Is it safe to handle a 8 foot boa alone?

[Bogertophis]

Thanks for the info guys, if I want a 7 or 8 foot boa, should I go for a male or female?

If you're concerned about the boa's ultimate size & handling it alone, I'd get a male- I wish mine had been a male. The boa that I had was a female: she was an unwanted "rescue" that I took in -I was persuaded to adopt her because she'd gone thru many owners in her first year, after they each were convinced she'd never stop biting them. She was not a snake I'd ever planned to have, but she turned out to be delightful anyway. The point is, females tend to eat more & grow larger for reproductive success. Mine was at least 7.5' long by the time she was 13 years old, & at that time, I knew a couple that was into larger snakes, so she moved in with them & ultimately lived to age 18.

When she was my snake, I handled her alone, which I would agree was "pushing it" safety-wise, but I have decades of experience with many kinds of snakes at least, & a healthy inclination toward self-preservation. Her rare moodiness never actually presented a problem for me- I could talk her out of being grumpy, & she never even bit me once in the 12 years I had her, nor did she ever put a squeeze on me. BUT, there's no guarantee that your boa or any other will be the same way-nor remain at any size, since they grow their whole lives & can live many years; they're individuals just like us, so put your own situation first, so that you have a pet you'll always enjoy & feel comfortable with.

Do also consider your budget & space- larger snakes need larger housing & warmth supplied. Consider where in your life you'll be in years to come, since snakes can live a long time. Your decision.