[Misc] Can I do it alone?

[Nasubi77]

I have become very entranced by RTB's and hope to eventually get one. From my understanding, they get about 7-8 feet? I've been lurking on a board about Giant Pythons, and I know everyone stresses about always having a second handler when handling large snakes. I wondered if the same was advised for RTB's? My hubby is afraid of reptiles and won't even touch my beardies or my ball so if having a second handler is recommended, then I guess I won't be adding a RTB to my collection.

Thanks!

[Ace of Snakes]

Re: Can I do it alone?

Just make sure he is around so he can help if you get in trouble.

[Nasubi77]

Re: Can I do it alone?

Just make sure he is around so he can help if you get in trouble.

Well, his "help" would be to come after it with a machete, but if it's down to my life or the snake's, I would be glad to have that help...

Do many people who live alone care for RTB's with or without problems?

[Ace of Snakes]

Re: Can I do it alone?

Mine aer not that big yet but when they do get big, I just plan on being within yelling distance of my girlfriend. My kids know they are not to touch the snakes at all period with out me or their mom. Oh, I would also suggest not putting them around your neck. I will always hold mine with two hands or arms to support them.

[Linda]

Re: Can I do it alone?

Most of the larger boas just aren't a problem. Just get one as a baby and grow it yourself. That's the best way to do it. Handle it often and keep it as tame as possible.

Some boas have been known to reach 9 feet. I had a female that got to 8' 4". She was the sweetest boa when she was little. She was even sweet when she was 7 feet. By the time she was 8 feet, she started getting aggressive. She'd be fine once I got her out of her cage, but getting her out was tricky at times. Even at her "meanest" she never "attacked". She'd hiss and strike the door when she was pissed. She was incredibly strong and she "knew" she could intimidate me. Still, once out of her cage, she was more calm.

I eventually gave her away. She never would have gotten to the point where she would have attacked. She was just defensive when she was in her cage. She was calmer for her new owner. He was much stronger than I am and she didn't intimidate him.

This past year, that female got pregnant. It was the first time she'd ever been pregnant. I was really excited/happy, because she had never gotten pregnant while I had her. I always thought that having a litter would calm her back down to the sweet boa I remembered her to be.

Unfortunately, she died from "complications" during the pregnancy.

Anyway, even as aggressive/defensive as she had gotten. She never would have gotten to the point where I couldn't handle her on my own. The only reason I rehomed her was becuase my husband was concerned about her moods.

So, I guess I'd have to say that "in most cases", a boa will never be too much to handle alone. Just make sure you have plenty of free space to handle them more easily, in case you boa/s ever have a bad hair day.

BTW I never had to use gloves to handle my big girl. I did have to use a pillowcase over my hand and arm. That way she didn't have a clear target to strike at. She only bit me twice in the 7 years I had her. Both times were when she was a baby.

[snakefreak89]

Re: Can I do it alone?

you should be fine. they do get big and strong but nothing you cant handle on your own. if your only looking to get one or two asa pet the males tend to stay a little smaller.

[davenkelly]

Re: Can I do it alone?

Stick with BCI....and if you want it to stay on the even smaller side...get a male. They dont get as big as the girls.

[MSwift]

Re: Can I do it alone?

ya like everyone said its not like handeling a massive python they get around 7-8 ft and generaly not that heavy they can be handeled easily like linda said raise it up and you will be fine and like snakefreak said if you really are worried about size get a male they stay smaller and dont get nearly as heavy

see i got a boa that will get huge i have a guyana x columbian female -- and she is almost 2 and already almost 5 ft im thinking im in for a 10-12 foot boa if not bigger

[Poznak]

Re: Can I do it alone?

Be awre, there are many races of boa constrictor that stay on the small side. Iv'e heard tales of a tarahumara mountain boa that gave birth at just under 4 feet. Do a little research on what is available on today's captive bred market and you'll find one that is right for. Even larger boa's are easily managable by 1 person. They kinda keep thier body in a tighter pile than some large pythons that sprawl out to next week if ya know what i mean. good luck

[chaosboa]

Re: Can I do it alone?

With a boa that big it is definatly recommended to have a second person present while handling. He wouldn't even have to be in the same room tho, just there in the event of an emergency. If you can handle the weight on your own then you should be fine as long as he's in the house. 7-8ft would apply more for a Female RTB than a male as the males generally are smaller. You could get around that too by buying a boa from a different locale that proves to be smaller such as most BCC's (right?) also you could check out Hogg Island boas which stay smaller but are just as cool. Either way, stick with a male due to them being smaller anyhw and you should be fine.

[DIRTY SHOOTER]

Re: Can I do it alone?

I can give you some facts and some of my own opinions.

Fact: There has not been been one official documented death from a Boa Constrictor regardless of size. This should be at least somewhat reassuring since Boas are the most popular large constrictor in the pet trade.

I believe the reason for this is that Boas won't usually coil you, as a large Python will. I have never heard of a person even being coiled by a Boa but I KNOW of a few that have been coiled by their Pythons. A full strike from a 9ft Boa will be nasty no doubt but I don't believe they will attempt to kill you.

That being said, a 9ft Boa has the "ability" (size and strength) to seriously hurt (and possibly kill) you if it ever did decide to coil. They are wild animals and I personally will NEVER completely trust one.

The point I'm trying to make is that you should feel safe with handling a Boa but when it becomes large I would have a second person within earshot just in case. Better safe than sorry.

[MSwift]

Re: Can I do it alone?

With a boa that big it is definatly recommended to have a second person present while handling. He wouldn't even have to be in the same room tho, just there in the event of an emergency. If you can handle the weight on your own then you should be fine as long as he's in the house. 7-8ft would apply more for a Female RTB than a male as the males generally are smaller. You could get around that too by buying a boa from a different locale that proves to be smaller such as most BCC's (right?) also you could check out Hogg Island boas which stay smaller but are just as cool. Either way, stick with a male due to them being smaller anyhw and you should be fine.

chaos as far as im aware bcc's get larger than bci's (correct me if i'm wrong)

[Nasubi77]

Re: Can I do it alone?

Thanks for all the responses. You have confirmed what I thought I already knew, and that is I should be okay handling a boa that big on my own, as long as there is someone at least in the house with me.

This won't happen for quite some time. I've only just started my research, and I'll have to acquire all the necessary items to care for the snake, so it may be a year or two.

Not to mention how I'll talk my hubby into letting me bring a big snake into the house. It was a struggle to get him to agree to a ball python! And even then, he saw a baby, and thought it wouldn't get bigger, lol.

Maybe I can just show him a baby boa, and then act surprised when it gets bigger, lol. In this trade, it's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission, right? I envy the majority of people who post on these reptile boards who share their love of herps with their spouses/so's.

[pookiebuttons]

Re: Can I do it alone?

Hi!

You could get a "dwarf" locality boa that would not grow to the size of a regular red tail. I have two Hog Island boas, they are very nice. I believe the females can reach 6 feet, while the males usually reach 4 or 5 feet. They are a different color pallet than a regular red tail, but very beautiful. Also Nicaraguan boas are beautiful and stay smaller. Caulker's cay boas and Tarahumara mountain boas as well. Look them up on google. Personally I think localities are pretty spiffy!

Yeah I know how you feel about the significant other thing. My boyfriend doesn't mind my snakes and is okay with me having them for the most part, but when I want more he doesn't understand why and tries to put restrictions on how many I can have. It's like stop trying to put a rein on my excitation and happiness!

Anyway you should definitely get a boa if want one. They are great. I am sooo in love with mine. Good luck finding your special little pet!

[satyra]

Re: Can I do it alone?

if you really love the boas, go for it, and if you are worried about size, def get a male. the way you feed them and their genetics will determine how big each individual will get. if they have huge parents, most likely their babies will get huge too, and with small parents, they will prob stay on the smaller side. of course nothing is guaranteed, ever, even with the so-called dwarf boas. even hog females can reach 7-8ft and ive seen dumeral males reach 7-8ft and a good 35lbs. male bci can get huge too, ive seeen 8ft males before, most of the time they have just been fed alot and they got huge. some of my males came from normal sized parents (fathers were around 4-4.5ft, moms were between 7-7.5ft) and i feed all my males conservatively and they are staying around 5ft, at 2.5yo. i have one other male that had a big mommy, he grew crazy fast, he was eating small rats by the time he was 6mo, then started feeding him every 2 weeks and he slowed down a little, then eventually went to 3 weeks and hes around 5ft now but still growing slowly but steadily. this male will be 2yo in march 2010. i have yet another 4-5yo male, i have no idea how big his parents were since i did not buy him from the breeder that produced him, he is a huge male, hes almost 7ft long, as far as i know he was fed conservatively too, but even at his size, he only weighs about 8-9lbs and hes slender, much more slender than a female of his length. i have a 7-ish ft female that weighs about 22lbs, not much longer than this older male, definitely girthier, but not fat and flabby by any means.

anywho, hope this helped some most of the breeders i know have breeding males around 4-5ft, they are nice and lean, not huge and flabby. that being said, most of the common boas (colombian bci) have docile temperaments and wont try to coil you. babies are usually nippier but calm down both with age and consistant gentle handling, along with proper temps and humidity in their cage, as well as hiding spots to make them feel secure. keep in mind that a proper environment can also have a huge effect on a snakes temperament. and make sure they are fed well, but not overfed. sorry for my rambling.....lol