Well I got to hold a columbian red-tail. She wasn't full grown but definatly not a baby. While I was a bit hesitant to hold her by myself, I did and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. I got a little nervous when she turned around and rested her head near my bare hand, but she moved on and all was ok. She was heavy but not too heavy. I could hold her with one arm, no problem. Beautiful and quite calm. I talked to the guy at the store for a bit and he keeps boas. He says he's never been bitten by any of his boas at home and that they are great snakes to keep. So, maybe I'll go back and hold a red-tail again and get used to the idea of a snake bigger than a ball python and possibly get one. They did have a baby there.