Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So my little rubber boa tried to eat me today. LOL. My guess is I didn't wash my hands well enough after handling some lunch chicken. I reached in to pick him up and he tightly coiled around my index finger (he's a little guy, only a little over a foot long). He then turned around and bit my finger, quickly realizing it wasn't edible. Afterwards, his coils relaxed and he continued on his merry way of weaving in and out between my fingers. Even though he gave a good, solid bite it didn't even pierce the skin. =) Maybe I need to move him up to two pinky mice a week! At least he has a good appetite, even in this cold weather. =) Anyone else get bit by a rubber boa?
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1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa (Tremor)
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake (Ozzie)
0.1 Apricot Pueblan Milk Snake (Coraline)
1.0 Rubber Boa (Benjamin)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Spike)
0.1 Cockatiel (Spot)
0.1 House Finch (Peep)
0.1 DSH Cat (Nosey)
1.0 Understanding Spouse (John) =)

I have never heard of a rubber boa bite... interesting observation. Also, if you rubber boa is ~1ft in length it could probably take larger meals than a pinky. I feed my ~1ft rubber boa large fuzzies/small hoppers.

-Chris
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Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC

Just once. A large female that was nearly starved to death by the UT DWR. I was feeding her by hand a couple times a week to get some weight back on her. When I opened her cage one day, she was expecting a meal, so I offered her my finger, and she took it momentarily. Like your male, she quickly realized her mistake, and released me.

I've had lots of Charina that will take mice out of my fingers, but she is the only one that didn't smell first to confirm her prey. She never did it a second time even though I tried.

I still tell first time snake holders that if the Rubber Boa I'm holding out to them bites them, I'll give them $100. I don't think I'll ever have to pay.

Sure wish my Rosy's would learn from my Rubber's how to verify an object is food before biting!
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Ophidiarium Charieis

Lookto42;
In the 45 years I have maintained the species, I have been grabbed probably about 4 - 5 times but only as a feeding response by the species.

I never had been bitten as a result of a defensive action by a Rubber Boa but a colleague who maintains a large number of Rubber Boas was bitten by one that he said was reacting in fear.

The above episode is a first to the best of my knowledge. I have initially captured probably well over 4000 Rubber Boas, probably incurred in excess of 10,000 recapture events, and of course handled my captive specimens many thousands of times and have never had one react defensively with biting.

Richard F. Hoyer

I appreciate all the replies and insight into this. I'm sure he was just over excited thinking I was getting ready to feed him. He has a great appetite! Poor little guy bit and coiled himself once when he went for and missed his mouse.

I moved him up to one peach fuzzy a week a few feedings ago. I think I will try two from now on and see how that goes. Thanks again all! =)
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1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa (Tremor)
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake (Ozzie)
0.1 Apricot Pueblan Milk Snake (Coraline)
1.0 Rubber Boa (Benjamin)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Spike)
0.1 Cockatiel (Spot)
0.1 House Finch (Peep)
0.1 DSH Cat (Nosey)
1.0 Understanding Spouse (John) =)