Good info here. I've always heard Ball Pythons are very docile, but other of the larger species can be very temperamental and problematic. I had a female Columbian Red Tail boa many years ago when stationed overseas - couldn't import her back due to import laws of exotic pets at the time so I gave her to my boss who took care of her for many years before donating her to a local school... ANYWAY, My boa was the same. She was the size of a small drum stick when I got her, and was right at about 6' long and as thick as my forearm when I left, and she only bit me once. I was walking down the hall and my daughter had her guinea pig and asked if she could take it to her friend's house. I scratched it on the head and said 'sure'... Went over to the computer and about an hour later I saw my boa was out roaming around, so I opened up the tank (still smelling like guinea pig), and of course, she hit, pulled back and twisted for the wrap, let go and pulled away before I even said, "OW!!" LOL! It felt like someone took two staplers to each side of my hand and slammed them together to put staples in me. Back of my hand was bruised, bleeding like crazy. Of course - that was me being an idiot reaching in smelling like food. That was the only time she ever bit me. When I held her, she loved curling around my neck because of the warmth. If something startled her, of course she'd tense up, but can't blame her for that. I'd just put my hands on her and rub her gently and she'd loosen up.
Thank you! If I had room for more snakes that a boa would be one of my first choices! I guess their bite is definitely a bit more powerful than one from a Ball Python, but like you say - they release so quickly when they realise they've made a mistake. I had a red tail years ago that did similar behaviours when she was around my neck. Thanks for sharing - it made me think about how bad I need to get another one at some point!
I appreciate that you don’t project human emotions on snakes. It does them a disservice to treat them like a dog or a cat. They are great pets but they aren’t trying to snuggle with you lol. I love my BP’s but I’m well aware the best I’ll get from them is that they’re healthy and comfortable in their surroundings.
Hey thank you for watching and commenting! I totally agree, pythons are great pets, but when it comes to affection we can get it from dogs/cats/birds instead
Mine only not me once. It was spring and he hadn't eaten since winter started. I came home with a mouse for him and he smelled it and bit my hand when I was putting it in his tank. Man that bite bled like a siv...
It's always a bummer when one gets you! But on a positive note, at least you got the satisfaction of your snake starting to feed again. Sometimes with BPs that go off food you almost start to feel like taking a bite would be worth it. Thanks for watching!
That makes sense. Being too cold would make them worried about being able to defend themselves and get preemptively defensive. Now that you mention it, I had a corn snake once that got a serious temper going into brumation. Thanks for commenting!
Good info here. I've always heard Ball Pythons are very docile, but other of the larger species can be very temperamental and problematic. I had a female Columbian Red Tail boa many years ago when stationed overseas - couldn't import her back due to import laws of exotic pets at the time so I gave her to my boss who took care of her for many years before donating her to a local school... ANYWAY, My boa was the same. She was the size of a small drum stick when I got her, and was right at about 6' long and as thick as my forearm when I left, and she only bit me once. I was walking down the hall and my daughter had her guinea pig and asked if she could take it to her friend's house. I scratched it on the head and said 'sure'... Went over to the computer and about an hour later I saw my boa was out roaming around, so I opened up the tank (still smelling like guinea pig), and of course, she hit, pulled back and twisted for the wrap, let go and pulled away before I even said, "OW!!" LOL! It felt like someone took two staplers to each side of my hand and slammed them together to put staples in me. Back of my hand was bruised, bleeding like crazy. Of course - that was me being an idiot reaching in smelling like food. That was the only time she ever bit me. When I held her, she loved curling around my neck because of the warmth. If something startled her, of course she'd tense up, but can't blame her for that. I'd just put my hands on her and rub her gently and she'd loosen up.
Thank you! If I had room for more snakes that a boa would be one of my first choices! I guess their bite is definitely a bit more powerful than one from a Ball Python, but like you say - they release so quickly when they realise they've made a mistake. I had a red tail years ago that did similar behaviours when she was around my neck. Thanks for sharing - it made me think about how bad I need to get another one at some point!
I appreciate that you don’t project human emotions on snakes. It does them a disservice to treat them like a dog or a cat. They are great pets but they aren’t trying to snuggle with you lol. I love my BP’s but I’m well aware the best I’ll get from them is that they’re healthy and comfortable in their surroundings.
Hey thank you for watching and commenting! I totally agree, pythons are great pets, but when it comes to affection we can get it from dogs/cats/birds instead
Mine only not me once. It was spring and he hadn't eaten since winter started. I came home with a mouse for him and he smelled it and bit my hand when I was putting it in his tank. Man that bite bled like a siv...
It's always a bummer when one gets you! But on a positive note, at least you got the satisfaction of your snake starting to feed again. Sometimes with BPs that go off food you almost start to feel like taking a bite would be worth it. Thanks for watching!
Ive noticed that poorly kept especially cold Ball Pythons are super bitey and defensive.
That makes sense. Being too cold would make them worried about being able to defend themselves and get preemptively defensive. Now that you mention it, I had a corn snake once that got a serious temper going into brumation. Thanks for commenting!
You removed my comment even though you asked for differing opinions. Terrible.
Seems like your comment is public? Nothing removed?