Stress: how to tell?/ Handling too much?

[ChristinaM]

How can you tell if your snake ( specifically a Columbian BCI ) is stressed?

How much handling is too much?

Will they "tell" you when they've had enough?

Thanks

[UpscaleBoas]

Unfortunately they don't show stress in the same kind of way other snakes will. They will eventually hiss and maybe strike if you've gone over board with handling. But you really need to be looking for subtle clues. When the breathing starts to get heavy or the tongue stops flicking or they are moving in anyway that you would not describe as slow or deliberate they are starting to get stressed and need to be put back.

Luckily these great snakes get used to handling easily and the owner only needs to look for these clues.

[Invictus]

When you get a new snake, especially one as calm and easy to handle as a BCI, the temptation is there to handle them a lot - but you shouldn't. Because they are so easy going, as UpscaleBoas mentioned, they don't show the signs as obviously as a snake that is more willing to tag you to be left alone. My personal guideline is, no more than once a day for 15 minutes if they are young, maybe up to 1/2 hour when they are adults. This is, of course, just a guideline. Your boa may be more tolerant, may be less.

[ChristinaM]

What would you define as young?

My new guy is about 8months old, and soooooo docile. It's hard to resist bringing him out. He will curl around me, for example, this morning ( pics are coming LOL ) he was entwined around my head, in my ponytail and on my shoulder. He was staying put generally, reaching out to explore things over my shoulder, tongue flicking but not rapidly, just the normal rate.

To me, he seemed "content". He wasn't trying to get away, as I was not holding him. He had many oppurtunity to go had he wanted to try to.

I know part of it would be him taking in heat from me, hence coiling and remaining there.....but is there something wrong with that? Like say we sat on the couch and I had him with me, would he be fine to thermoregulate on me, explore the couch, warm up on me again, etc?

I know alot of it is reading your snake. I just want to make sure I am reading him right. I'm no expert in snake language, but I have general knowledge of what certain body positioning means, movements( speed, frequency, etc), but I still have a lot to learn.

He is so amazingly calm. Unlike my hoggie, who LITERALLY just "tolerates" handling sessions. ( defensive posture at times, remaining still and hardly exploring, etc. its hard to describe but you just know she'd much rather be in her tank, and if you make the wrong move she wouldn't hesitate to bite )

[Linds]

LOL where are these easy-going boas you all speak of? The only one I have that is mellow to handle is my Hog. All my other Bc's range from mildy insecure to downright upset.