Jeff Shemesh - VPI T+ Sunglow Motley Jungle het Anery

[dakski]

​One question, can one person handle a Boa?

A few things, and PM if you want to discuss more. I don't want to lose sight of it being Jeff's thread.

http://www.anapsid.org/boa.html

I don't agree with much of this. Also, True Red Tail Boas get larger, in most cases, then Boa Imperator (BI) which most morph and most dwarf species are part of. The article says they will be 5-6 feet after a year! WOW. What are they feeding and how much! Boas should be slow grown for their benefit, not ours. Behira, a female BI, is about 1,700G and 5FT at 3 1/2 years old. She's a female as well and they often get significantly larger than male boas.

It should take a female boa 5-6 years to reach adult size/maturity. They will grow their entire lives, but that gives you 5-6 years to get used to their size, temperament, feeding response, etc. So, yes, if Behira is 6.5FT and 9-12 pounds at 6 years old, she might be 7.5-8FT and 15-20 pounds at 10-12 years old. That may sound like a lot, but it's not really, IMO.

I've held 7-8FT female BI's and when handled from a young age and being that most boas are chill, it's not a huge deal.

If you are nervous about size, but want a Boa for personality and beauty, you can get a dwarf species. Females usually rarely get more than 6FT and males 4-5FT, if that. Some locales that's full size for a female (about 5FT).

Or you can get a male BI - more morphs to choose and I love BI temperament. How you feed is the major factor in how big a boa gets (within reason - you can't have a 3 FT BI that's not locale).

I've also found Boas to be very hardy, when cared for correctly.

A 10FT Boa that's overfed or a True Red Tail and weights 40-50 pounds. Yes, two people, to handle, IMO.

8FT and 15-20 pounds or less, I don't think you need two people, but that's your comfort level really. I would definitely tap/hook train any boa given their strong food response.

My rule of thumb is anything over 8FT you should have two people to handle and be present for feeding, etc.

I also do not let any snake over 3FT or so, especially a constrictor, completely wrap around my neck. I will let a larger Boa hang from my neck, but keep a close eye and hand on the tail and head and do not let the animal wrap my neck.

A locale boa isn't much more to handle than an adult BP, except that they are a little stronger (pound for pounds) and more active, and will wrap around your arm, hand, etc. more.

I am 5'4" on a good day and I feel comfortable handling and adult BI - but I am alert and aware. I am not sitting watching TV with an animal that size just hanging around and doing what it wants.

Again, PM me with any more questions; I will be happy to answer. I adore my boas.

I would encourage you to go to a Reptile Show, a Reptile Store, and/or talk to people that run Reptile Events/Education Events in your area and see if you can view a large BCC (True Red Tail) or BI. Then realize you can get them smaller if you want.