Boa Too Big???

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Originally Posted by shadowhaven

You'll be fine handling her, just support her on your shoulders and both you arms. I have a friend that owns a massive boa and shes only 5'2 and is able to support the boa and handle pretty easily.

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I hope you're not just saying that to make me feel better! :D Ive learned first-hand boa handling basics, so I'm hoping with some experience and caution she'll be okay. This has certainly helped! Thank-you for replying.

I find when having people handle snakes it's the individual's comfort ability that determines if they can handle it or not. The size/ type of snake doesn't really matter until you get into the ones so big am individual shouldn't handle them by themselves. If you think you are gonna be uncomfortable handling it then most likely you will be. If you think you will be ok or could become ok with it them you will be.

Even if the snake is larger then the average boa like you say, if you can handle holding 20 lbs ish you will be fine. If that is too much weight for you then you shouldn't get it. You say it's fat like a blood. Average blood adults are around that. A little less even. Even the really large ones usually don't get above 40lbs(but it has happened). Snakes can look a lot heavier them they actually are. If you don't think you can handle a weight like that. Get something else. If you are able to handle something that size you'll be fine. I have seen kids around the age of 10 handle and extremely large red tail. They couldn't do it for a long time but they still did it.

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Originally Posted by Abby_Dog

Hello!

I'm looking to buy my first (Colombian) boa! The one I'm eyeballing is over 8-years of age and about 6'-7', but she is THICK. I mean built like a Blood Python. I can/have handled 7' male boas with ease. However, being as small as I am (5'4") I'm wondering if there will be a good chance that I can unintentionally injure a girl this big? I'm not concerned about her impact on me, rather if (due to my small size) there is no way I can properly support her? She also lives in a different province and I am unable to actually handle her without buying her first.

Thoughts???

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People are asking for photos because of your description of the boa. "Built like a blood python" is something a boa should NOT be. Age should not matter. A true, well cared for boa will live a very long time and if proper care is taken regarding diet and exercise a boa, be it male or female will present a very strong, lean and muscular appearance. If the said snake is not "loaf shaped" and has become rounded and overly thick, you are looking at a potential problem. Unless gravid, no BC should have a blood python appearance.

While you may be attracted to a certain look/morph, don't forgo the overall health of the animal. 8 years of age is not an old boa, and again, fat, rounded boas are not the ideal.

A healthy, lean muscular boa will have enough strength to wrap you and support itself during handling. You can have always have a chair or stool next to you so the animal can climb off of you and support it's body on you and another object.

If this snake is not able to move about with ease, or support it's weight, you may want to pass.

Nobody can really tell you what may or may not happen without a photo. If you have doubts, listen to them and look elsewhere. You will want a healthy, long lived snake, and something that already has you guessing/wondering might be something to avoid.

Like Gio said, a boa should have a boxy shape. If it's round, it's being fed too much.

This is my 12 year old normal girl.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/27/uja4aga6.jpg

I'm not small by any means, but my girl is pretty hand able. My almost 80 year old grandma can handle her with no issue.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/27/e2ubanaq.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by vangarret2000

What morph is the Colombian boa?

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vangarret, the Colombian boa is not a morph. That is the general accepted locality for the common Boa constrictor imperator. There are a few pure localities of Colombians and most morphs that do occur in boas are considered Colombians because of the amount of mixed blood involved in creating these morphs. But Colombian in and of itself is not specifically a morph.

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Originally Posted by Abby_Dog

I don't feel comfortable posting the photo. That said, this boa is the thickest I've seen for barely exceeding 6', and really is not the norm when it comes to Colombians. I'm sure BP.net has a thread relating before/after pics or collection albums in the Red Tail Boa category. You should do your search there. :gj:

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I'm sorry, but why would you join a forum, ask advice, then say you're not comfortable posting photos?? We ALL post pictures of our snakes and prospective purchases. ESPECIALLY when we ask a question. Pictures help determine what exactly is going on.

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Originally Posted by Abby_Dog

Again, I'm concerned that if you did a little digging (with this kind of information) people would know who I was buying from and roughly where the snake was going. So I'd rather not disclose that.

Can I get some advice, please? From someone with experience...

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Again, I'm confused as to why you have concerns here. If there is nothing wrong with the snake, then showing a picture or disclosing who the seller is, should not be an issue. If there IS something wrong with the snake, then, as we all do to help and support each other in the herp community, we should be aware of who the seller is anyway. I'm not trying to sound harsh or pushy, but if you want real, sound advice, you'll have to help us help you and be at least a little more forthcoming with information. And you are getting advice from folks with experience. A lot of it. Gio's advice below is excellent.

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Originally Posted by Gio

People are asking for photos because of your description of the boa. "Built like a blood python" is something a boa should NOT be. Age should not matter. A true, well cared for boa will live a very long time and if proper care is taken regarding diet and exercise a boa, be it male or female will present a very strong, lean and muscular appearance. If the said snake is not "loaf shaped" and has become rounded and overly thick, you are looking at a potential problem. Unless gravid, no BC should have a blood python appearance.

While you may be attracted to a certain look/morph, don't forgo the overall health of the animal.8 years of age is not an old boa, and again, fat, rounded boas are not the ideal.

A healthy, lean muscular boa will have enough strength to wrap you and support itself during handling. You can have always have a chair or stool next to you so the animal can climb off of you and support it's body on you and another object.

If this snake is not able to move about with ease, or support it's weight, you may want to pass.

Nobody can really tell you what may or may not happen without a photo. If you have doubts, listen to them and look elsewhere. You will want a healthy, long lived snake, and something that already has you guessing/wondering might be something to avoid.

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

Like Gio said, a boa should have a boxy shape. If it's round, it's being fed too much.

This is my 12 year old normal girl.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/27/uja4aga6.jpg

I'm not small by any means, but my girl is pretty hand able. My almost 80 year old grandma can handle her with no issue.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/27/e2ubanaq.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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That's a nice looking boa.

Looking ahead, that boa (pictured) could easily live another 12-15 or more years because of the good care it's under. If the 8 year old boa you are looking at doesn't look as good as this one does, I'd pass.

You may also want to consider shipping and older, heavier snake will cost more than a younger snake.

I my personal opinion, there is nothing more stunning than a healthy, muscular, lean boa constrictor.

Any boa that resembles a blood python, is FAT and should be avoided.

All the fancy, morph colors in the world will not overshadow a healthy specimen.

So what ended up happening here? I always feel like people come here out of the blue and ask questions and then if the answers aren't what they want to hear the disappearing act follows.

I'm not saying that is the case here, but what was the decision? Is it possible to see some photos now? Even if the boa is over weight and out of shape there are still options to let the snake metabolize some of the built up fat cells and lean out with exercise.

I'm just curious is all.