Boas probably need a bit more humidity than a Ball python and probably tolerate slightly lower temperatures than a Ball Python.

Baby boas that look like they will bite, in a defensive position, can easilly be picked up by showing them the palm of your hand, coming down on them, and just scooping them up. Your hand must cover their head/face. You don't want them to be able to look you in the eye for this to work.

Some snakes (certain pythons for example) will deliberately bite the hand or arm that holds them. Boa constrictors generally won't. Once in your hand, they will focus on your face.

By the same token, a large boa you think might bite can be picked up in the same manner, however you need something like a couple of newspaper pages. A towel works fine. With the palm of your hand centered on the backside of an open newspaper page, come down on the snakes head in one deliberate motion and gently grab the snake behind the neck. Gently pull him up. Grab his body with your other hand for support and lift. Once you have established a good supportive grasp, drop the newspaper. As previously stated, the boa should focus on your face.

NEVER place a snake near your face. What spooks a snake, same as it does most animals, are your eyes. When you bring a snake to your face and look at him eye to eye, his immediate thought is you are fixing to put him in your mouth and eat him. He's going to lash out in a desperate attempt to avoid being eaten.

Long and involved, but actually very straight forward and simple.

jsc

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