Boa Attack

The two females I purchased this summer have been awesome with handling. Nothing but calm and very exploratory. It depends on the animal really. A suggestion though and not to pick on hockeymom, the only way to keep your animals "tame" is to continue interaction with them. If they start acting differently lowering their human interaction isn't necessarily a good thing to do. I'm not saying you shouldn't look out for your own safety...by all means safety first. As long as the animal isn't acting differently due to illness or other ailments try to maintain that interaction even if it means you take extra precautions on yourself. I have an adult male BP that I am always cautious with...he's pretty good now after several years with me but he just needs to be handled a certain way and at certain times. I have another yearling female I am working also that is very defensive. I try and get her out regularly...even if I have to use a hook, just so she at least is out of her tub and can see us and that we are not going to hurt her...it takes time and hard work with some...but its always going to be worth it.

My bci is in his second year. he had been handled almost too-much by the people who owned him as a neonate, and so by the time I got him a few months ago, he was pretty much used to people and not nippy.
I know that like others have said, hatchling boas are pretty nippy. They think that everything that approaches them is out to eat them, as it would be in the wild. I think that they have to see you as part of the scenery, not as a threat. This can be "taught" to them by avoiding any sudden or fast jerking motions while handling.
You might want to look into getting a baby who's over a year old like I did. Mine was already used to being handled, and he never strikes at anything now except food.

Bump

HI,
most of my new boa's are a little nippy, WHat I have noticed if you pause and give them a moment they will chill out some.
Most animals are terrified your plannig a snake snack..
I have sen aggresion at times and will pick themup by throwin a small hand towel over the snake they usally are aok once out of the cage.

Doug

http://www.redtailboas.com/albums/al..._june_2004.jpg

this was a different day but even this grumpy hog will mellow if allowed some chil time .

http://www.redtailboas.com/albums/al...ose_030504.jpg

most boa's are not mean they just are defensive as babies.

My wife was holding our Bci one day. She was holding him close to her face to get a good look. The boa tagged her nose. Guess she was too close for comfort. lol

They do calm down quite a bit. I would still try to look for a mellow one when buying though.

cool rtb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and nice pic!!!!!!!

Wow Doug that's a NICE boa you have there. I like the fiesty ones; they're more of a challenge!