Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've heard Tree boa's are nasty and tend to strike alot. I've ALWAYS wanted one because they are simply beautiful but I've noticed that if I can't touch a snake..because it's nasty I'll try to touch it more ie: the incredibly cranky burmese we have at our shelter who's bit me..more times than I can count.

Getting bit doesn't really bother me. Stressing and possibly hurting the animal does. My red-tail adores being out. She actually get's cranky if she doesn't come out once a day. Same with most of our burms and our argentine.

Is the horrific bite/attack thing true? Or are they entirely handle-able?

My experiences apply to amazons only, since I have zero experience with emeralds. What I've found is that some are completely trustworthy, some are handleable but you have to be on high alert and watch where their heads are at, and some are only handleable with a hook or you WILL get tagged. I currently have 9 ammies ranging in size from neonates to 6 ft adults and really only have one that is completely out of control. I also have one adult that is totally docile. The neonates are not snappy at all (yet) and most of my adults/subadults are fairly handleable, but if you let their heads get too close to your heat-emitting self, they will take a chunk. Also if you wave body parts around in front of them, they will strike defensively. If, however, you handle them calmly so they think they are just on a big tree branch, most of mine are pretty good for short handling periods. In general, they are not snakes to hang out and watch tv with, like red tail boas or burms, but can be handled for short periods of time when absolutely necessary. Your mileage may vary....

Billy

my ammie has great handleability, he wont bite unless hes hungry or hes afrade you wanna hurt him, and thats only if you realy make him uncomfertable. Ive let many small children handle him and hes great with them.

ATBs bites dont hurt at all, but i suspect emeralds bites are painfull from the looks of there teeth

Dude, you must be one tough S.O.B. because I've been hit by some big ammies and it hurts! They don't have the massive bruising factor that burms and retics have from the sheer force of the strike, but those teeth are still pretty long. If you take a full-on bite, you will lose some blood for sure.....

Billy

>>my ammie has great handleability, he wont bite unless hes hungry or hes afrade you wanna hurt him, and thats only if you realy make him uncomfertable. Ive let many small children handle him and hes great with them.
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>>ATBs bites dont hurt at all, but i suspect emeralds bites are painfull from the looks of there teeth

>Dude, you must be one tough S.O.B. because I've been hit by some big ammies and it hurts! They don't have the massive bruising factor that burms and retics have from the sheer force of the strike, but those teeth are still pretty long. If you take a full-on bite, you will lose some blood for sure.....

Billy

well, it bleeds and i do get little teeth mark bruses, but it doesnt hurt at all to me.

mines about 5 1/2 foot going on 6 so, idk.

ive been going through alot of cuts in my life(ive had 5 open heart surgerys) so that could be why im "one tough S.O.B.

I agree with Billy.
I had a WC female about a year ago that was actually fairly mellow. She would just sit on the edge of a tub while I cleaned her cage and then as long as I was carefull in handling (like Billy stated)
the whole thing would usually end up without me bleeding.
My CB male on the other hand will not hesitate to make you bleed.