What is a Colombian red-tail boa?

A red-tail boa is a large South American boa constrictor with a 30-year life span. Its name comes from the reddish pattern on its tail. Typically, an adult red-tail boa is 8 to 10 feet long and weighs about 50 pounds.

In the wild, red-tail boas are found in a variety of habitats, including cloud forests, dry lowlands and rain forests. They prey on amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds. These snakes are also kept as exotic pets. Although the length of a hatchling is less than 2 feet, a fully grown red-tail boa needs a warm, escape-proof enclosure 8 to 10 feet long. The young snakes eat pre-killed baby mice or rats, and the adults feed on mature rats and rabbits.