This is coming from someone who is a beginner with boa's, but I have held some aggressive ones. The one I got bit by was a sub adult, but was just dead set on giving a whoppin' whenever taken out of his enclosure! Just hated being held, and never would stop moving...Really put a bad taste in my mouth about boa's, but I eventually got one. I would say yes if your ready to get tagged multiple times each time you take him out to be handled. If your ready for a little pain/blood then go for it!