Emerald Tree Boas Williston ND

Emerald Neonates do not require a large, roomy, habitat unlike many of the larger species of boas. Our Neonates are kept in a 2.5 gal terrarium or even a plastic quart container with screen on top secured by a rubber band. Either small cage is ideal for a high humidity species in that it will hold water, is lightweight and has just the right amount of ventilation. Two separate pieces of pvc pipe are in place to provide perches for the neonates.

For Live plants, we use a common houseplant called the porthos with our habitats. These plants will grow free standing in the 1-3 inches of water you will fill the bottom of the habitat with. Live plants are important in that they help keep the air fresh and with the high humidity inside, this is very important. Plants also provide cover which helps reduce stress in any young animal. A young animal naturally looks for cover since everything is looking to eat it (so it thinks).

This is where most beginners fail and some beginners succeed to become an experienced Herper. The neonates have a specialized and slow digestive system. I offer a single, small to medium sized, mouse fuzzy, rat pup, or popcorn mouse every 10 days. Every litter is comprised of easy, difficult or stubborn feeders. Each animal eats on its own schedule . These reasons are why a neonate Emerald is not for a beginner.

These animals DO NOT eat like a ground boa or python. The adults are fat and sexually active on an appropriate size meal every 2-4 weeks. Neonates also don't eat much since they have a low activity level (they sit in one spot for the most part unless they are hungry and looking for food) which results in the neonates eating about once every 2-3 weeks. I offer food twice a week. Once using example A then a few days later using example B but example E has been working the best currently. Every neonate is different which is what drives a beginner crazy and an experienced keeper to consider why he produces a litter every year to go through this. I have had neonates eat one food item a week from the first week to an animal that that took 3 months to eat its first meal. Sometimes a good size meal will tide over a neonate for a month or you might have a neonate that eats two fuzzes every 20 days like clockwork. One thing is for sure, just as every litter is unpredictable with what colors and sizes are produced you can count on every neonate having a different attitude and eating habits that WILL change as the animal grows.

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