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

Here are 10 golden rules for keeping Corallus caninus in good health (applies also to many other species):

1. Use a closed system for your confinement. Avoid draught and high-velocity air flows within the confinement.
2. Maintain a clean environment and avoid the use of materials and substrates that may pose a threat to the snakes due due bacterial or fungal growth.
3. Avoid frequent handling of the snakes. Corallus caninus benefits most from NOT being handled, so enclosures should be designed to enable this [if necessary, removeable perches for cleaning etc.] This also reduces stress [on both animal and keeper!]..
4. Always feed after dark (in the evening or at night when the lights are out) and never leave live prey unattended in the confinement.
5. Try to maintain an environment with minimal disturbance, traffic and with sufficient hiding spots and various perches throughout the confinement so that the animals can choose a daytime resting perch that meets their needs.
6.. Do not maintain humidity and temperatures that are too high for Corallus caninus. An ideal humidity varies between 70-85%. The ideal daytime temperature is 26-29 degrees C and at night should vary between 22-25 degrees C ( even lower in the breeding season). C. caninus should be kept at lower temps. than generally assumed for other species.
7. Keep the confinement clean at all times and always remove faeces immediately. Use a good antibacterial and antiviral disinfectant in confinements, water bowls, feeding tongs, etc. when cleaning and always wash yours hand before handling other specimens.
8. Always quarantine newly acquired specimens for at least 12 weeks, depending on origin; wild-caughts should be quarantined for at least 3-6 months [see Chlamydia and EVS articles on this page].
9. Do not overfeed the snakes. Feed adults once every 10-21 days (babies once every 7-10 days) and ALWAYS WITH SMALL PREY. Allow for defaecation first, before subsequent feedings.
10. Keep records of the behaviour and feeding aspects of your animals and note down any medical treatments the snakes have been given, even vitamin preps.

Respiratory problems (RI)
In Corallus caninus, these problems are generally caused by the incorrect balance between temperature and humidity. Emerald tree boas are highly susceptible to imbalances and may develop a 'cold' or even pneumonia if kept in an environment that does not meet their specific needs. Always consult a DVM for advice.

Regurgitation (Emerald Vomiting Syndrome - EVS)
This is often observed in Corallus caninus if the snakes are kept too warm. Restoring the temperatures to normal and maintaining the correct relative air humidity will generally correct this, but it may take some time before the snakes re-adapt and take to feeding again. When regurgitation has occurred, ensure proper temperature and humidity levels, leave the snake to rehabilitate and rest before resuming a normal feeding regime. Do not force this on them. Start with smaller prey first before going on to larger prey and feed small amounts at a time. If regurgitation takes place, it will normally occur between 3-5 days after a feeding session.

http://www.coralluscaninus.info/EVS_CorallusCaninus.pdf

Frequent monitoring of the faeces helps to prevent outbreaks of flagellates and worms and/or bacterial infections resulting from these infestations. Chlamydia infections may also occur in C. Caninus and are more or less fatal [there is no truly effective treatment known and any treatment may only be palliative and not cure the disorder]. See following PDF:

http://www.coralluscaninus.info/CHLAMYDIA_IN_CANINUS.pdf.

Ensuring the strict adherence to these rules will ensure the well-being, good health and comfort of the snake in captivity and also lay stable foundations for any captive breeding attempts. If the snakes are in good health and feel comfortable, they will most probably also bear healthy offspring.

Most breeders believe the key to success in this species is in minimal handling, feeding them less frequently and only with small prey, and also lower than assumed average temperatures.