Will a Rainbow Boa strangle me?

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@Bogwoodbruce
It is expensive, but I'm up North, and there are only these 2 shops I can go to for snakes. I'd rather get to go and select one than buy online too.

@Jeox
Good to know, thanks for the reassurance.

@Kioka
Thanks for the info, but I think I'll stop pretending I can handle the Boa if everywhere on the internet has them labeled as temperamental and not good beginner snakes. I think I need to start with an easy snake like a corn before I dive that far in, I understand that now.

My final concern then is that the cheaper corns are not tame, and so will they be easily stressed being rehoused? I don't want to shell out £65 to bring a snake home and have it refuse to eat at all. How long do they take to settle in? When do you recommend I start handling after bringing it home?

Thank you all,
Paul
 
If you want the rainbow you can get one for a first snake, as long as you get the humidity and temp right it is not challenging, especially considering your prior experience. A bite from any corn snake is a minor affair, and a baby won't even break the skin. You said yourself the BRB is tame, that isn't going to change when you buy it.

If I were you, I would go with whichever I liked best, and a BRB is by no means big, they don't have the girth of most snakes their size.
 
Don't get a Corn Snake just because it's a beginner.

Everyone wanted me to start out with a corn snake; I would been miserable if I did. My first one is a boa and I haven't regret it yet -- other than his damn off-feed moments because he's of breeding age.
 
I'm a believer that you should kinda go for what you want as long as you put in the research first and prove to yourself that you can keep the environment it needs before hand. (all within reason).

BRB's don't get that big... well it's all relative. In reality many reach the 4.5-5 ft mark, females are generally larger. Big specimens can be up to about 7ft reportedly, so theres a lot of difference in their sizes, but if you think around 6ft that will be about right (if it doesn't reach this... who cares!).
They need their humidity granted, and even more so as youngsters, you want 70%+ for the young ones. Also too high temps are detrimental to these species, you don't want to be pushing over 85 degrees ideally. A plastic box will do you best for young ones, like a really useful box.
Young 'uns tend to be quite snappy so thats quite cool. That's quite a cheap price, they were about 120 last year if I remember right, but they have fallen in price over the years quickly due to the amount of young they can produce I suspect.

Anyway do some research and see if you think you are ready for it.
 
oh yeah... im sure the potential is there for it to strangle you in the same way a hampster might accidently nip your jugular and that result in death. But it's not going to actively "hunt" you when you are asleep, or even not.
 
You should be safe as long as you don't piss it off. I've had a corn snake try to constrict me, but that's because she was trying to go up my brother's shorts and I pulled her out and put her around my neck. She didn't appreciate it and try squeezing.
 
Dude, I have to agree, dont just go with the corn becasue its the beginner thing to do. There are a lot cooler snakes out there. Royal ball pythons are pretty cool, why dont you want one?

Also, slow down. Ive been where you are. Dont let the hype of buying SOMETHING lead you to buy something you dont want. Think about what you really want, and work towards getting it. If the rainbow boa is your "Dream snake", and you might not have the opportunity to get another snake, you should do all the research you can, and get the rainbow.
 
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
 
One does not start wanting a Boa and diverting for a corn...one does not compare with the other and you will not enjoy the corn in the long run..

I'd say go for the boa. it is what appealled to you.. study, learn, and go for it!
 
Yeah boas are not look over touch animals, they love to come out and about. I handled a BRB the other day and she was lovely :D They can be nippy as babies but the one you are talking about has already calmed down. Snakes are very easy pets to meet the requirements of, stick a heat mat in there and a ceramic bulb with the water bowl partly over the heat mat for humidity, maybe mist occasionally and you're set. I can't reiterate enough the fact that starting with a starter snake is not necessity, and most people who have snake experience will back me up. The only reason I started with corns is because I was 10 years old, I got my first Boa at 13, they really aren't challenging animals to keep once you've got it right.
 
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