One highly popular and very common snake to keep as a pet nowadays would be the Hog Island boa constrictor, which can be found in Honduras’ Hog Islands. Such snakes happen to be hypo-melanotic, so their melanin body levels are lower than those of regular snakes and their colors aren’t as vivid as those of other boa constrictors. Their tail colors range from orange to pink, though, and they are able to shift their colors, depending on what time of the day it is. At night, their colors get lighter, with their neck and head turning practically white. Their overall body, in general, keeps its one-of-kind bluish tint.
Hog Island boa constrictors are highly popular with reptile collectors and lovers; however, populations of them in the wilderness have significantly dropped within recent years. Actually, Hog Island boa constrictors have not been spotted at the island for several years now and might be extinct; fortunately, some of them are still being bred in captivity. Even though several of them may still be running free in the wilderness, it would be of the utmost essence to take proper care of domestic ones that exist today. The specimens that hobbyists now keep may be the only remaining boa constrictors from Hog Island and in time, they could get reintroduced if success remains to be seen within their captive breeding.
Professionals also state that it would be vital for the species’ survival to keep the snake’s blood purity as it is. There are various reports of several owners crossing them with red-tailed boa constrictors to take full advantage of their light tail colors and ignoring the importance of maintaining the unique and original snake as it is.
Caring for Hog Island boa constrictors isn’t very different compared to more common boa constrictors out there. They are quite easy to take care of, as long as you know the certain needs of this species. For boa constrictors, they happen to be quite small in size, reaching only up to six feet, which makes them even more popular to keep as pets. They require temperatures near 75-90F and have to reside within environments that are quite humid. They can be kept on diets of defrosted rodents and, as with every other snake, their prey’s overall size should never exceed their own body girth.
Hog Island boa constrictors are great snakes, and although they aren’t common, they also aren’t too hard to find in pet stores. They would be ideal for first-time snake owners or for somebody who feels daunted by the mere thought of owning twelve-foot long snakes or anybody who has limited space at home.
