Do Red-Tail Boa's stay sweet and gentle as they do when they or 3 months old?

I think the one that i have is probably 2 months old. He's a sweetheart, loves to be handled, always curious when outside the cage, never wants to go back in. Much more mellower than how my BP was when i got it young.

I always see at zoos kids holding large RTB's and what not, seems to be the snake that even though large, still safe enough for the people/kids to handle.

I do realize all snakes do have different personalities, would alot of you say that plenty of handling is a big part in keeping the snake calm, and laid back?

I think perhaps it's more about the habits of handling than the amount of time. Snakes may not do higher math but they seem to recognize, in a simple way, routines. When those routines present them with no danger, no reason to feel defensive, and are repeated over and over, then it becomes a part of their existance and nothing much to fuss about. When we first got into snakes we were advised to create routines that worked for the snakes and for our family when it came to safety with the bigger snake, feeding routines, handling, cage maintainence, whatever. We still follow that good advise and it's never steered us wrong yet.

Would you mind if i asked what some of that advice was?

Just curious, i'm new to the RTB.

Anything other than the obvious you were told about?

Some of the advice was (in no particularily order of importance)...

- to create a feeding routine, to stick to the same night, same time or thereabouts, the same manner of feeding i.e. how the live prey is introduced, etc. so that the snake's became used to this means it's time to eat

- learn different methods for W/C snakes - they need it, they deserve it and they are a major challenge

- if your going to rescue or rehab - either do it right or don't do it - taking on a snake with issues isn't helping the snake if you can't deal with those issues better than it's previous owners

- make it part of every single routine to double check enclosure security - before we leave the snake room we visually scan and verbally count closed tubs to make sure we don't leave anyone's clips off - it's a little thing but one lost snake makes you never forget that one again

- to have distinctly different habits when it came to cage cleaning, handling, etc., for instance when it comes to cage cleaning we simply go in and clean, don't touch or bother the snakes, just tidy up and out of the enclosure, for handling, we lift the hide if they are in there, gently stroke their lower body then lift them out, feeding day, there's no contact other than a quick clean enclosure check....they know when the tubs start opening that night...it's time to eat and they are all pretty much primed for it

- handling routines so the snake feels safe (room is quiet, other pets are not there, no bouncing noisy kids racing around), with the big snake she didn't come out unless my husband was home as she was over 6 feet and I'm only barely over 5 feet, no snakes around a child's neck ever even a small snake - we want to encourage our kids to be safe with snakes so it's an across the board policy that they have to live with until they are adults - also it encourages them to sit down and be still with the snakes - so the snakes are safer

- no feeding ever from the hand

- respect the snake, learn it's cues and don't be careless and forget it's an instinctive creature that will do things you don't understand - don't blame the snake for being a snake - don't treat it like a puppy or any other pet you've ever had because it's just not

- get to know the snake - it's not just "a snake" - it's that partcular snake and needs to be dealt with in ways that make sense for that snake and it's best interests so it can live healthy in your care

- with our kids (ages 19 down to 6) it's basically if you can't respect the snake, you don't touch the snake - snakes aren't a status symbol to show off to your buds when the snake's just ate yesterday - the kids all had to learn that the snake's needs come before their wants

- understand your feeding method choice so you can do it right and safely - take the time to learn about rodents and their life cycles so you can pick the right prey size and know what a healthy top quality prey looks like - respect the living prey - it's the only thing your snake eats and deserve their due for keeping our snakes in top condition

Just some of the wonderful wisdome shared by members of BPNet with our family. Best advice though....keep learning....never close your mind to learning something about your snake or how to care for it or why nature designed it a certain way. That's the best advice I ever got or can ever pass on....the passion for these wonderous creatures. :)

I can go and pick up any 5 of my boas any time I want. Maybe its just that I've always had very mellow snakes, but I've only been struck at once. I need to handle a nippy snake. Maybe its something I have with reptiles but I never get struck at.

My boa (bci, subadult male) does get a little flighty when I am about to open his cage. I gently tap him on the nose with an mpty water bottle, and it takes him out of feeding mode. I then scoop him out. But as with any snake, yo have to respect their head area; grabbing right for their face is a sure way to say (please bite me, snakey.) :)
Some snakes are pretty aggro before you take them out, but cool off once out of the cage. For them, i would recommend using a thick towel; place over the snake, and remove, again staying away from a head-on, threatening gesture. A snake that S-shapes at you needs a light (I am not talking smack) tap on the nose with a bottle.

:) Thanks you guys for all the replys keep them coming i need all the advise i can get on redtails boa's and i love all the pictures that all have posted the best one is the one on the couch that is the cutes one i hope my stays sweet just like he is and he is growing everyday and he is more comer than than the 2 bp that have one is a normal female which is always nosie all the time but my albnio male is more laid back and the both are a year old so to me it seem that the males make better pets in the bps and red tails boas but hey that is just me i think it is how you handle them and raise them and spend time with them. thanks again for all the post and the votes keeping them coming.

Thanks Angela

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Originally Posted by Phanpy

I guess small snakes are like little dogs. Yippy and mean. Same how big boas are mellow like great danes. :D

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I would say it's more like the younger snakes are scared babies. OMG what's that huge thing....ahhh it's going to eat me....die! *bite*

As they age they get more used to you and the typical habits.

I think the easiest thing with any snake, boa or not, is to establish those simple routines that will help the snake identify feedings versus handling times, cage maintenance, etc. Snakes have simple brains but they seem to come to understand routines that are simple, straightforward and non-threatening to them.

The one I look after part time, George, seems to have always been quite calm and never really agressive. Then again, he never used to strike and now, very occasionally, he will when I go to open his enclosure. Normally he's as sweet as pie though and he'll just chill on my lap while I'm handling him, sometimes exploring the immediate area a bit. Plus, he never strikes once he's been removed from his vivarium. He's just a very, very, very enthusiastic feeder and I guess that carries over to other days sometimes.