When it comes time to get them to feed, newborn boas generally present their keepers with few problems. Youngsters usually shed at 7-10 days of age. We typically wait 2-3 weeks before we feed them, allowing them to utilize the yolk in their bodies. We then offer them live fuzzy mice for their first few meals, simply placing the prey in the cages and letting the babies follow their instincts. He is currently at VPI, where he is the center of attention in a breeding project.
Most common boas are very docile and reluctant to bite.
Occasional babies can be snappy, but they are small and the bites are harmless. But when calmly and consistently handled, the youngsters grow to very docile and trusting adults. Boas undergo an ontogenetic color change as they mature. Newborns typically are grayish- brown. With age the snakes begin to develop more yellow and brown pigment.