Boa Handling

[Midnightrdr456]

Ok, Ive had one boa my life, a 5 1/2' one my cousin didnt want anymore that was REALLY mean. But he kept it in his tank all the time and im sure his friends messed with it when it was young.

Im thinking of getting my own baby one, if you handle it as a baby on a regular basis will they be tame enough to handle when they are bigger. I always see people that keep them out and around them when they are big, like in their car with them, out in the tv room and such. Are these rare cases or with regular handlin can boas general become tame (or tame for a snake that is, obvious all are individual and all are wild animals not like a dog).

 

[bugs4life]

My brother has a boa, has raised it since it was a baby. He can handle it just fine as an adult, because he treated it very well and carefully handled it on a regular basis throughout its life. I think he's about 5' right now...I haven't seen him in months. Anyway, yeah, I think if you treat it right and handle it as a youngster, it will be fine to handle as an adult.

 

[Midnightrdr456]

How long has he had it for it to be 5' now (like i said I had one that I got at 5 1/2' already) so im curious how long it will take to grow from a baby to that large.

 

[Beardo]

Yes, if handled regularly, most Boas (assuming you're talking about Boa constrictor imperator) will become very tractable.

 

[Ms. Peaches]

Also though, if you skip a week or so even a few with out handling they should be fine. Since you don't want to handle a day or two after feeding and while they are in the shed cycle much then this works out good. With some other snakes I have seen missing handling for a while it seems like you have to go right back and condition them all over again. Columbians are really mild mannered snakes for the most part. That doesn't mean there are not those out there that will want to tag you every chance they get and hiss every time they see you. I have had my fair share of those but considering how many snakes I have now and have had through out the years that number is very low.

 

[ErikH]

I still wouldn't recommend taking one for drives in a car though. Snakes tolerate being handled, but they don't enjoy it, like a dog or a cat. Watching t.v. is o.k., but don't give it an opportunity to crawl into any tight spaces, like down inside your sofa, or you might have a very difficult time getting it back out.

 

[Ms. Peaches]

Very true, I am mostly speaking just on temperment only. Proper handling techniques and safety guildlines is a whole seperate speach. I guess I should have covered thanks for catching that one.

 

[Midnightrdr456]

Oh i was just saying that as examples of how tame I have seen them. I would never do that, ive heard of a few cases of them finding their way under car seats and even into engines. This will only be around my house and always under observation.

 

[Mrs Hall]

Every boa I have ever been around has been wonderful to deal with, easy to handle, calm.. blah blah blah.. figures that when I finally get one shes the nastiest thing since the black plague. I try to handle her as often as my current state of health allows ( shaking ) and slowly I think shes getting better, so I will have to agree that how much you interact with them will greatly effect the way they are.

 

[liveprey]

I've got 2 Suri's (B.c.c.) that are handlable. My male is very doscile but my female is a little more aggresive and larger(6ft+ range). She was very hissy and struck alot when younger. She doesn't hiss anymore but I still respect the strike. I try to hook them before handling, that way they know it's me and not a food source. I haven't been bitten by these 2 snakes but have by another 7 ft (B.c.i.) that I had years ago. 30 puncture wounds to the hand and some blood, go figure, I was feeding at the time. It all depends on you knowing your snake. male left, female right both around 6 ft

 

[Sm0k3d]

I own a colombian BCI that's just at the 5' mark. I believe he's 1 1/2 old. I've handled him when he was a baby and still do. I feed him outside his cage and when he's in his cage he's a little mean, doesnt hiss or strike but doesnt enjoy comming out. When I get him out he turns into a whole different snake, very calm and usually wraps around my arm or shoulder and stays warm. I've sat down and watched tv with him and he will lay on my chest and not move.