Care level: Intermediate
Temperament: Can be skittish and bitey as babies but usually are docile as adults once used to handling
Behavior: crepuscular, terrestrial/semi-arboreal, solitary
Minimum enclosure size: Males – 40B (36×18×18” (1×0.5×0.5m)); females – 4×2×2’ (1.2×0.6×0.6m)
Basking spot temp (surface): 90°F (32°C)
Cold side temp: 70-75°F (20-25°C)
Nighttime/minimum temp: 60°F (16°C)
UVB: UVI 1-3/Ferguson zone 2 (e.g. Arcadia Shadedweller 7% at 12-15” (30-40cm) away with no mesh or Arcadia T5HO 6% at 11-21”(28-54cm) away with typical mesh)
Humidity: B. fuliginosus – 60-80+%; B. capensis – 40-60%
Diet: Carnivorous; generally prefer lizards such as geckos but in captivity will eat mainly mammals with occasional small avians, amphibians and reptiles
Adult size: Males – 2-2.5’ (60-76cm); females 3-4’ (1-1.2m)
Wild Distribution: B. capensis – variety of arid/semi-arid habitats (savannas, forests, shrublands, grasslands, etc.) and urbans areas across most of southern, central and east Africa; B. fuliginosus – tropical/temperate habitats (grasslands, wetlands, etc.) and urban areas throughout central/west Africa
(guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)
Other resources: