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I have been looking into breeding boas, but my main fear is being bitten by a BIG female. I don't want to get bit by a massive female. I also know that females become aggressive after they give birth, and that is another fear of mine, an aggressive female while I am trying to get the babies out. Anyone have any ideas to ease my discomfort? Right now I just have a little male normal. But am looking to invest in more.

I have been nailed by a 9' female. I have also been bitten many times by everything between 1' and 7'. Every time I have been bitten, it has been my fault. If you get a boa from his/her enclosure properly, and they realize they are being held, it is very rare that you will be bitten. There is a just plain nasty boa or two floating around, but boas are not mean snakes. If you reach in and startle a snake, you may get bitten. If your hands smell like mice, you may get bitten. If you reach for that is not completely docile, touch it, draw your hand back, and then reach in again (you boa people know what I mean), you will get bitten. It is usually best to reach in, let the snake know you are there, and pick him/her up. Don't reach right for their head when taking them out. Reach in half way down their body or more, and gently take them from their cage. Always support their weight. Once youy have more experience, you will learn how to handle your snakes. If you have a female that is agressive at times, work with her, or leave her alone. Just like people, sometimes snakes get grumpy. You have to understand this. If you respect the snake, the snake will respect you. If you are constantly in fear of being bitten, you will not truly enjoy your animals and they will not respond as well to you as someone who is comfortable with them. It takes time. If you want someone to tell you that you will never be bitten, they will be telling a lie. You may never get bitten, you will be the first. Just kidding. There may be someone else, but it is not me. I hope this helps.

Alright, what is the ideal length for a breedable female? Just curious. I am just afraid of having a 10' snake bite me. I'd rather have as small of a female as possible. But yes, the post did give me some more insight. -Jon

you may want to look into the smaller locality animals. Don't get BCC or Colombian BCI. Though a 10' female is approaching a monster for a Colombian, they are out there. Look into Hog Islands, Crawl Cays, Cay Caulkers, Nicaraguans (though you'll probably be bitten, lol), and the other smaller locales. Maybe even rainbow boas, rosy boas, or candoia. Just research whatever you get into. Not all boas are the same. Breeding boas is not for everyone.

Phil Goss

I don't know.. . I just look at those photos of the massive female boas and I just get a little queasy thinking about one of those biting me. But I would love to breed them, just don't care for being bitten all the time. Maybe I am picturing them in the photos as alot larger than they truly are in actuality. IDK, a little paranoid I guess. I like the coloration and varties of the Columbians more than any other. But my next stop would be Hogg Islands. -Jon

Snakebites sound a lot worse then they really are. I've been bitten by snakes 12 feet and under and it is always my fault and it's NOT that big of a deal. Usually just a bunch of pinholes that bleed for a couple minutes and it's over. The only one that ever hurt a little was a 12ft burm that didn't let go right away.again my fault.

I also was a bit scared of getting bitten at first. My first snake got me once. I sat there wondering... If this thing gets bit ifs going to mess me up. Then i was around more and more. Got bit a couple times. Ended up being nothing. They bite and before you even notice they bit it only feels like someone tapping your arm. When you look its just a couple dots of blood. scares you more than anything. Ive gotten bit by my 7 foot female and my 6 foot male and they dont even hurt. The more snakes you hold the less you will be afraid. Try a female which is about 4 feet and just keep her til she gets breeding size. By that time you will be completley used to her and youll know she is tame. Goodluck with everything man.
-Bobby

i have a 6 foot female and a 5 foot male. the male is really nice but the female, as soon as i open her cage her head looks straight up. its not an inquisitive look either. as soon as she gets the chance she'l lay one on me. she's bitten me twice. as soon as i get her out, she's a ittle better but still tense.

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1.2 leopard geckos1.0 jungle carpet python
1.1 columbian BCI

n/p

There are VERY few true 10' or larger boas out there. If you don't want to be bit, buy a simple pair of work gloves and just use the left (or right) one. Unless I'm completely sure of the animal, I wear the glove.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

Having been bit before (one was over 12 feet), I have to say it's a psych out. It's in your head. The actuality of being bitten is way less than you think it is. Boas don't have long teeth, just short ones. You might bleed a lot (lots of perforations), but it isn't a deep wound, even from a large boa. I personally think you should try to get over it, but I know some people have some irrational fears. Maybe there's some way you can arrange to get bit by a baby boa? I'll just bet it would be all you need to see that it's really a minor thing. We all have little irrational fears.

You could get a big strong hook and some kevlar gloves but I personally think that takes a lot away from your experience with these docile snakes.

Caden

Anyother thing I did not see mentioned is maybe best to get a smaller snake untill you get over the fear of being biten. If you are always afraid the animal may be neglected and in turn breeding could go bad, Look at my situation with Spirit. Pining him down and holding him by the neck????? And I have been bit a million time just dont like it. Actualy the last time I was bit was by a 10.5 foot Burmease Python. The first time she bit me I yanked my hand away and she realy or I should say I realy, sliced me opend. Dont ever, ever pull away if you get bit as all it dose is make the wounds worse. The second time she bit my right on the wrist and to be honest it hurt less than pulling a bandaid off your arm. The only part I haded is when she let go and her teeth pulled out of me I could feel mt skin snaping back into place, that gave me the creeps but honestly it didnt hurt at all.
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