South America is known for the spectacular Amazon Basin, which includes waterfalls and dense rainforests but is also home to various exotic reptiles. Many colorful and powerful cold-blooded creatures inhabit this lush environment, from iguanas to boas. But if you pick a South American reptile as a pet, how would you know which ones tolerate captivity and make the best companions?
To help you find your next reptile friend, this guide delves into the best five pet reptiles from South America.
1. Andean Milk Snakes Enjoy Handling
The Andean milk snake is an attractive addition to any household with its brilliant display of red, light yellow, and black stripes. This South American snake is found in Colombia along the Andean Mountain, where they prefer living in the woodlands. Adult milk snakes do well in 40-gallon tanks as they can grow to six feet. Add a bulb or heat mat set to 85℉ on the warm end and 70℉ on the cool end. In the wild, these reptiles tolerate elevations of 9,000 feet, which means they can handle lower temperatures than most snake species.
Many confuse milk snakes with coral snakes because of their similar coloring; however, unlike the poisonous coral snake, the Andean snake is not venomous. While young snakes feed on live insects, adults eat small birds, eggs, small mammals, and amphibians. It is best to house milk snakes alone as they’re cannibalistic. Milk snakes are burrowers, so be sure to add a soft substrate with plenty of hiding places. This reptile species is not only beautiful, but they’re quite tolerant of handling, making them ideal as pets.
2. Argentine Boa Constrictors Are Large But Calm
If you are looking for a large and impressive South American snake, the Argentine boa constrictor is the perfect choice. Despite their relaxed nature, these powerful boas grow to a considerable size of 10 feet and are suited to experienced reptile keepers. Keeping an Argentine boa as a pet requires enrichment and maintaining temperatures of 85℉ on the warm side and 75℉ on the cool side. The boa needs a basking area of 90℉ and a large enclosure of 120 in x 48 in x 48 in.
They must be raised as pets from a young age to make them easy to handle. Be sure to include a large water bowl in the enclosure, as these South American boas enjoy a good soaking. To prevent stress, add branches and hiding places as enrichment. These snakes are fairly good feeders and consume live mice, baby rabbits, and rats in captivity.
3. Amazon Tree Boas Will Bite if Threatened
Unlike their large cousins, the Amazon tree boa reaches between four and seven feet in length. They are slender snakes with a striking mottled pattern, and much like their name suggests, they prefer to spend their time in trees. The Amazon boa is an arboreal snake and should have branches to climb in their enclosure. They are quite active during the day and night as they constantly search for prey in the wild. Because of their daytime habits, Amazon tree boas need UVB lighting for reptiles with heating of around 90℉ and a cooler side of 75℉. In addition to light and heat, the tree-climbing snakes require humidity levels of 60% to mimic their natural forest habitat.
The Amazon tree boa is not a very friendly reptile. These snakes are not ideal for beginners because of their unpredictable nature and tendency to bite. Most keepers will use a snake hook to safely handle them to avoid being struck. The exotic boas do well on a rodent-based diet in captivity. They generally consume small mice or pinkies as juveniles, moving on to rats as adults.
4. Argentine Tegus Require Careful Handling
Argentine tegus are intriguing lizards that have become quite popular over the last few years. They’re fairly common as pets but require a spacious enclosure and lots of interaction to remain stimulated and happy. If you are thinking of getting this South American tegu as a pet, you’ll need to give them an ambient temperature of close to 90℉. These lizards like to bask, so add ultraviolet light to their tank to maintain their vitamin D and calcium levels. Their basking temperature should be 10 degrees higher with a cool end of 75℉.
To keep your tegu in excellent condition, feed them a diet of plant matter and insects. While juveniles do well on crickets and roaches, adults eat boiled eggs, rodents, vegetables, and fruits. Tegus enjoy features to climb on and hide in, so add branches, dense plants, and sheltered spots where they can retreat. While the Argentine tegu is not aggressive, always handle them with care and respect. If these large lizards bite, it’s rather painful and best avoided by slowly placing your hand below their tail and chest for support.
5. Brazilian Rainbow Boas Need Consistently Warm Temperatures
Rainbow boas make fairly good pets, but they aren’t recommended if you’re new to reptile keeping. A rainbow boa is a six-foot snake that needs at least 75 gallons to feel comfortable and move around. These snakes rely on high humidity and should have a few hiding places to prevent stress and agitation. They enjoy hiding in sphagnum moss and tube-like structures that are large enough to accommodate their size. The Brazilian rainbow boa is a constrictor, and they capture prey by ambushing them. In the wild, they feed on small birds and lizards, but as pets, they’re fed thawed mice.
Unlike other snakes that need lower nighttime temperatures, the rainbow boa needs a consistent air temperature of 85℉. In addition to air temperature, always provide these boas with a UVB light for basking. When raised as pets from a young age, they’re more tolerant of handling but always look for signs of stress and avoid picking them up after feeding.
