Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm not worried. However, my family is worried about having a boa around. I would get a male columbian boa, which I doubt would exceed 6ft.

Have any of you heard of a boa (under 7ft) killing a person by constricting them?

Nobody in my family (myself included) cares about me getting bitten, so no big deal there.
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CrazyForHerps
0.1 Ball Python, Culebra (Cu)
1.0 Bearded Dragon, unnamed (waiting for me in CA!)
1.0 Tabby cat, Iraland (Ira)
Various feeder rats

I've never heard of a boa killing a person, well actually I have in news reports, then later found out it was python.

Colombian boas get longer then 6ft regularly, I have a few over 7ft & one over 9ft. Even at those lengths I dont think of them as being dangerous animals.

Dan Eby

I have not been able to find one legitimate recorded case of Death by Boa.
As far as documentation goes back can't seem to find one death from Boa Constriction.
No person has ever been killed by a Boa that I can find.
. . . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz

As far as boas go, I've never heard a legitimate case of one killing a human either. I would be more worried about carelessness regarding infants, as long as you have common sense... larger snakes can be awesome pets! Of course, I no longer consider 6-8ft to be all that big and a male boa, as you mentioned, fed correctly should stay around or under 6ft; although I have heard of larger, but I'd assume they were fed well!
I am a small/average gal and I manage my animals alone a great portion of the time. I have mostly boas. They are intelligent and inquisitive animals, and by far my favorite of all my collection (which is mostly boas, LOL!). My largest female is about 10ft approx. and as big around as part of my thigh, aside from her weight, even she has never been a problem. Although, I am very cautious regarding her feeding response when taking her out of her cage because a smart person errs on the side of caution and probably doesn't want to get bitten by that large a gal!
All my males though, are very unmanageable sizes and easy to tote around... once one of my larger females gets an idea to go somewhere and gets hooked on or around something, then I'm in trouble! LOL! Also, depending on locality, some males (and females) are even smaller than your average noted sizes associated with boas. My Hog Island male and central american males are both well under 5ft, in fact my female Hog Island is just at 5ft or so. I wish I had exact measurements, but they are not big at all IMO.
I think boas are a great choice as a pet for an informed juvenile-adult person aware of their potential size and care needs! Good luck!

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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
1.0 Probable Super Salmontine(Kahn)
0.1 Salmontine (Sonya)
1.1 DH Sunglow (Gabrielle and Bonnie)
1.0 Hypo het anery (Don Juan)
1.1 07 Hypo pos. triple hets (Rico Suave & Pumpkin)
1.0.1 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.1 2007 Mostly striped boa (Andromeda)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.0 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal(deceased)
1.3 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Tang, Isis)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.2 Carpet Pythons (Jackson, Charlotte, & Cassandra)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
1.2 Children's Pythons (Spot, Freckle and Speckle)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

I have heard of no cases either! But in no case what so ever should anyone be careless with a boa remember any snake can be be taken from the wild but you can't take the wild out of the animal. No matter how docile they seem to be. Most of my boa's I treat as if they are my kids! My girl friend love them so much but we know they have the brain size of a pea and they can't love us back in that way like most animals can do. So we always respect these mystic creatures and learn when to give them space and try to read their minds in the best way we can to our boa knowledge.

I tried to cover everything, including caution, but you put it in better words as far as the fact that they are, and always will be, animals. Even if they are amazing, beautiful, and fairly intelligent amongst snakes, that is only amongst snakes They get to know their keeper and feel comfortable, but the loyalty and level of intelligence that one would find in a dog is definitely not present. On the other hand, it means a boa needs less loving/attention to thrive and be healthy. My dog won't let me walk by without a petting!
Thanks for adding that in!
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
1.0 Probable Super Salmontine(Kahn)
0.1 Salmontine (Sonya)
1.1 DH Sunglow (Gabrielle and Bonnie)
1.0 Hypo het anery (Don Juan)
1.1 07 Hypo pos. triple hets (Rico Suave & Pumpkin)
1.0.1 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.1 2007 Mostly striped boa (Andromeda)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.0 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal(deceased)
1.3 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Tang, Isis)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.2 Carpet Pythons (Jackson, Charlotte, & Cassandra)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
1.2 Children's Pythons (Spot, Freckle and Speckle)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

Thanks for the nice compliment! Boa's and pythons mean the world to my girlfriend and I and we wouldn't trade it for anything! 8)
Some of the most underrated exotic pets to own its always exciting to meet random people in public that have this crazed obsession that we in this forum have and share with.
regards,
JAKE