Boa Constrictor "Handling Safety"

[Tom]

Boas are the gentle giants but don't under estimate them. An 8 foot boa is around 8 times stronger than the average human.


I have posted this a few time in other post but I will post it here for you too.

One of the most important things we can do for our reptiles and ourselves is to educate ourselves on their care and proper handling of any reptile. Big constrictors are very powerful snakes. I guarantee they are stronger than most people think. I trust all my big snakes, even around my kids. But my kids and I also respect them even more than we trust them. I always thought that I would be able to pull a snake off of me if it ever tried to constrict me. After handling a couple of my large constrictors, who are only holding on to me to feel safe, I'm convinced I would never be able to pull one of them off of me, if it's intent was to kill. Animal planet reported a test that determined an 18-foot-long snake applies pressure equal to about 12 pounds per square inch. That doesn't sound like a allot per inch, but if you figure your arm is about 12 inches in circumference, and a snake that is 6 inches wide wraps around your arm once, that's 864 lbs of pressure on your arm with one coil. Assuming most snakes coil at least 3-4 times, that is 3,456 lbs of pressure do you think you could get enough people in the same room to pull it off of you? I don't have that many friends and my wife would rather collect the insurance money. LOL

Now I know boas will not get 18 feet long but a 10 foot 50 lb + boa will have about the same strength maybe a little less.
So for argument sake lets say a boa will only have .66 pounds per square inch for every foot of snake. Then a 6 foot long boa will have 3.96 pounds per square inch. Most 6 foot long boa are 4 inches wide. So if it wraps around your arm once, that's 190 lbs. of pressure on your arm with one coil. Now we all know boas wrap more than one time around when it's trying to kill something. So 190 x 4 = is 760 lbs pressure on your arm. Now just think if that was around your neck.

Take care
Tom

[Genevieve]

Originally Posted by BCI MAN

Wow, are you kidding? What could a six foot
nonvenomous snake do to me anyway? What if it craps its water dish or had a serious emergency and I have to do something about it pronto? BTW do you work with large boids?

MY boyfriend was feeding my snakes and got bit by my 6ft male boa. It took two people to get the snake off his hand. It wasn't a bad bite, but one snake and one person doesn't always equal out. The rule in my house is no one handles any of the big snakes without someone else in the house. (cleaning cages doesn't really count as you aren't taking them out)

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[fishmommy]

my boa is about 12 inches and I never handle him alone in case I pass out from cuteness overload

[RioBravoReptiles]

I wrote a detailed reply but then decided not to post it.. instead I have only this to add to the subject of the threat of 6'-8' Boas..
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Nuts..
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Have a great evening.

[echoxxash]

Originally Posted by BCI MAN

That's the way it works in the U.S or at least just for fatalities and basicly every country where people have the money for pets.

Uh, not at all. I've lived in two 3rd world countries and visited several others. They have the money for pets and do own them. But there are absolutely no animal protection agencies, no places that document anything, etc.. Soldier deaths are documented because the military or UN is there to do it...but they don't care about the locals and their animals.
Places like that still have Sunday dog fights in the town square. Some locals told me stories about their dogs being impaled by their enemies when they invaded their villages. So, although those are just examples of dogs in third world countries, snake stuff certainly goes on, too. Regardless of species, animal welfare and deaths/accidents caused by animals is nothing of importance. Heck, people killing other people isn't a big deal at all, so why would an animal be?
Deaths, accidents, etc are not documented like they are in the western world.

I got way off subject (although, kind of not...made the point about documentation/differences), but, like what everyone else has said, better to be safe than sorry. I'm sure that "a six foot nonvenomous snake" could easily overpower you.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[Sadistic_Muffin]

Personaly I think this thread should be locked. Its clear we are dealing with a child here that is just wanting to cause a fuss in the forums. No good will really come out of this thread other then getting people worked up. he may have learned something here but I dont really think he cares. It could even be likely that he isnt even here to acctually get advice. Ive known people to be like that.

[ssjsmits]

Many people get defensive when they are given information that they don't like, or weren't expecting. You see it a lot with beginners to the hobby. I was guilty of it at one point as I'm sure we all were at one time or another.
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Hopefully, the original poster will gather some good from this.

[TheBoaGuy]

Yeah this thread has just about reached the end of its usefulness. Been given all the correct information now you do with it what you want. You can lead a horse to water but can't force it to drink. I love how people are willing to play Russian roulette with there life. I have news for you you only live once so taking some precaution to make sure your still breathing tomorrow, doesn't sound like a bad idea to me. In closing go ahead and hold your boa by your self if you so choose. You may just find out how the world has its way of weeding out the genetically inferior of our species.

[razeraze]

BCI Man: I am the same poster from RZ, stating the same stuff I stated there. Only I am less likely to be banned here.

Dave: Charger was never around my neck She was on my shoulders. No part of her body ever tough my throat, she simply applied pressure to the sides of my neck constricting my arteries.

Tom: great way to sum it up in a mathematical sense.

Xieke: I have talked to many zoo workers and zoo keepers the same rule is followed by all of them.

Cleaning cages can be just as dangerous, that is how Lou got it. Granted it was a large retic, but as Tom pointed out it is not the species, it is the size and strength.