to rule out any wild-caught specimen, which is both illegal and fragile.
What size does it reach as an adult?▾
It depends on the form: the eastern green form generally measures 1.2 to 1.6 m, while the western mandarin/Volontany form is larger and more massive, between 1.8 and 2.2 m.
What kind of terrarium does it need, given that it is semi-arboreal?▾
You need to combine sturdy horizontal and diagonal real branches with hiding spots on the ground, because this boa uses perches as much as the floor — unlike an Amazonian tree boa that is a more strictly arboreal climber. Count on at least 120 x 60 x 120 cm for an adult of the green form, and more (150 x 70 x 120-150 cm) for the Volontany form. The terrarium must be securely closed, as this is a powerful animal and a good escape artist.
Does it need an intense hot spot like heliophilic species?▾
No, and this is an important feature: the Sanzinia is a forest-dwelling, nocturnal species that does not need a basking spot. A gentle gradient is enough, with a warm zone of 28 to 30 °C, a cool zone of 23 to 26 °C, and a nighttime drop to around 22-24 °C that is perfectly tolerated. The heating must always run through a thermostat and remain protected.
Is UVB useful for a nocturnal species?▾
It is not essential, but a low-intensity source (Ferguson zone 1) can benefit the metabolism if the animal can move away from it at will. A regular 12-hour photoperiod, on the other hand, remains important.
What humidity and substrate are most suitable?▾
It needs moderate to high humidity, around 60-70% during the day, which can rise to 75-85% at night and during sheds. Coco fibre, orchid or cypress bark and sphagnum moss in the humid areas work well, provided good ventilation is maintained to avoid any stagnant air conducive to respiratory problems.
What does a Sanzinia eat and how often?▾
These are appropriately sized rodents — thawed mice, then rats or multimammate mice, sometimes chicks — with a diameter close to the widest part of the snake's body. The schedule ranges from one meal every 5-7 days for hatchlings to every 10-21 days for an adult, never overfeeding.
Can it be handled safely?▾
Once acclimatised, it is a rather docile snake, reputed to be calmer than an Amazonian tree boa, but its feeding response remains powerful: it is best to clearly separate handling from feeding using tongs and a dedicated cue. Hatchlings, for their part, are often nervous and improve with age.
How long does a Madagascar boa live?▾
Between 20 and 25 years in captivity with good care, sometimes more: it is a commitment to be considered over the long term.
Why do the hatchlings change colour?▾
In the eastern green form, almost all the babies are born brick-red or orange and gradually turn emerald green as they grow — a spectacular ontogenetic colour change specific to this form. Another curiosity of the species: its heat-sensing pits are located between the labial scales, and not inside them.
How does reproduction take place?▾
The Sanzinia is ovoviviparous: the female gives birth to already-formed young after a gestation of several months, generally triggered by a seasonal cycle of falling temperature and photoperiod. A litter numbers from 4 to 16 neonates. For a species listed under CITES I, captive breeding comes with marking and declaration obligations.
What are the most common health concerns?▾
The main ones are respiratory infections linked to insufficient ventilation, dysecdysis in case of too-low humidity, stomatitis encouraged by stress, as well as internal and external parasites in poorly quarantined individuals.

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