Boa owning.

[ninnipoo]

Are boas known for striking out, if you own one are you going to get bitten at some point?

[Siman]

Maybe... If you own ANY animal there's a possibility of getting bitten. A lot of babies seem to be scared and strike out, but thats not unlike most animals.

[more_elia]

Your no more likely to get bitten by a boa than other snakes. If you get a young boa and handle it from the start it will grow to learn your not a threat and not bite in defence. I find all my boas are easy going and very rarely if ever try to bite. Work with any snake and you'll get bitten eventually though.....its just part of snake keeping.

Snakes bite for two reasons......(1) as a feeding response - don't try to handle during feeding time or get in the way of a feeding strike, and try not to smell like their prey; (2) in defence - don't do anything to alarm them, especially when handling them. Slow and gentle movements are key here.

[ninnipoo]

Thanks for your advice. Ive owned a few corns for a while now and have recently got a couple of royals (which I've really taken a shine to),, suppose I just want more but without getting something that I could not handle. Have liked boas for a long time and come close to getting one a couple of times, I've been bitten repeatively by a friends young boa, but it didn't put me off as his others were fine, just took it as it was hungry or annoyed. But it did make me think that they could all be in a bad mood at sometime and didn't fancy a bigger one having a pop at me. I handle my snakes a lot and feed using forceps so not to cause any confusion, if the case is they only strike for the reasons more_elia mentioned then things should be fine. What type of boas do not get too big? Sizes too please.

[guinness]

my boa was abit bitty when i first got her, but she grew out of it within 1 month.

[Thestig@uk]

our boa has been really calm since we av had her....although once she had settled in she did get abit viv defensive and tagged me on the finger been tap training ever since and had no problems....she knows the diff between feeding times and handling times already.

[Brett]

your gonna get bitten at some point owning any snake wether it be a nasty snake or feeding response its gonna come sooner or later

[Serious D]

as said any animal has the potential to bite, I have 3 boas a PRB and 2 BCI, one 09 and one 08-07, the PRB was verry snappy when I got her but now is soppy, My 08-07 BCI has always been soppy but she has also struck at me, my 09 BCI is also soppy, and never bit any one up to a few weeks ago he taged my daughter on the nose, but it obviously didnt hurt her as she wanted to hold him again a few minits later.

so yes you will get bitten at some point.

[magneticblue]

I have 3 boas and only one of them has ever bitten me. Its not really suprising either as she had a bad RI at the time and I was injecting her with antibiotics every other day. Her RI has gone now and shes back to being a lovely relaxed snake again

[ninnipoo]

Awesome replys, keep them coming. Any suggestions on a boa that doesn't grow too big?