Solomon Island Ground Boa (Candoia poulsoni)

Common Name: Solomon Island Ground Boa
Scientific Name: Candoia poulsoni
Source: WC
Adult Size: 60–90cm (approximately 2–3ft)
Native Range: Solomon Islands, Melanesia

Enclosure: A minimum 90×45×45cm Viperia PVC vivarium, furnished with a deep layer of moisture-retaining substrate (such as coconut fibre or topsoil mix), multiple secure hides at both the warm and cool ends, and cork bark or leaf litter to replicate the dense forest floor environment this species is adapted to
Heating: Warm end ambient temperature of 28–30°C, cool end around 24–26°C, with a night-time drop to 22–24°C; a low-wattage heat mat or thermostat-controlled radiant heat panel works well
Humidity: 70–80%; achieve this by misting one end of the enclosure daily or every other day and using a deep, moisture-retaining substrate — ensuring adequate ventilation prevents stagnant conditions
UVB: A 6% UVB tube run along most of the vivarium's width, positioned so the animal can bask 20–30cm below it if it chooses; while primarily crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk), low-level UVB access is beneficial for long-term health and calcium metabolism
Diet: Frozen/thawed mice or small rats offered every 7–10 days for juveniles and every 10–14 days for adults; prey items should be no wider than the snake's widest body point — as with all boas, feeding with tongs rather than by hand is strongly recommended

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

The Solomon Island Ground Boa is a compact, stocky boid (a member of the boa family) native to the humid tropical forests and forest edges of the Solomon Islands. These snakes are ground-dwellers by nature, spending much of their time hidden beneath leaf litter, logs, and forest debris — giving them an almost prehistoric, earthy appeal that sets them apart from more commonly kept pythons and boas.

Generally considered a calm and manageable species once settled, Candoia poulsoni is best suited to a keeper with some prior snake experience who can appreciate a more secretive, slower-paced animal rather than an outgoing display species. Their modest adult size and relatively straightforward humidity-based care make them a rewarding choice for those looking to keep something genuinely unusual from the Pacific region.