Tongs are a very, VERY good idea. Getting nailed by a striking boa of any age isn't fun for you nor is it good for your boas mouth. It may well needlessly lose a few teeth in your hand and startle it enough to put if off feeding. We've also noted with our boas that although they are not as sensitive as a ball python, any major incident during feeding can cause them to startle and react poorly by refusing to continue that feeding.