Bitten

I am interested in seeing if anyone of you have been bitten by a mature boa? I am interested in getting a RTB in april. I was just curious to see and hear any stories if you all had been.


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I posted about two boa bites, a 4footer and my 8footer that bit and wrapped, warning, bloody photos:
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...&postcount=271

I have been. No pictures. One of my adult females blew by the rat on the feeding tongs, grabbed my hand, and wrapped.

After figuring out that I was not the rat she let go but hit the same hand almost immediately when I moved a finger.

A whiff of white vinegar convinced her to turn me loose for good.

The whole incident was my own stupid fault for grabbing the shorter tongs and not the long ones I normally use with my larger snakes.

Good to know. So basically anytime it does happen is due to a feeding response? I'll have to get some white vinegar in a spray bottle

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No need for a spray bottle, just a few drops on a cotton ball or paper towel waved in front of her nose convinced her let to go.

I have had very defensive babies, especially the Tarahumara dwarf localities, but they were very fast nip-and-runs, not bite-and-wraps.

That doesn't mean there aren't defensive adult boas out there, you just need to ask the seller about the snake's temperament before putting down money if you're getting an older critter.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I have been. No pictures. One of my adult females blew by the rat on the feeding tongs, grabbed my hand, and wrapped.

After figuring out that I was not the rat she let go but hit the same hand almost immediately when I moved a finger.

A whiff of white vinegar convinced her to turn me loose for good.

The whole incident was my own stupid fault for grabbing the shorter tongs and not the long ones I normally use with my larger snakes.

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Good advice.

There are many who like to use alcohol, and a retic guy I know swears by the "good stuff" like Jack or dark rum. He was less confident in clear stuff like vodka.

I would imagine based on smell alone the vinegar would be right up there.

O/P,

If you are concerned about bites, consider 94% of folks that will post their story, including my own will mention a feeding mistake, or mention the smell of prey in the air or on their person.

The other 5% will mention a defensive bite whether it be during ovulation or a time of stress for the animal. The latter being VERY predictable with posturing, and hissing. The culprits in the second example are usually younger snakes or females during pregnancy or soon after delivery.

The last 1% would be the wild caught specimen that will never adjust to captivity and will only tolerate cage cleaning and nothing more.

These are not REAL percentages, but you get my drift?

Adult boa constrictors are one of the most docile adult snakes you could own as a pet IMO.

In relation to pythons, they have less teeth and they are not as long.

Don't be too concerned.

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Originally Posted by Gio

There are many who like to use alcohol, and a retic guy I know swears by the "good stuff" like Jack or dark rum. He was less confident in clear stuff like vodka.

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Well, personally I do prefer the "good stuff", but strictly for post-bite recovery. ;)

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Well, personally I do prefer the "good stuff", but strictly for post-bite recovery. ;)

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Agreed!

The most recent bite I got was from my boa in like...November? December? I don't remember. He's a big guy, only a few inches short of 6.5' and just over 9 lbs now. I was stretching him out along the wall in a desperate attempt to explain his increased volume consumption, just to get the exact same length as I've gotten in the past year (6'3" - I swear I'll document his length growth one day). *snaps finger*

Well anyway, he was grabbing the edge of the door, and I didn't want to rip/bend his scales so I picked him up by the back end first and pushed forward and up gently to free him from the door jamb without injuring him. I went back to tell my mom he'd thwarted me yet again, and I guess he decided I was manhandling him because all of a sudden he flops his face onto my arm and I hear a loud sound like velcro being ripped viciously apart. Didn't even know he was gonna bite because he was coming up towards my arm like he was just gonna crawl up my arm.

Despite the scary sound, he barely did any damage. It bled profusely because of the anticoagulant, as per the usual, but once the blood flow stopped you could barely even see the teeth marks. He also left me a light yellow bruise that looked like it was already 3 weeks old.

My 3.5' ball python gave me a much worse bite. lol

I would be in total shock and disbelief if either two of my Boas bit me.

If or when it happens it will be because I messed up!



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Same, I would be floored if either of my boas tried to bite me. My 6' gal is a giant puppy and I can do anything to her. I've grabbed her tail when she tried to grab stuff, I have to wipe her face when she finds cobwebs somewhere on her roamings, I've had to 'wash" her face with a wet paper towel when she decided poop was fun to play in and all she does is lay down and take it haha. She did headbutt me when I first got her as a baby and came in head first at her but since then I always can go head first at her and she just looks at me.

My little sunglow gal actually seems scared if I leave her alone out of her cage. She always wants to hold my finger or hands with her tail and she doesn't wander far from me, usually likes to sit on my chair back trying to get on my head. the only aggressive thing she has ever done was hiss at me once when I got her and she was in shed, since then she doesn't care what I do.

I've actually fallen asleep on the bed with them there and woken up an hour or so later and my big BCI gal was curled up on top of the headboard and my sunglow was on the edge of the bed staring at the floor lol. Good thing it was just a nap and I didn't roll over on her lol.

Now when they smell a rat, all bets are off as they become terrors.

So like most have said, most bites come from feeding mistakes. I mean each animal has its own personality so some will be mean by nature but in general BCIs are the puppy dogs of snakes.

Never had a boa bite me but i had the unfortunate experence of a 16' burmese grabbing my hand wile I was stupidly feeding her
the only good thing that came of it was I no longer fear any snake bite
I never used tongs just tossed her food into her room now that i have learned I will always use tongs, very very long tongs

My 5 footer bites me every chance he gets, but my other similarly sized girl would never. The act is relatively frightening but little pain. Leaves a badass looking mark too!

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Originally Posted by Eazyyyb

My 5 footer bites me every chance he gets, but my other similarly sized girl would never. The act is relatively frightening but little pain. Leaves a badass looking mark too!

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Sorry he's not taming down for you. :(

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Originally Posted by StillBP

Never had a boa bite me but i had the unfortunate experence of a 16' burmese grabbing my hand wile I was stupidly feeding her
the only good thing that came of it was I no longer fear any snake bite
I never used tongs just tossed her food into her room now that i have learned I will always use tongs, very very long tongs

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Lol yeah I could imagine being grabbed by a 16' burm would render pretty much a bite from any other snake not frightening :rofl:

Acrylic doors and tongs are your friend against those over zealous eaters.