Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.
Hi.
I own a Ball Python. I thought of selling it and get a Boa.
I have a place for a boa and i have 10 years experience with small sized snakes (Rat snakes and balls).
I can buy a baby boa (male by the way) but i'm nervous a bit.
When it gets older i'm afraid of getting bitten by it.
To get a bite from this size of a mouth is intimidating.
What's your opinion from your experience ?
Thx in advance!
Eddie
if youre handling snakes no matter what kind, in my opinion you should expect to get bitbut as a rule i have found that most boas are docile babies and on top of that as they get older most will calm down even if they are a bit exciteable as babies, hope that helps ya, boas rule btw 
-----
Brad Hamlin
"...when im a good snake, they sometimes throw me a rat..."
B&P Constrictors
There is nothing to be afraid of. If you handle him often as a neo, he will be use to you as an adult. I have 12 adult boas and none of them have tried to bite me. If you do get bit it doesn't really hurt much. It more scares the crap out of you. Then bleeds a lot. (I was bit by someone elses 8' boa)
I was bitten by a 17ft reticulated python and believe it or not.....it DID NOT hurt. Most Boa bites will just happen and you wont even see it until after the fact. It's more of a surprise than anything. Don't worry.
-----
i too sold my ball python for a boa. i was afraid of there size also, but after owning one, i wish i would have got a female, so its even BIGGER. lol but, really, you have nothing to be scared of. its much easer than you think. i decited to go with a 5 foot male, he was prety wild beacsue he was never handled. all he ever did was hiss, never even tryed to strike...they are still a managable size, so a bite really wont be to bad...
If you have been associated with rat snakes, then you were more apt to be bitten.. some rats are aggressive.
The only large snake I was bitten by was a Macklot I had for awhile...bit and constricted my fore arm. Everyone is correct it did not hurt. I was even surprised. Produced some bleeding, but you can get that much from a good cat scratch.
Go for it!
Nancy
-----
Some of my best friends are snakes
All these guys are right. My ball is quite aggressive, has bitten me twice and tried other times. It shocked the **** out of me but did not hurt. Bled a lot and I wore it like a war wound, I was quite proud to have taken my first hit. (Now it just ticks me off when he strikes.) My two boas have never, ever struck at me and they are very cool to handle. Go for it.
Tracy
I have one small Boa that bit me 17X in a row. Its cool nothing like a retic bite.
Not trying to scare you.......just bragging I guess
-----
No matter what kind of snake, or animal for that matter, it's not if you get bitten, it's when. Reptiles are wild animals and shopuld always be regared as them. With that said, most boas can be hand tamed, some can even be affectionate. Most biting inccedents can be blamed on the owner. Boas have VERY clear body language. They will hiss, puff up, mock strike (striking without intent to bite, just to scare) and it is the owners reasponsibility to read these signs. Of course there has been hundreds of freak accidents where people get bitten for no apparent reason. I've been bitten by several large boas, and it HURTS. It isn't as bad as the taboo about snake bites makes it seem. All speciese of snake has a different bite. I would rather be bitten by a 6' red tail then by a 2' rainbow. You can't own an animal that you are afraid of. Boas are my favorite type of snake, so I would say get one if you decide to get one, get a red tail (not argentine or central american, they are known to be extra nippy). Red tails, columbian, peruvian, guyanas all have wonderful temperments if you handle them daily when they are young. Good Luck!
-----
Alone, alone, all, all alone. Alone on a wide, wide sea.
-Rime of the ancient Mariner
For every snake you hold, you are one closer to getting bitten.
If you don't want to get bitten, you should probably have goldfish instead of snakes.
Help, tips & resources quick links
Manage your user and advertising accounts
Advertising and services purchase quick links
