Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've heard conflicting things about this species. In your experiences, are they biters or pretty docile? Other than during shedding or when they are hungry of course. If they are a little nippy, does that tend to go away the more you handle them?

Rosy Boas are very docile, they tend to be very friendly. Although I do have one that hates everything, I don't know what her deal is, she has the same care as the others, but in general, they are very docile.
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1.1 Rosy Boa
0.1 Mexican Rosy Boa
1.0 Coastal Carpet Python
2.1 Miniature Daschund

My three Rosies are docile as well. The females are a bit shy, but they have never tried to strike. My 2005 male Bay of LA Rosy is one of the best-tempered snakes I've ever met... I would feel comfortable letting a small child hold him, and I used to bring him to science classes at my old high school to teach the students about snakes.

That said, however, I've heard sotries of Rosy Boas that get a bee in their bonnet at the slightest thing and can't be handled easily.

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- Natalie
(San Francisco Bay Area)

The ones that bite do so as a feeding response. I've had strains that were biters. Some lost the behavior as adults, and some did not. Most are not biters. I've never had a Mexican rosy bite, but I have had Whitewaters (females) that would eat your hand if given the chance (and these snakes were fat pigs.)
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Mark

My Arizona rosy has never bitten. He is very placid, but he probably has the best feeding response of any of my snakes. Make sure you wash your hands. Husbandry has not been to difficult with him.
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Matt Kauffman