Please help me out here

[Dan and Kandyce]

I'm new to handling snakes and i have some questions. My fiance and I have a baby red tailed boa (he's about 2 feet long) and I need to know how to handle him. I had a huge fear of snakes but I've gotten over most of it but i still get a little jumpy when she brings the snake out. I have problem handeling my emperor scorpions (for maintenace of they're cage only) or our leapord gecko's, but im still a little jumpy around the snake. The first time she brought one out I ran across the room, but since then I can even hold him some times. I need to know how often do they bite, if the bites can do a lot of damage, and what I should do if I get bit? I appreciate all the advice I can get.

[Matt_K]

Just be patient with the snake.. If it bites, it WONT hurt, especially if it is just a baby.. I take a couple bites a week these days from the babies, and it doesnt even phaze me anymore.. Your first reaction will be to pull away, try your hardest not to.. I personally found that just taking the bite for the first time prevented me from doing it again.. I know instinct will tell you to move your hand though..

I remember someone saying somewhere to act like a branch.. I dunno, maybe it works??

[Dan and Kandyce]

Maybe I will try that, but do they wrap around you're arm and constrict or anything? And if it does what do I do?

[Emoman]

They bite only if they in really dangerous or if they hunt and it's all about their biting, really! They are very calm animals and if you will be regulary take them from time to time to your hands they will get accustomed to you and your smell. I have got one and he has never biten me even if I stroke him. Bite of boa isn't very dangerous because he hasn't got very long teeth. It is only a little bit painful.

[Matt_K]

I have yet to have one of my boas bite and constrict.. It's always been a defensive strike, just letting you know they're there..

There is a post somewhere about snakes biting and not letting go, i'll have a look and see if i can find it for you!.

[Invictus]

I wouldn't worry too much about it biting you. My advice is to use a hook to get it out of its cage until you are more confortable with the boa, and he is more comfortable with you. If a boa constrictor is going to bite, it will be when you first put your hand in the cage. It may whip around suddenly to examine what is touching it, but they seldom strike. Once you have it hooked out, just gently place him in your hand, and support as much of the body as possible. I won't personally say that a bite doesn't hurt. I think it stings a bit at first, but it's nothing to write home about.

Scales Zoo sells a huge variety of hooks, and they sell MidWest equipment, which is by far the best you can get. Their website is here: http://www.scaleszoo.com . Port Credit Pets in Toronto carries a few products as well, but tey don't have their prices on their site.

[thunder]

if he bites and doesn't let go, either wait it out, or slip an index card gently into his mouth from the side. this tends to make them let go. i always have my index card handy for my baby kingsnakes, otherwise i would have like five hanging off of me at all times. hungry little buggers!