Will a Rainbow Boa strangle me?

[Mem]

Try looking another snake up and see if it captures your interest as a first snake. CHILDRENS PYTHON (Antaresia Childreni). Nice pattern and doesnt get too big. Good first snake.

 

[davo]

I've thought about it overnight, but I still think I'll opt for the corn snake. Apart from the Boa, I really was quite taken by the snow corns. I'm having a hard time convincing my mother that the Boa won't kill me in my sleep anyway, but I think it's best to leave it as one of those species on my wish list. I've not had any snake experience, except for handling them at the stores, and even then I wasn't very familiar with their body language.

I know from other herp keeping that no matter how much you research, mistakes happen. Corn's appear to be more forgiving to such mistakes, so I think I'll hold off Boas until I'm more familiar with snake behavior and care. In the same sense, I know I wouldn't of been able to properly take care of my Chinese Softshell without having 9 years experience with my hardy RES.

Besides, I want a snake that I can handle and interact with on a regular basis. Boas seem to be a lot more "look-but-don't-touch" animal from my research.

I forgot about the ball python comment. For some reason, ball pythons just don't appeal to me as much. I got to handle them at the store and they seemed a lot less active, so maybe that's why, but it's just one of those herps that I'm not wanting to keep right now.

Thanks for all the advise regardless, you have been more than helpful.

Paul

That's a pretty good attitude to be fair.

There are a lot of corn morphs if you do truely like them, a lot of different white ones too... have a look at a few websites to get a look at them all. Still BRBs as long as you have the right environment, you are more than likely to be fine with them(and although I wouldn't get a snake out to handle at every opportunity, BRBs are pretty tolerant and aren't bad handlers at all-they are good for aesthetics and a lot of people bring them out quite frequently).

If it is your first snake then do some research into other species too... there are a lot of choices and it may only be when the snake bug has hit you hard after a corn than you find something else you didn't know was available to you.

In your choice of snakes though it looks like you are after something handable and aesthetically looks nice and maybe not to fat. Check out other things like milksnakes and kings and other rat snakes too...

Anyway let us know what you decide to do in the end

 

[paul112]

Thankyou everyone.

I'm pretty set on the corn snake now, and my mum's a lot happier with that decision.

That's a pretty good attitude to be fair.

Thanks, it took my a while to see it, but I know my limits as a herp keeper and I already have quite a few animals to care for, aswell as doing my A-Level studies. Taking on a more complex snake seems a silly idea right now, especially when I'm already fond of the snow corns which are easier to care for.

In your choice of snakes though it looks like you are after something handable and aesthetically looks nice and maybe not to fat. Check out other things like milksnakes and kings and other rat snakes too...

Already ahead of you There was a really nice Tangerine Milk Snake for £100 at one pet store, but it was sold by the time I'd talked to my mum about it, and it was apparently a bit fussy and aggro. I've also done research on a Taiwanese Beauty Rat Snake, but it stopped eating at the store and I don't want to take that chance.

I'm sorry if it seems that I'm going for a corn snake because it's the beginner thing to do, but the truth is that they just fit my desired qualities in a snake, and my lifestyle better right now. I guess that's why they're so popular

Thanks to all,
Paul

 

[mojo2776]

I'll just give you my story/opinion...

As a kid I studied snake books in the library like a dork, and fell in love with rainbow boas... just thought they were he most beautiful thing in the world. The snakes I had back then were whatever my friends and I could catch (garters, grass snakes, rat, and water snakes mostly). Over the years, I've kept a variety of rats and corns, and a few boa constrictors (bci and bcc; nothing extravagant). I'm just not a big fan of pythons.

So finally last year I got a baby brb at a reptile show in New Orleans for $100. I had always heard that they were nippy and temperamental, but not this one... he's only bitten me twice (both times my fault). I got him June 2nd of last year at 17", and now he's at about 40" ... and no, he doesn't miss a meal. He's the most mild mannered and best eating snake I've ever owned.

So if you go with the corn snake now, learn what you can and get a rainbow boa when you're ready. They're amazing. There's a pic of mine on the reptile pic thread.

 

[jason longboard]

hey bud,yes you can go with several other snakes such as milk,king rosys,and so on but check it out.Ive been breeding and keeping herps since i was 13 or so and im 32 now.I had one corn snake back in the day and got a little borred with it and moved to others.Now after all this time has passed,i have only 2 snakes.Amongst other strange animals but as far as herps its just the 2 right now and i love them both.A red tail boa and a corn snake.Make the corn enclosure worth looking at and that makes a big dif too.Never has he struck at me and if it did i know from the past that it dont hurt.Your cat will hurt you more than most snakes anyways.Tell your mom corns are great snakes.My girlfreind was terified of them until i got this guy as a baby 8 months ago or so.They are active day and night.Fun to hold,i like the normals but i got a red and orange one.Feed like crazy and they are very forgiving.Just follow a good corn care site or ask us.Bigger snakes are great but corns are great for many reasons and if you want a good fun handler then go for it.They are very tough in my opinion.Dont look at it as just a beginer snake.That means its a great pet!You got plenty of time for others.My rainbow used to bite me like a machine gun punk.Always.Traded him for the rtb,lol.

 

[Jessica Dring]

In answer to your first question, Rainbow Boa's are not very likely to pose a threat.
Main reason being, the only reason one would ever coil around you would be as a feeding response. And at that point it would be your torso not your neck. Rainbow boas arent big enough to see humans as food, however, my baby royal got me instead of the rat whilst trying to feed and coiled my wrist and didn't let go for 15 minutes. So yes, it does happen, but it happened to me because I caused the stupid feeding error, not the snake. If care is taken your chance of being coiled by a rainbow boa is extremely slim.

If one does coil you, it will be a strong coil, in which case another person would more than likely be needed to uncoil it. Round your neck? yes, an adult could have the strength to kill you should it be such a responsive feeder and you were left alone to uncoil it, but this would only happen should it wrap around you neck, which is so highly unlikely.

A rainbow boa is not large enough nor strong enough to kill you by wrapping around other areas of your body.

On another note, they aren't ideal first snakes but if you do your research, and prepare well, there is no reason you should not pick this type of snake.


Good Luck

 

[paul112]

Thankyou Jessica, great insight there. Sorry about your feeding error, I saw the pics and it looked nasty. I'm going to save enough to get the boa, and go to the shop with my mum (and a setup prepared of course). If she warms up to the idea, I will get the boa. If she still says "no it will kill you", or the snake has been sold, I'll choose something else, probably the snow corn. Don't worry, I won't choose anything I haven't researched

Wish me luck, although it might be a few more weeks 'til I have the money, study stuff's been draining me.

Thanks,
Paul

 

[monsternoob]

If one does coil you, it will be a strong coil, in which case another person would more than likely be needed to uncoil it. Round your neck? yes, an adult could have the strength to kill you should it be such a responsive feeder and you were left alone to uncoil it, but this would only happen should it wrap around you neck, which is so highly unlikely.

 

[SimonL]

The different RB subspecies vary in size, temperament and ease of care too. Brazilians are the largest, "nippy-est" and hardest to keep. I've got an 8 year old female Guyanese Rainbow boa (smallest subspecies), and she's a little over 4 feet. Super easy to keep, lives on aspen in my snake rack just like my other snakes. Room humidity is about 60-70%.

 

[davo]

If one does coil you, it will be a strong coil, in which case another person would more than likely be needed to uncoil it. Round your neck? yes, an adult could have the strength to kill you should it be such a responsive feeder and you were left alone to uncoil it, but this would only happen should it wrap around you neck, which is so highly unlikely.[/B]
Good Luck

If you get killed by a rainbow boa, I myself will enter you in for the darwin awards for rubbing a rat against your neck and then sticking in front of the face of a boa and basically letting it happen.

Simon that's a nice little boa did you ever breed her?