Mean factor?

Im looking into getting an albino RTB female as a pet. But, are boas mean? Im guessing NO, it is the owner that makes the boa mean by not taming it? It seems people are always worrying about being bit in videos I see once the boa is larger( id be worrying too!) Id be getting the boa out alot sorta as a show off snake, would that be possible( show off as in my house or to carry around me) I'm VERY new to this, so be blunt if you have to in the answers!

my boa is nicer than my ball python shes a big sweetie

Ok, So lets say it was feeding day, and I get bit. Could it kill me? Again, im 100% new to this:)

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Ok, So lets say it was feeding day, and I get bit. Could it kill me? Again, im 100% new to this:)

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If you're little and it's big, death is a possibility. They can get 8 to 10 feet long and weigh in the 30 to 40 lb range. A snake that size is VERY strong.

However, short of a feeding incident, you should not have any problem with an average boa. I have, over the years, seen a few, out of thousands, that were just mean. By far they are the exception.

Consistent handling from when they are young and not smelling like food should keep you from getting bitten provided you don't starve your snake, thereby making anything that moves a possible food item.

Another good rule of thumb if you're a small person, don't handle it when you're alone. If you don't feel you can out wrassle your snake all by your lonesome, then don't hold it when you're alone.

There is nothing wrong with have a beautiful snake for display that you only take out when someone is there to help you if you need it.

If you grow one up you'll know when it gets stronger than you. I'm not a small guy and I've had some 30 pounders that I was hard pressed to move when they didn't want to be.

As a last resort, if you raise one and then decide you can't keep it, there are plenty of good honest breeders that would happily trade you a baby or three for a good healthy female and maybe one or two for a good male.

I'd go for it were I you. They are fantastic snakes as a rule.

Columbians are known for their mellow personality. That said, there are exceptions as personalities differ from snake to snake. I would buy from a breeder who handles their snakes and I know of two: Sharon Moore and Jimi Reed. Jimi has a ton of good choices and Sharon breeds mostly normals.
Columbians are also more forgiving with husbandry issues than other locales of Bci's. Stay away from all Bcc's as they require more knowledge than a first time boa owner has.
Be prepared to have a large cage in the ready. Mine will move into their 6 ft cages when they are about 2 years- maybe less. Until then, they are in their 2x3 RBI cages. I also have RHP's in each cage.
For a large snake there is a 6 foot safety rule: For each 6' of snake there is one handler. As soon as your snake is over 6', you need to have an assist handler helping. This is for the snake's comfort as much as is for your safety.
The rest is common sense stuff that Wes already mentioned: don't smell like food, get to know your snake by handling often, learn to read your snake's moods.

Boas are amazing animals and I recommend them for anyone looking to buy a large snake. Feel free to PM me for anything else if you want.
Take care.

Well this thread can be closed now...LOL Wes and McKinsey left nothin to be said!

boas are awesome!! usually if you get bit, its your fault for not reading their body language or your hand was somehow in the way when you were feeding the snake. VERY few boas will bite just cause they feel like it. just make sure you have a separate container for when you feed your boa, if you feed it in its cage all the time, it will think every time you open its cage, its gonna be fed, thus it will be alot more likely to strike.

btw....im MUCH more likely to get bit or nipped by one of our beautiful birds or by that cute little furry puppy that we just got....our boas are the calmest critters in this place.

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Originally Posted by iluvboas17

just make sure you have a separate container for when you feed your boa, if you feed it in its cage all the time, it will think every time you open its cage, its gonna be fed, thus it will be alot more likely to strike.

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I feed all my snakes in their cages and have never had a problem when I want to take them out. As long as you don't smell like a rat when you open the cage there should be no problem. I water my snakes every 2 days and have to open the cages and they have never struck at me when I do that. Most of the time they are sleeping anyways.

As far as mean boas, my 8 ft. rescue RTB was mean when I first got her, she would always strike at the cage when anyone got close. I think proper care and treatment calmed her down tremendously. Now I can take her out without worrying about being bitten.

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Originally Posted by MontyNSpike

I feed all my snakes in their cages and have never had a problem when I want to take them out. As long as you don't smell like a rat when you open the cage there should be no problem. ...

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Second.

your right, some boas dont have a problem being fed in their cages, but some do....

Years ago my first, and at that time only, run in with a Boa was not pleasant. It was long (at least 150'), fat (slightly larger than a tractor tire), and MEAN! Ok so maybe I'm exaggerating the size of the beast, but it was mean. That much I remember. It really turned me off on boas for a long, long time.

Many years later I just got my own baby columbian RTB after having the chance to spend some time handling a couple of full grown adults and learning how mellow they really are. Not mellow as in they don't move, but mellow as in they aren't nippy and aren't trying to tag you every 2 second. They're awesome snakes and I would gladly recommend one to anyone who wanted a step up from a "beginner" snake