Largest snake that you can safely handle alone

[Muddyredneck]

I have to disagree with these, I mean the extra person is there in a "just in case" situation. snakes attitude shouldn't be a factor, because they are still not domesticated animals and one trigger can set them off. If you have a aggressive snake it easy to see what can be done, Its the tame ones you gotta think about the "what if"

I used to know a guy who has a 15 foot+ burm that i think weighs more than I do. The thing is puppy dog tame. I'm was confortable as can be handling it (besides my body acheing after) but wouldn't you call me stupid doing it alone? even if I was 7 foot and 300 pounds of pure muscle?

OP asking for a safely handling alone, I'm sure plenty of people handle their big snakes alone, and in worse case senerio they'd be a goner. But they feel confortable with their snakes, their snakes are confortable with them and nothing happens ever. Personally I'd probally do that same thing if I had a big snake I was confortable with, but would I call it safe? would i suggest others to do it?...no

im sorry i probly should have specified my rules work best for me, i would never tell a newer herp keeper to follow em they are more a guideline then a rule book, and i also should have probly stated that i am always aware of where my snake is and what its doing i dont walk around the house with a 7.5 ft retic coiled around my throat

I see a lot of people calling their giants, puppy dog tame, and I feel I must remind people. These animals are never tame. Calm, sure. Tame, no. At any moment, they can decide you are a threat and strike. It doesn't happen often, but it can happen and it will probably happen when are the most relaxed and comfortable with your snake.

I have had thoughts of getting a larger snake, but I would have strict rules in place about handling and care. My personal rules are to never handle a snake that is over 7ft (that is of a species that grows large girth-wise in addition to its length, not like a slender colubrid) alone. If I am handling a snake that large, another person has to be in the same room. If a snake wraps hard around your neck, I don't think it would be very easy to shout for help. So, the 2nd person must be in the room from the time the cage is opened, to the time it is closed again.

I just don't trust an animal that has the potential to kill me. There is no "Oh I've raised him from a baby." "I know how to read my snake.". At least not with me. It just takes one slip up, one moment of not paying attention to what your snake is doing, and you can end up seriously injured or worse, dead. The last thing this hobby needs is more people being injured because they handled a snake too large for them, alone.

My $0.02

im sorry ima have to disagree with alot of what you said, simply because i dont see it the same way.. a lab has the potential to kill you or a small child.. if it pulls its tail wrong or sticks a finger where its not suppose to .. yet we all love and cherish and tell people how well behaved our dogs are

and im glad u found a rule that works for you and makes you feel comfortable with handling your snakes we all need to find em wether other people agree or not its what works best for you in the end

almost every reputable breeder i have talked to also from experience with both species and specimen refers to a level of trust because they know the animal which is aquired over a time period not over night.

and to be honest im so sick of hearing about people hurting the hobby... what hurts the hobby is the attitude alot of people in the hobby have tword new comers if they want anything bigger then a corn snake or bp to start off with.. ill admit i get annoyed with constant posts but there from diffrent people who im educating so i answer kindly and respectfully.. alot of people do not and that is what hurts us the most scaring new people away.. you didnt just jump into a forum u trolled it for awhile read posts and gained a general idea of the people.. i have two forums i frequent which shall remain nameless.. but one is all for giant snakes for example and the other hangs anyone who even askes questions with comments such as (your sig show me your not ready) and (these are a huge responsabilty make sure you can afford it). thats what kills a hobby.. when it cant grow and attract new hobbiest then it will eventually die because like it or not there are only so many people who will fight for the right to keep the species we all love so much