question about boa bites!?

Question

i want to get a boa but im scared if i get bit it will hurt really bad! its a 5-7 foot brazilian rainbow boa!

Answer 1

I used to have a Brazilian rainbow boa. What a great snake! Never even tried to nip. My jungle carpet python has tagged me numerous times and it hurts a bit, but only once was it a bite and hold for a second or two (I tried to pick her up out of her feeding tub while she was still in prey drive after feeding time). Bleed a little bit, but not bad. My young boa constrictor imperator was pretty nippy when I first got him, but now he only is when he's in shed and can't see. Then he'll put on a big hissing show and snap.

Answer 2

I've been bitten plenty of times by my boa and adult Ball Pythons. It does hurt, but not that bad... Most of the strikes are very fast and you won't have much time to react anyway. Those are the "best" bites as they don't hurt too much and you only have a few pinpricks of blood.

The bites that hurt more are the ones from feeding mistakes. In that case, the snake confuses your hand for a prey item and will bite and constrict. They might be latched on for several minutes, and they have very powerful jaws. They will eventually let go, though. You might have some bleeding and a bruise, and some teeth might be left in you, but if you sterilize the wound you won't have anything to worry about.

I think the biggest problem is just getting over the initial fear and mystery behind getting bit. It's usually not nearly as bad as you might think it is, and after you get bitten for the first time you'll wonder why you were so scared to begin with.

Answer 3

My sister (who handles snakes frequently) and had many boas and pythons, suffered a severe bite from a Rainbow (the same size as the one you're considering). After striking it held fast for about 15 mins. It was very painful - she still has the scars. My sister always used the utmost care when feeding them, and was always safety conscious. The worst thing, however, was the day when it tried to constrict her 4-yr. old daughter. She longer keeps snakes. Get a different pet.

Answer 4

I've been told that getting bit by a boa is about as bad as getting bitten by a kitten. Which is to say that it will hurt, but it's not unbearable.

Answer 5

Brazilian Rainbows have big teeth.
If an adult gets you, it will hurt.

Answer 6

It depends. Have you ever heard of the thing called Pounds Per Square Inch (psi)? The more area the snake has in it's mouth the more it will hurt.

Answer 7

I don't think they have teeth, do they?

A lot of snakes only bite if they've been hurt, scared, or something... Or they're wild. If it's a captive bred snake that's been handled frequently by someone who's good with snakes, biting shouldn't even be a problem.

To avoid being bitten, you can do things like these: handle them frequently, don't poke them or aggrivate them, don't touch their head, don't wiggle your fingers in front of their head (they might mistake it for a mouse), feed them in a 'feeding tank' so they don't associate your hands in their cage with food, etc... Every snake has its quirks, so learn theirs. Like mine, for instance, like to bite people's ears. ;)

I don't know if its any consolation, but I've been bitten by corn snakes and wild non-venemous water snakes multiple times... Those are only 4 to 5 feet and a lot smaller, but it just feels like a medium to hard pinch. ^^ No worse than a cat bite being punched by a sibling... But I've never been bitten by a python... yet.

Edit: I read that they're not 'beginner snakes' so much... Maybe consider getting a different type of snake that is easier to care for? One with smaller jaws? ;)

Answer 8

boa bites can hurt and produce a bad cut but its the infection i would be more concerned about because reptiles carry alot of bacteria

Answer 9

Have at it, but make sure you don't pull away when you're getting bit, it hurts the snake more than you. Yes it will be scary, but it doesn't hurt horribly.