How does one handle boas when they get big?

I want to get a boa but I'm a little intemidated by their size when they grow up. I'm 49 yrs old and I read that they can live up to 40 yrs. That would make me 89 trying to handle an 8 - 10 foot snake. lol I'm only in the research phase but would really like to hear what you all think about boas as pets. Is it practicle for me to even consider getting one? Right now I have a corn snake and a bp neither of which will get too big to handle.

You could go for the insular boas. Hog Island boas don't get all that big.

I would like to hear peoples opinions on this subject as well. I want to get a Burm or an Anaconda one day but the thought of handleing a 10+ monster is overwelming and a scary thought. I collect all Colubrids but i want to have atleast 1 big snake sometime in the future.

are you set on Boas?


Ball pythons only get about half the size mentioned.

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Originally Posted by enchantress62

I want to get a boa but I'm a little intemidated by their size when they grow up. I'm 49 yrs old and I read that they can live up to 40 yrs. That would make me 89 trying to handle an 8 - 10 foot snake. lol I'm only in the research phase but would really like to hear what you all think about boas as pets. Is it practicle for me to even consider getting one? Right now I have a corn snake and a bp neither of which will get too big to handle.

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you could always get a columbian rainbow boa because not only are they gorgeous they also only get to between 3.5-6 ft.

If you are set on boas are you talking about any boa? I have a pair of Rainbow boas my male is about 6 feet long but not to thick where you have trouble handling him. If you are not planning on breeding any boas as well I would say get a male since they "usually" stay smaller than females. I say "usually" since you always have those exceptions.

If you really want a long snake up to 8-10ft and not as massive in weight as a boa I would look at the olive python just my opinion they are a snake on my list for that reason.

If you are set on a columbian BCI, I would recommend a male. They don't get as large as the females and tend to stay 5-7 ft.

Otherwise, a hog island bci or a rainbow boa are excellent choices. So are dumeril boas - they make wonderful pets!

If you really want a giant boa, you will have to be responsible and plan for the future. There are options other than an overburdened rescue. Perhaps you have a child or nephew/ niece that you can "train" to one day take your snake once you reach an age that keeping larger snakes is not practical. Just a thought...

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Originally Posted by Dragon Rider

are you set on Boas?


Ball pythons only get about half the size mentioned.

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Or you could buy a boa that gets about the same size as a ball python.

boas are great, but i have a feeling that when theyre that big, they might be handling you lol, mines just a baby (columbian BCI), but she already has her own agenda when it comes to being handled, its quite hard to get her to do things she doesnt want to do, dont get me wrong, shes wonderful and and a sweetheart and i wouldnt give her up for the world. also, and this is just what ive heard, but i hear alot more people say that they live for 15-20 years than say 40. anyway, like evenstar said, male bci's stay relatively small, and hog islands are even a bit smaller. another species in that size range if your interested is the carpet python, i believe some localities stay at about 6feet, so you might want to look in to those too