Corallus caninus Nederland - website dedicated to the Emerald Tree Boa of South America

Housing
This species can be housed in a confinement measuring 70 cm (length) by 40 (width) by 60 cm (height). See our facilities here.

Temperature and humidity
Temperatures should range between 26-29 degrees C during the day and between 22-24 degrees at night-time. Relative humidity should be between 65-85%. During the mating season, night-time temperatures may drop to an average of 18-22 degrees and spraying should be increased during this 6-10 week period (November to February).

Feeding
Tree boas are nocturnal arboreals and will therefore hunt after dark. This is when they should be fed. Their diet should consist of small mammalians (small rats or adult mice) once every 10-14 days.

Breeding
Tree boas mate at the end of the year between December and March/April. Females should be 3-4 years of age, males can be a little younger. The average weight of a female ready for pairing/mating is between 400-600 grams. Weight is more important than age and females should be fed well before any attempts are made to breed. To induce mating, the boas should be cycled - lower night-time temperatures and a marked increase in humidity (by spraying in the morning and evening) for a period of between 6-10 weeks prior to breeding. During this period, daytime temperatures should not be decreased as much as night-time temperatures and the male should be first separated from the female for the best results. Mating will generally occur after cycling and by introducing the male to the female and by restoring temperatures and humidity to normal. The species is live-bearing and after successful matings, the young are born 6-8 months later (July/August/September), but sometimes a little later in the year (September/October/November) if matings take place in March or April (generally February to March). Corallus hort. has been known to breed as young as 2-3 years of age, but the average age is 3-4 years. Males can exhibit pairing behaviour when they are as young as 12 months. It is perhaps not a good idea (in view of their health) to breed them when they are too young. From the age of 3-4 years yields the best results.

Raising juveniles
Tree boas juveniles are fragile creatures. When born they should be left in a high-humidity nursery vivarium with plenty of climbing and perching facilities. They are fed only after they have completed their first skin-shed two to three weeks after birth. They are best fed live day-old pinky mice. If they refuse to eat, they can be encouraged by pestering their tails until they grasp the prey. The pinkies can also be rubbed along the sides of the heat pits of the juveniles to stimulate feeding or the pinkies can be first scented with bird feathers. Some may refuse to feed forseveral weeks, only to start eating after a second skin-shed. They are too fragile to force feed, but can be assisted by carefully inserting a pinky between the jaws. In such cases, they will generally swallow their prey. This species is known to reach ages of between 10-15 years in captivity.