Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just saw the most beautiful central this weekend. His pattern and contrast was textbook and his color was pretty cool. The darker parts were black and a very dark burgundy and the light colors were white and silver gray. He’s about 4 ½ to 5 feet long. They were asking $99.

BUT…

He’s the meanest SOB that I’ve ever seen. I’m not talking about a little hissing and a nip when you try to pick him up, I’m saying when you open the cage he looks more like a rattler than a boa! He stars hissing like nobodies business and strikes at everything. He will try to get out to get you, and after that he will strike at the glass if you get within 5 feet of him! I’ve had hard cases before but nothing like this. I don’t know if he is WC or not.

Does anyone think it is possible to tame him? I think I would need a welding mask and welding gloves. I’ve turned some bad Carpets but nothing this big and angry (ya, I know he’s just scared). I know some of you keep snakes that are not good to be handled but I think this one might be really hard to keep and maintain. What do you all think?

I'd say give him a try if you won't mind getting tagged. If he doesn't calm down for ya atleast you will have a beautiful new animal to look at.

Then again I like my really aggressive animals and won't mind being tagged occasionally by adults.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
Boas make the world go round.

Except my little central is still a little central! ;p I worked at a Petco in AZ when I was living that way and she was returned for 'biting' well I'd handled her a lot at the store and was shocked to hear this, so I put her back and thought nothing of it. Well she goes missing, for so long, they reported her stolen. Magically she reappears in her cage, hungry as hell (hiding inside a figurine no doubt). I was in love with her pattern and joked about them 'losing' her to me. So they gave her to me.
She was in an aquarium, now she is in a rack, but still strikes whenever I walk by... feet away. Some days I just hear her bounce off the tub while I'm doing random things. I've handled her and have sometimes had to hold her behind the head to save my hand... sometimes if I'm lucky she'll just be agitated, but usually she just wants me dead! She is still a tiny thing at two years old... I thought it was because she didn't want to eat anything for a long time when she was under a year, but she still is way too small for the amount of time I've had her; even though I hear centrals are smaller breeds.
I still think she is lovely, but I fear there is no hope for her ever calming down... better luck for you!
Steph S.

That animal with minimal interaction will be night and day different after their second year.Some of our rankest Hondurans are nearing 1 yr and really mellowing nicely Even as adults,blind faith will get you tagged good and make for a bad day.Just love them for the wild animals they are.

TnK

>>Except my little central is still a little central! ;p I worked at a Petco in AZ when I was living that way and she was returned for 'biting' well I'd handled her a lot at the store and was shocked to hear this, so I put her back and thought nothing of it. Well she goes missing, for so long, they reported her stolen. Magically she reappears in her cage, hungry as hell (hiding inside a figurine no doubt). I was in love with her pattern and joked about them 'losing' her to me. So they gave her to me.
>> She was in an aquarium, now she is in a rack, but still strikes whenever I walk by... feet away. Some days I just hear her bounce off the tub while I'm doing random things. I've handled her and have sometimes had to hold her behind the head to save my hand... sometimes if I'm lucky she'll just be agitated, but usually she just wants me dead! She is still a tiny thing at two years old... I thought it was because she didn't want to eat anything for a long time when she was under a year, but she still is way too small for the amount of time I've had her; even though I hear centrals are smaller breeds.
>> I still think she is lovely, but I fear there is no hope for her ever calming down... better luck for you!
>>Steph S.