Some beginners questions for a Red-Tail Boa

[dannybgoode]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

Yes, you can handle, but not until he starts eating.

When the snake has successfully taken 2-3 consecutive meals without refusing, then you may begin handling the snake. 2-3 times a week should be sufficient, and how long those sessions are depends on the snake's attitude.

If it is uncomfortable with you and striking, biting, hissing, or posturing at you, keep the handling sessions no more than 15 minutes or whenever the snake stops hissing/biting/posturing. You don't want to stress them out, but you also don't want to encourage defensive behavior.

If it's perfectly chill and doesn't seem to mind, I would start out with 15-30 minute sessions and once you've had it a few months and gotten a feel for it you can have slightly longer sessions.

Again, snakes stress from handling, so you don't want to overdo it. But snakes also don't revert to a defensive personality simply because you don't handle them if they started out already docile.

Handling is not necessary whatsoever in the keeping of snakes, it is for your benefit only.

For an adult boa personally I wouldn't wait 2 or 3 maps simply due to the length of fine between feeds. Could be 18 weeks our so.

A juvenile sure because feeds are much more frequent.

5-7 days settling in, feed and then another 5-10 days post feed should be plenty.

Other than that I would agree with your other handling comments...