Hey everyone. Looks like I'll be hanging out with you guys from now on. I bought a Solomon Island Groud Boa yesterday at a reptile expo. She's 5 years old, presumeable captive raised. She was fed in the cage her whole life, so she is extremely nippy while in her cage (and out of the cage once in awhile I'm told). I just look through the plastic and she starts striking at the air.

I'm not going to touch her again for a week while she gets used to things. But I handled her the day I brought her home (who can resist?). And we completely freaked eachother out. A little background - I have a completely docile corn snake, and I have some experience with nippy snakes because I kept northern water snakes when I was a kid. But the ground boa threw me for a loop.

She would sit still unless provoked. When she moved she was pretty jumpy. I stupidly tried to take a picture of her and the camera cord dangled in her face and she hissed and jumped. And I jumped too! Then she quickly wrapped tightly around my wrist. Her face was almost pressed against the inside of my arm and I was worried she would chomp on me. I started freaking out! I could feel my pulse in my wrist because she was squeezing so hard. I am NOT used to that.

I lowered her into the viv and she headed for a hide and I unpeeled her back end from my arm and she released me. But I started having second thoughts about this boa thing. Very intimidating for such a small snake.

Tonight she cruised the viv and pooped in her water bowl. So all looks normal.

Here's my questions:

Is it normal for them to act that way (squeezing tight and moving quickly) when being handled? Or do they generally calm down?

Any tips on how to take her out of the viv without being eaten?

What is an adult ground boa bite comparable to? How much can I expect to bleed? lol

Right now my viv has a warm end at 82 degrees and a cool end at 73. Sound OK?

She is probably as thick as a banana. What size mouse/rat should I feed her?

Do you think there's any chance she will calm down with some patient handling? Or are they just generally jumpy, instinctual snakes?

I think that's all for now. I'll post some pics when I figure out how.

Thanks for any advice!

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