In my opinion - feeding response and general attitude should be looked at separately.

I have some snakes that, when in feeding mode in their cages, seem demonic. Until they know that they are NOT getting food, they assume anything coming in their cage is dinner.

I don't think they're evil... just showing good feeding response. I'd rather have that than have to tease and tantalize a boa to get it eating.

Anyway - you should be assessing your boa's temperment when it is out and away from its cage, NOT by how roughly it takes its prey. In the wild, your snake would slam into the rat and then constrict it. Just because it occasionally gets excited at mealtime doesn't mean it's turning mean.

I have a female BCC that I use for demonstrations. Sometimes when I feed her, she just sits there, I leave the rat, and she'll eat it alone later (doesn't like to be watched). But, some other times, she'll grab it from my tongs. No matter if she grabs it or not, when she's out of her cage, she's a sweetheart.

Just wanted to clarify that feeding response should NOT be confused with general temperment or be used to judge a boa's handleability. People at your demonstrations aren't going to be reaching in your boa's home cage...

So, you can probably step down and be fine. Just consistently take your boa out for handling, like any demonstration animal.
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.1 Ball Python, 1.0 Hog Island Boa, 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 1.1 Saharan Sand Boa

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