Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Thank you for sharing your story. I know sometimes it can be embarrassing to admit you made a mistake, but we all do it. Our corns have all been very tame so adding a boid to our collection has been a change. She was a very calm baby and we have always handled her frequently. She's now somewhere between 4 and 5 feet. One day (I should mention she was blue and near shedding) she tagged my BF right on the nose, and that was our first snakebite in 5 years of owning snakes. We learned from that not to handle her when she's blue because she doesn't like it. He said it didn't hurt too much, but he bled profusely. Once on accident we managed to piss her off enough that she was hissing and striking like crazy. She was one the bed with us when the cat (who was supposed to be locked out) jumped up and scared her. After a half an hour trying to coax a hissing, striking 4 ft snake into her feeding box and pulling 3 teeth out of my cats face I am not opposed to the hook. Surprisingly, my BF also got bit by one of my hungry adult corns the other day. Maybe, they just don't like him :0 I actually think it's because he's not as paranoid as I am but fortunately he's not the macho type either so I am ordering a snake hook for him. He said the corn bite didn't really hurt at all but it bled a little too. I hope we get better at handling our BCI because I would really like to own more boids responsibly in the future.
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Anna

The Zoo
Corns
1.0 Snow - Cornelius
1.1 Ghost(pastel) - Eek & Boo
0.1 Amel - Scarlet
0.1 Hypo - Nikko
0.1 Anery - Missy
0.1 Hypo Motley - Cordelia aka Cordy
Boas
0.1 Columbian (BCC) - Bella
Lizards
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
0.1 Dumbo Agouti - Moon
1.0 Standard Black - Pluto
Cats
1.1 Siamese - Blue & Fiona
0.1 Gray DMS - Druscilla aka Dru
Horses
1.0 Thourghbred (Hunter/Jumper) - Morgan's Majesty aka Cody

Dont let me put you off on biods.I love my guyana redtails and i also have alot of respect for them.When i hold mine i hold the neck firmly and i control the snake.I rarely sling them across my shoulders and let them explore.Ive learned what i can and cant do with them,but every once in awhile they can and will have a bad moment.I also wear eye protection and use a hook.The human melon throws off alot of heat and makes a dang fine target.For the most part there trouble free 99% of the time if im careful to watch what im doing...Paul..

More and more you guys are convincing me why I am sticking with corn snakes. I like mellow snakes that I can carry and handle by myself even full grown.

Don't get me wrong, I thing all snakes (ok well most) are beautiful, I also think tigers, bears and almost any other animal is beautiful and would love to work with them. But experience (and space and time and money) dictate that I stick with what I can handle.

Thanks for sharing the story Anna. You're a brave girl!
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Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.3.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
1.0 Creamsicle Corn (Kream)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.4 Mice (My step-daughter seems to think they are pets)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

All-in-all it turned out alright and we learned a valuable lesson about checking under the bed for cats. For us the boa was a snake we got because usually they are mellow and they don't squirm around like a corn. They will just kick it with you which is really nice. Even now, when she's comfortable she's great to hang out on the couch with. It's all about learning about the snake, and reading their signs of unhappiness. Oh, and some snakes are mostly just to look at! I really want an Amazon Tree Boa which is just a bit bigger than most colubrids, but you wouldn't snuggle up with it. I think I heard someone describe the babies as 'shoelaces with teeth' and another called them 'not so much a snake as the spawn of the devil', but they sure are pretty. Just a matter of preference. Two years ago I wouldn't have owned a snake I couldn't hold either. There might be enough corn morphs as well as other colubrids to keep you busy for a while if you don't want anything bigger, but you did go from none to seven in, like, record time, so you better pace yourself.
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Anna

The Zoo
Corns
1.0 Snow - Cornelius
1.1 Ghost(pastel) - Eek & Boo
0.1 Amel - Scarlet
0.1 Hypo - Nikko
0.1 Anery - Missy
0.1 Hypo Motley - Cordelia aka Cordy
Boas
0.1 Columbian (BCC) - Bella
Lizards
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
0.1 Dumbo Agouti - Moon
1.0 Standard Black - Pluto
Cats
1.1 Siamese - Blue & Fiona
0.1 Gray DMS - Druscilla aka Dru
Horses
1.0 Thourghbred (Hunter/Jumper) - Morgan's Majesty aka Cody

Me?? Pace myself? HAHAHAHA
No really, I'm done getting corn snakes this year . Promise!

And as far as the cats go, mine love to watch us handle the corns, they'll even get nose to nose with them and the snakes don't really seem to mind. Feeding time is a hoot, I feed them one at a time in a critter keeper (well except the large one) and I usually have 4 of the 5 cats sitting around on the bed watching the show about 3-4 feet away. And even that doesn't seem to wane the appetite of the corns, they eat like they're not getting fed tomorrow (oh wait, they won't get fed for anohter week )
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Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.3.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
1.0 Creamsicle Corn (Kream)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.4 Mice (My step-daughter seems to think they are pets)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

No more corns this year, huh? You have such amazing restraint. You know if you get many more your going to need another couple of critter keepers or feeding will be an all-day project. My BF is already grumping about the sheer number of 'critters' in the apartment. For some reason he doesn't think our apartment is big enough for 4 people, 3 cats, 9 snakes, a lizard and something like 20 rats. In all fairness this apartment is bigger than many houses, but the only downside is no garage or yard for rodents. So now I am making him buy me a house with enough property for a barn/snake & rodent room. That will teach him. Corn adiction is a serious condition and can only be treated with more corns!
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Anna

The Zoo
Corns
1.0 Snow - Cornelius
1.1 Ghost(pastel) - Eek & Boo
0.1 Amel - Scarlet
0.1 Hypo - Nikko
0.1 Anery - Missy
0.1 Hypo Motley - Cordelia aka Cordy
Boas
0.1 Columbian (BCC) - Bella
Lizards
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
0.1 Dumbo Agouti - Moon
1.0 Standard Black - Pluto
Cats
1.1 Siamese - Blue & Fiona
0.1 Gray DMS - Druscilla aka Dru
Horses
1.0 Thourghbred (Hunter/Jumper) - Morgan's Majesty aka Cody

I actually do have more then one critter keeper, some how I ended up with two med and one large. I love em. I can play with the snake, put her in the critter keeper and feed her. Then that gives me time to clean out her enclosure, change her water and I'm back just in time to feed her the second mouse. Then the process is repeated with all 6 snakes. I have them all in my bedroom so I feed them on my bed pop in a DVD and yeah it takes about 2-3 hours for the entire process, but that's why I do it on the weekend. I spend probably a total of 5-6 hours a week cleaning out cages, terrariums and enclosures, plus 3 large litter boxes. My husband complains that I spend all my time with the animals too. He told me once he wished he was a frog so I'd pay attention to him. I told her "Oh, you mean you want me to stick you in a little terrarium and feed you dusted fruit flies....OK "

And yes Anna I am showing amazing restraint . The only thing that stopped me from getting more snakes this year is I ran out of enclosures for them . But there is always next year and tax returns to remeady that.

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Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.3.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
1.0 Creamsicle Corn (Kream)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.4 Mice (My step-daughter seems to think they are pets)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

I feel your pain. I am thanking god that my friend decided to buy the butters I wanted or I would have had to do it! How was I supposed to hide two whole snakes? Now I still get to work on the breeding project and I don't have to make the BF mad by buying more snakes.

Saturdays are cleaning days around our place too. With all those animals though I also get to spend at least an hour every night just spot cleaning & feeding.

We also have a new rule at our place. I am required to ask how my BF's day was before I can talk about any animals. It makes him feel more loved.
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Anna

The Zoo
Corns
1.0 Snow - Cornelius
1.1 Ghost(pastel) - Eek & Boo
0.1 Amel - Scarlet
0.1 Hypo - Nikko
0.1 Anery - Missy
0.1 Hypo Motley - Cordelia aka Cordy
Boas
0.1 Columbian (BCC) - Bella
Lizards
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
0.1 Dumbo Agouti - Moon
1.0 Standard Black - Pluto
Cats
1.1 Siamese - Blue & Fiona
0.1 Gray DMS - Druscilla aka Dru
Horses
1.0 Thourghbred (Hunter/Jumper) - Morgan's Majesty aka Cody

We have way too much in common !!! Too bad you are so far away, it'd be nice to have someone here to talk to when it comes to the animals (bf's and husbands included).
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Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.3.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
1.0 Creamsicle Corn (Kream)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.4 Mice (My step-daughter seems to think they are pets)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

I have six corn snakes and a Boa. They both have their strong points. The Boa is a blast to play with. She's come to me (the corns won't) and she'll wrap herself around my arm and watch a movie with me.

Boas are bigger and different, but I would not hesitate to buy one. If you are worried about size, get a smaller breed and remember males are generally smaller than females.

Next year I am buying a Dummeril's Boa to go with my other snakes. I can't wait!

I swear I posted below and then lost it so I posted again. Don't worry, I am sure it will happen just not until I get more comfortable with big snakes. I love my corns but there is something amazing about a boa. I have a ton of respect for that snake. I think we are planning a Dumerils next but I also want a Suri or Guyanan one of these days.
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Anna

The Zoo
Corns
1.0 Snow - Cornelius
1.1 Ghost(pastel) - Eek & Boo
0.1 Amel - Scarlet
0.1 Hypo - Nikko
0.1 Anery - Missy
0.1 Hypo Motley - Cordelia aka Cordy
Boas
0.1 Columbian (BCC) - Bella
Lizards
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
0.1 Dumbo Agouti - Moon
1.0 Standard Black - Pluto
Cats
1.1 Siamese - Blue & Fiona
0.1 Gray DMS - Druscilla aka Dru
Horses
1.0 Thourghbred (Hunter/Jumper) - Morgan's Majesty aka Cody

I think Boa's are amazing too, I've held them before, as well as Pythons. And I'm not scared of them like some girly girls But I had to follow a few of my own personal rules when I got into snakes.

1) They can never get to the size where my cats look like a good meal.

2) They can't get over 25 lbs.

3) They can't eat anything larger then a full grown rat

4) They can't require more space then I can provide and there is no way they can have their own room.

5) They have to be gentle, calm and easy to handle and not prone to biting.

6) They can't have fangs (I'm used to rattlers, we used to hunt them as a children but that doesn't mean I want to share my house with them)

7) They have to be beautiful and come in different colors.

I think a corn fits all those perfectly which is why I'm hooked and now own 6.

And I think a rodent bite is much worse then a corns will ever be.
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Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.3.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
1.0 Creamsicle Corn (Kream)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.4 Mice (My step-daughter seems to think they are pets)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

My worst bite story came from me picking up a seemingly harmless baby painted turtle.The little sucker clamped down on the webbing between my thumb and finger and wouldnt let go.Im a big guy,6'1 240 pounds not fat,and you should have seen my brother going hysterical when i was screaming like a 12 year old girl for @ least 15 minutes it took to pry the little sh@t off my hand.It took 10 stiches to close up my wound.I have a leapord tortoise now and while he has hissed a few times at me im very careful when i pick him up.hehehe..Always learning the hard way it seems.hehehhee...Paul..

N/P
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Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.3.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
1.0 Creamsicle Corn (Kream)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.4 Mice (My step-daughter seems to think they are pets)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

1.3 guyana redtails
1.3 hypo corns
1.1 amel
1.o.o leapord tortoise
0.1 american rednose pitbull
0.1 wife
1.0 son
1.0 son on the way in april.

>>
1.0 Chocolate Lab
1.0 Beagle
0.2 Sheltie/mutts
1.0 Mutt
4.5 cats
1.0 Red Foot Tortoise
1.1 Florida Cooters
1.0 Nothern Redbelly turtle
1.0 False Map Turtle
0.1 Barbours Map Turtle
1.1 Common Musk Turtles
1.0 Rio Grande ( Big Bend ) Slider
1.1 Diamondback Terrapins
I did have more turtles but I adopted out most of them to allow for more time for my snakes
1.2 creamsicle corns
1.0 anery corn
1.0 ghost corn
0.2.1 snow corns
3.1 okeetee corns
1.0 amel motley corn
1.1 Bairds rat snakes
and a very understanding wife
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

>>>>
>>1.0 Chocolate Lab
>>1.0 Beagle
>>0.2 Sheltie/mutts
>>1.0 Mutt
>>4.5 cats
>>1.0 Red Foot Tortoise
>>1.1 Florida Cooters
>>1.0 Nothern Redbelly turtle
>>1.0 False Map Turtle
>>0.1 Barbours Map Turtle
>>1.1 Common Musk Turtles
>>1.0 Rio Grande ( Big Bend ) Slider
>>1.1 Diamondback Terrapins
>>I did have more turtles but I adopted out most of them to allow for more time for my snakes
>>1.2 creamsicle corns
>>1.0 anery corn
>>1.0 ghost corn
>>0.2.1 snow corns
>>3.1 okeetee corns
>>1.0 amel motley corn
>>1.1 Bairds rat snakes
>>and a very understanding wife
and 1.2 Bearded Dragons
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

Do your boas hate cameras too? I learned that Bella does the hard way. Good thing she's too small yet to leave teeth in the camera.
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Anna

The Zoo
Corns
1.0 Snow - Cornelius
1.1 Ghost(pastel) - Eek & Boo
0.1 Amel - Scarlet
0.1 Hypo - Nikko
0.1 Anery - Missy
0.1 Hypo Motley - Cordelia aka Cordy
Boas
0.1 Columbian (BCC) - Bella
Lizards
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
0.1 Dumbo Agouti - Moon
1.0 Standard Black - Pluto
Cats
1.1 Siamese - Blue & Fiona
0.1 Gray DMS - Druscilla aka Dru
Horses
1.0 Thourghbred (Hunter/Jumper) - Morgan's Majesty aka Cody

They dont like anyone or anything getting in there face Ever.Use the zoom on your cam.hehehehe

I wasn't even taking a close up. I was like two feet away from her from above her tank, and then she was noticeably closer. Thank god it was a digital camera and I didn't have my face up to it. I think the flash is what ticked her off.
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Anna

The Zoo
Corns
1.0 Snow - Cornelius
1.1 Ghost(pastel) - Eek & Boo
0.1 Amel - Scarlet
0.1 Hypo - Nikko
0.1 Anery - Missy
0.1 Hypo Motley - Cordelia aka Cordy
Boas
0.1 Columbian (BCC) - Bella
Lizards
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
0.1 Dumbo Agouti - Moon
1.0 Standard Black - Pluto
Cats
1.1 Siamese - Blue & Fiona
0.1 Gray DMS - Druscilla aka Dru
Horses
1.0 Thourghbred (Hunter/Jumper) - Morgan's Majesty aka Cody

While I agree that any boa over 6 feet should ideally have 2 adults present when handling it for safety's sake, I don't think they have to be men. Granted that my boyfriend is usually around when I'm handling my adult boas (since we live together), but my friend and neighbor (a 5'2" woman) is also perfectly capable of handling any of my large boas (not to mention her own 8' female boa) without the assistance of a man. Most strikes are human error - SFE's, startling the snake, forcibly restraining the head of the snake (this will often cause the most docile snake to strike), etc. Much of it is a matter of learning the animals and using care when handling them. And yeah, I've been bitten several times over the last 12 years of keeping snakes - my 6' female boa has tagged me a couple of times (both my fault), my female Dumerils has struck and wrapped my hand several times (she's just a bit overzealous about feeding, using a hook now to get her out prevents most strikes), my female Solomon Island ground boa has nailed me repeatedly (she's wc and I'm still trying to tame her), and several miscellaneous strikes from juvenile animals that are either overzealous in their feeding responses or skittish because they aren't used to being handled. Snake hooks are a great tool, but so is learning the animal and how to handle it, not to mention paying attention to body language - if they're signaling today isn't the day to hold them then don't. And to sum it all up, if you own a snake, at some point you are going to get bitten...it's inevitable.

Raven

3.5 Bci (Colombian redtails)
1.1 Dumerils boas
1.1 Solomon Island ground boas
0.1 Santa Isabel ground boa
1.0 Colombian rainbow boa
1.0 Ball python
1.0 Coastal X Jungle carpet python
1.0 Jungle carpet python
1.0 Coastal carpet python
0.1 Queensland coastal carpet python
0.1 Diamond X jungle carpet python
1.1 Normal phase corns
1.1 Snow corns
0.1 Albino Burmese python (yearling, roughly 5 feet)
0.1 Normal phase Burmese python (13' 70 pounds)
1.1 cats
1.0 very patient boyfriend

Yeah, I agree that for most full grown boas two men aren't necessary. Even if she gets to eight feet or whatever full grown we probably wouldn't invite some guy over every time we wanted to handle her, but I wouldn't ever do it alone. I don't worry so much about the occasional strike and bite (although I haven't experienced it yet...knock on wood) but I would hate to have a snake that big latch onto me and not let go. I don't think I could pry a snake that big off while I was in pain. But I am a 5'1 out-of-shape weinie. Now if we had a full grown retic I think I would invite another guy over because I just wouldn't trust my BF alone could get it off if it decided I looked like lunch.

I think we are starting to understand the boa a little better. We've only had her for about a year and this is the first big retile I have ever owned. Her body language is different than the corns. Actually, my corns give me more warning if they aren't happy.

What I need to do is get the guy from LLL Reptile show me how to do the cool manuver he uses to pick up baby ATBs. Now there's a fiesty snake. For some reason I hesitate to pick up a striking snake by its neck...and it only takes a moment of hesitation to get you tagged.
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Anna

The Zoo
Corns
1.0 Snow - Cornelius
1.1 Ghost(pastel) - Eek & Boo
0.1 Amel - Scarlet
0.1 Hypo - Nikko
0.1 Anery - Missy
0.1 Hypo Motley - Cordelia aka Cordy
Boas
0.1 Columbian (BCC) - Bella
Lizards
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
0.1 Dumbo Agouti - Moon
1.0 Standard Black - Pluto
Cats
1.1 Siamese - Blue & Fiona
0.1 Gray DMS - Druscilla aka Dru
Horses
1.0 Thourghbred (Hunter/Jumper) - Morgan's Majesty aka Cody

The general rule with giant snakes (such as retics and burms) is one adult for every 5-6 feet of snake. My adult burm (13 feet of sweetness) is handled by my Mom and I though I'd prefer a 3rd adult when handling her - technically Mom's boyfriend is always around, but he'd be no help in an emergency (terrified of the snake). In case of a strike and wrap/hold, you should keep a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol nearby. I've heard from a number of people, including professional breeders, that you can spray the snake in the face with alcohol and it will let go...luckily I haven't had to test this out yet. For the most part my boas let me know when they aren't in the mood for handling - usually with gentle blowing or hissing to start with, then posturing in a strike pose. Most of the time I leave them alone when that happens, the exception being if the cage needs cleaning, etc. So far none of my corns have so much as hissed though when I first got my normals last year the male would rattle his tail (too funny from something 8 inches long! lol). As for the Amazon tree boas, I've heard about their fiesty tempers - a long hook and a second cage seems to be the order of the day with them, though I've heard of people with tame ones. Either way, they are beautiful...the corns come in more colors though.

Raven