Are Rosy Boas Good Beginner Snakes?

Not a lot of people are fond of keeping snakes as pets because, let’s face it, they are not the easiest pets to keep, in the first place.

However, there are some pet snakes that people prefer to keep because they are considered to be comparatively easier to take care of as pets.

But just because a snake can be easy to keep for snake enthusiasts doesn’t necessarily make it generally good as a beginner snake.

So, are Rosy Boas good beginner snakes?

The Rosy Boa is a good beginner snake. The reason why it is ideal for beginners to keep as pet snakes is the fact that they are generally very docile and rarely aggressive at all. This allows them to be easy snakes to handle. On top of that, Rosy Boas are hardy and resilient snakes as well.

Due to the very nature of the Rosy Boa as one of the calmer and more peaceful snakes in the entire animal kingdom, it becomes easy even for beginners to take care of it.

This is why the Rosy tends to be a favorite among snake enthusiasts regardless of whether they may be experienced reptile owners or beginner snake keepers.

So, let’s get to know more about the Rosy Boa and what makes it ideal for beginners to keep as pet snakes.

Are Rosy Boas good beginner snakes?

Everything you need to know about caring for Rosy Boas in captivity:
Read our Rosy Boa Care Sheet (Complete 101 Guide)

A lot of people will agree that snakes aren’t always the easiest reptiles or animals to take care of. That’s because snakes were never meant to be domesticated pets, to begin with, as they are better off as wild animals. And there are plenty of reasons why snakes don’t always make the best pets even for reptile enthusiasts.

First off, some snakes are actually venomous and can end up gravely injuring or killing you if you are not careful enough with them. Second, there are some snakes that may not be venomous but are so aggressive or defensive that they will immediately attack or bite the moment they have a chance to do so.

And third, there are plenty of snakes that are too large to be kept as pets.

That said, while snakes may be difficult to keep as pets, there are still some snake species that are comparatively a lot easier to take care of as they seem to be naturally just calmer and more receptive to captive care compared to some other snake species.

This is why they are actually kept as snakes as they are just easy to take care of. The Rosy Boa is often one of such species of snakes that are popular among different reptile enthusiasts precisely because they are not difficult for them to keep under captive care.

While the Rosy Boa is indeed a comparatively easier snake to keep under captive care, does that necessarily make it a good snake to keep for beginner snake owners?

After all, what might be easy for an experienced snake owner might not be easy for a beginner.

The good news is that the Rosy Boa is actually an ideal beginner snake. In fact, many reptile enthusiasts and experts will recommend that you get a Rosy Boa for your first pet snake.

That means that beginners should try to keep a Rosy Boa first and earn experience keeping this snake as a pet if they want to move up and become better at knowing how to take care of pet snakes.

In that regard, it is generally accepted among different pet snake owners that the Rosy Boa is indeed an easy snake to take care of. And that remains true regardless of whether you have some experience at keeping snakes or you are simply a beginner in this endeavor.

Why is the Rosy Boa good for beginners?

rosy boa in sand

While we did say that Rosy Boas are good beginner snakes, let us go into the details of what makes these snakes actually good for beginner reptile owners out there.

They are nonvenomous snakes

First off, Rosy Boas are nonvenomous snakes.

That means that, if ever you do end up getting bit (which should be a rarity), you don’t have to worry about getting sick or possibly even dying because Rosy Boas don’t carry any venom.

After all, venom is what usually turns people off from snakes as these reptiles have a reputation for being venomous. Thankfully, the Rosy Boa doesn’t have any drop of venom at all.

They are small

One of the things that you would immediately notice when it comes to the Rosy Boa is that this is a snake that is generally smaller compared to all of the other species of snakes.

Rosy Boas usually stay somewhere between 2 to 4 feet in length but they rarely grow to close to 4 feet. That means that you can keep your Rosy Boa in a tank or enclosure that you know will not take up a lot of space in a house or an environment that isn’t quite big enough for most other snake species.

They are generally docile

While there are some snakes that may be nonvenomous, they can still be dangerous due to their combination of deadly size and aggressiveness. The good news is that Rosy Boas are not only nonvenomous and small but they are also generally docile enough to the point that they will hardly show their aggressive side.

Because of how docile or even submissive Rosy Boas can be, they are easy to handle even for beginner snake owners as long as they are handled the right way. When you know the basics of handling a snake, your Rosy Boa will be calm enough to stay as docile as possible while you are handling it.

It is easy to care for them

Some snakes might be comparatively safe and docile but there are some instances where taking care of them and their needs won’t be easy to do. Meanwhile, the Rosy Boa actually is quite easy to take care of because its needs tend to be basic.

As long as you put your Rosy Boa in an enclosure that has enough size and heat and as long as you are feeding it with a basic diet of domesticated mice, your snake will end up becoming happy and healthy.

They musk instead of bite

Like any other snake species, there will be times when the Rosy Boa won’t feel safe and will try to defend itself. This is quite common when your Rosy Boa is under a lot of stress or is mishandled.

However, what makes the Rosy Boa different from other snake species is the fact that it will not bite when it feels threatened. Instead, it will only coil up and release a musk to try to repel you whenever it wants to protect itself.

They are comparatively affordable

Unlike other snakes, Rosy Boas can be quite affordable because they are native to the American continent. You may be able to find a Rosy Boa that costs as cheap as $25 but the localized versions can easily cost over $200.

But the fact that they are not expensive makes them good beginner snakes because beginners tend to start from the bottom while working their way up.

Tips for beginner Rosy Boa owners

Now that you know why the Rosy Boa is a good beginner snake, here are some good tips that beginner owners should follow when taking care of their Rosy Boa:

  • Don’t handle it right away when it is still adjusting to its environment. Snakes that are still adjusting to a new place are under plenty of stress and may end up feeling threatened when you try to handle them.
  • Rosy Boas thrive on a diet of adult domesticated mice. Feed your Rosy Boa a mouse two to three times a month if you want it to stay happy and healthy.
  • Keep your Rosy Boa in an enclosure that is close to 10 gallons large. This will provide enough space for it to roam around.
  • It is best to keep a large decor such as rocks in Rosy Boa’s enclosure. This snake loves to hide whenever it feels threatened.
  • When handling your Rosy Boa, allow it to have a bit of freedom to move around your hands. Do not grip it tightly to the point that you are restricting its movement. However, do grip it firm enough to make sure that you don’t accidentally drop it.
  • If you want to keep two Rosy Boas together, make sure you house them in a larger tank and that you provide enough resources for both of them. Feed the snake in separate enclosures so that they won’t end up trying to compete for the same resources in one enclosure.

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