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Originally Posted by SerpentineDream
Can they be handled? I've been looking at B. dendrophila latifasciata, B. dendrophila dendrophila and B. cyanea, pretty much in that order. It's hard to find CB specimens but I'm holding out for them.
My first introduction to snakes was when I was in the 5th grade and a lady brought in a bunch of her reptiles to show us. I was the only one who wanted to pet them. She had a *very* docile B. dendrophila dendrophila which she allowed me to handle (yeah, that would never fly today). It was the first snake I ever touched, and it was exquisitely beautiful. However from what I've read and been told, that snake may have been the marked exception to the rule? My general understanding is that they're nervous, aggressive and will bite as soon as look at you, which is not at all the gentle animal I remember.
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Most
Boiga are not the type of snakes that you would enjoy to handle. They tend to be quite passive and somewhat drowsy during the day, but may turn into a whip at night. At that time, they are easily aroused and get quite defensive, putting on a threat display and (often) launching bluff strikes. They're venomous, but most of them are not considered dangerous for humans. The one exception to that rule is
Boiga blandingii, which may have the potential for a more serious bite. I've been tagged by an adult
Boiga dendrophila before, but aside from physical injury caused by the teeth, the bite only produced some minor swelling and redness.
In any case, all of these factors make
Boiga in general a poor choice if you're looking for a snake that you can freely handle, but they are fascinating snakes and very rewarding to keep. Just be prepared for a largely off-hands approach.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Humble308
I'd like to keep Boiga cynodon at some point, those you have Night are gorgeous. I'd like a few more years experience though before trying them. Looks like a good animal if you're a bit on the fence about keeping venomous. I read it's mildly toxic, but I don't reckon you'd want to get bit by one anyways?
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Yep, about the same as
B. dendrophila--they're large snakes and a bite by an adult isn't going to be fun. That said, it is also extremely unlikely to produce any significant symptoms. I think that keeping a rear-fanged species with an attitude is certainly not a bad idea to test the "venomous" waters. Of course, no other non-venomous or mildly venomous species will ever perfectly mimic an actual viper or elapid, simply because you know that the consequences of a bite aren't even in the same ballpark.
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