The Brazilian rainbow boa, Epicrates cenchria cenchria, is considered one of the great beauties of the snake world. When light hits their iridescent skin, it appears to have all the colors of the rainbow. In the wild, these Central and South American native snakes inhabit humid forests, surviving on smaller prey sharing that habitat.
Food in the Wild
Like other members of the boa family, this snake squeezes his prey to death. Wild rainbow boas eat rodents, lizards and birds. If they live near water, they will catch and consume amphibians and possibly fish.
Food in Captivity
Rainbow boas kept in zoos consume a diet of chicks and rodents. If you keep this snake as a pet, feed him one rat or mouse per week. ReptileChannel.com recommends selecting a rodent whose girth matches the widest point of the snake. While you can offer live prey, thawed or fresh-killed rodents are probably safer for you, as they can't bite.
References
Writer Bio
Jane Meggitt has been a writer for more than 20 years. In addition to reporting for a major newspaper chain, she has been published in "Horse News," "Suburban Classic," "Hoof Beats," "Equine Journal" and other publications. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from New York University and an Associate of Arts from the American Academy of Dramatics Arts, New York City.
