When is a giant a "giant"

[StudentoReptile]

I always thought it was any species that can get over 20 ft.

[red ink]

Interesting responses guys...

Seems length is the main consideration, what about girth. I personally think Bloods are a whole lotta snake in one package even if they only avg 5-7 feet.

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by CDN_Blood

Make no mistake, boas can get BIG. Click here if you don't believe it...

some amazing boa's in that link mate

it really angers me the amount of keepers,that have them round their necks though

if a large snake round your neck gets spooked and constricts,you would be unconcious in seconds ( due to your cartoid arterys being closed)

imo,it shows those keepers,show NO respect for,or understanding of,the power of their large snakes

cheers shaun

[StudentoReptile]

I suppose it could also be determined by how many people it takes to safely handle the snake in question. From what I've gathered over the years, it seems the general consensus that you want one person for every 5 feet of snake, and typically any boid species over 8 (ish) feet in length should require 2 people, or at least have a second person on standby (I say boid since an 8-ft ratsnake likely doesn't need 4 hands!). If the snake is particularly aggressive, then add a person. (or have a person for every 3 ft of snake)

So we could take that (albeit) general formula and say that even the largest specimens of BCI, BCC, Corallus, Morelia, blood pythons, and Aspidites sp. still fall within that "2 person" bracket. I'll admit my experience with all of those species is limited, and I will say that they are all strong, but I can't see it requiring three people to handle a large BCI, and most specimens could probably be handled by a single responsible adult with a "spotter" standing by.

I would say any snake that takes more than two people to handle could reasonably be considered a giant.

[reptile65]

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

some amazing boa's in that link mate

it really angers me the amount of keepers,that have them round their necks though

if a large snake round your neck gets spooked and constricts,you would be unconcious in seconds ( due to your cartoid arterys being closed)

imo,it shows those keepers,show NO respect for,or understanding of,the power of their large snakes

cheers shaun

I totally agree with you, Shaun. I always hate seeing people put large snakes around their neck. I see it all the time at the expos I go to and I think it really sets a poor example for people who may not know much about snakes. Honestly, I don't even put my corn snakes around my neck. Better safe than sorry...

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by red ink

Interesting responses guys...

Seems length is the main consideration, what about girth. I personally think Bloods are a whole lotta snake in one package even if they only avg 5-7 feet.

^^^^^
thats why i mentioned them in my post on this thread,about snakes " are dangerous "

i take length and power into account,when i deem a snake a giant mate

cheers shaun

[CDN_Blood]

To be fair, some snakes simply don't spook easily, but that's no excuse for being careless with a large boid. If anyone thinks large constrictors don't have the potential to take them down, they're naive and misguided. To forget the potential of a large constrictor at any time during handling is a good way to make the news. One must *always* be aware of their potential because forgetting it could well be the last lesson they learn as things start fading to black.

Bloods are indeed in the Giant category as far as I'm concerned, but in all honesty I think you're a little safer with a Blood than your average Boa constrictor - assuming you actually know what you're doing with either species.

Bloods are typically python in the use of their power (only really using it to flee, defend themselves or to constrict prey), whereas a boa is using a good chunk of it's power simply hanging on to something. Oh sure, they've got more to exert when they need it, as do pythons, but on the whole a boa utilizes more of their power for everything it does, including being handled. Just my opinion

[Norm66]

In the end though it really doesn't matter what someone refers to as a giant snake. I don't consider boas or bloods giants per se, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't exercise the utmost caution with either one. It doesn't take a giant to put a hurtin' on you.

[UwabamiReptiles]

I've always thought of the "Giants" as the retics, burms, african rocks, and anacondas. With that being said, boas are never thrown in the giant category and some of them get pretty big. I think it mainly depends on the species, as some of you guys know, I have an 8ft carpet and I don't consider her a giant. She's pretty big but not a giant in my eyes. Now a full grown blood is really big to me so I could see where they "could" be giants. I guess I automatically associate a lot of girth with being a giant because it seems a lot of girth = giant. I've never seen a full grown scrub in person but the pics and vids I've seen, those are definitely giants with attitude.

As for the snakes aren't dangerous thing, I don't agree with that but I can see where someone would say that. Once you get comfortable with the animals you work with and figure out how to read them, they usually aren't dangerous. But all snakes absolutely should be respected for what they can potentially do. I personally respect every single snake I have, I don't put them around my neck or even let them near my face for that very reason. Snakes respond to stimuli from what I understand, so one wrong move and that "tame" animal you've had for 10 years could take you out. Bottom line, giant or not, all snakes should be respected. Which in just about every case just comes down to using common sense when working with them.

[UwabamiReptiles]

And we forgot about Olives. They should be considered giants too.

[marvelfreak]

To me a giant is any thing over 10 feet or any snake big of enough to kill you. I have had a 8.5 foot RTB choke me out. Just remember they don't have to be a giant to kill or seriously injury you. And no matter the size no snake ever be underestimated. But in saying that it also depends on the kind of snake. A 8 foot boa is a lot stronger than say a 10 Coastal carpet.

[exwizard]

Under all these definions, would Black Betty be considered a giant?

[Norm66]

Originally Posted by exwizard

Under all these definions, would Black Betty be considered a giant?

Not mine. But she's still a giant Dum.

Like someone said earlier I think it's got more to do with the average of the species rather than exceptional examples within a species.

Nobody would consider humans giants in general, but stand next to an NBA player or an NFL offensive lineman and tell me he's not a giant. You can also look at the forum listings here and see what the forum owners at least consider giants. Bloods, carpets, royals etc. all have their own forum but all the giants are a) pythons and b) lumped in together.

[Xanafein]

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

I suppose it could also be determined by how many people it takes to safely handle the snake in question. From what I've gathered over the years, it seems the general consensus that you want one person for every 5 feet of snake, and typically any boid species over 8 (ish) feet in length should require 2 people, or at least have a second person on standby (I say boid since an 8-ft ratsnake likely doesn't need 4 hands!). If the snake is particularly aggressive, then add a person. (or have a person for every 3 ft of snake)

So we could take that (albeit) general formula and say that even the largest specimens of BCI, BCC, Corallus, Morelia, blood pythons, and Aspidites sp. still fall within that "2 person" bracket. I'll admit my experience with all of those species is limited, and I will say that they are all strong, but I can't see it requiring three people to handle a large BCI, and most specimens could probably be handled by a single responsible adult with a "spotter" standing by.

I would say any snake that takes more than two people to handle could reasonably be considered a giant.

This Coupled With What I mentioned Earlier about a Species Average Size Seems like the Most Logical Way to determine If a Species Should be classified as a Giant

[KSTAR]

I think Any Big Python Has more then enough potential to be a threat but I've been around plenty of big snakes and they're not all that bad except the snakes that honestly get no type of handling or time out they're enclosures to be socialized or experience human contact