Handling BCI's

BoaBoi · 12-31-03, 10:48 PM

I just bought my BCI from the petstore, and found again like I did with my bal pythons that I'm constantly worried about my snakes temperature while I'm handling him. I keep them out of their cage alot and their temperature always drops fast, I'm wondering if this is harmful to the snakes or if they will be fine like this. They don't get REALLY cold, but cool to the touch. They seem to stay active and act fine, but I just don't know if they don't know any better themselves :P Any replys are greatly appreciated.

James~

CHRISANDBOIDS14 · 12-31-03, 11:11 PM

They are fine, this is normal, they will remain active because of your body heat. Dont worry, just let them heat up when they go back in.

BoaBoi · 12-31-03, 11:59 PM

Thanks, I really appreciate the reply. One more question, will having them out for an extended period of time hurt them? I like to have them out with me around the house which is kept at 70-75 during the day while my mother is at work.

James~

Invictus · 01-01-04, 06:55 AM

Well, no handling session should ever exceed 15 mins or so. If you're talking about having him out all day, that's mauling, not handling.

15 minutes at those temps won't hurt your boa at all. They are always cold to the touch, because they are cold-blooded critters that don't produce their own body heat.

BoaBoi · 01-01-04, 11:55 AM

Well, My friend has a female BCI that roams his room 24/7. It even sleeps with him, yet the snake itself is in perfect health. I was just wondering about those temps, his house is a bit warmer than mine. Then again mine doesn't roam the house 24/7.

James~

Invictus · 01-01-04, 12:50 PM

If your friend letts his BCI roam his room and sleep with him, for starters, I can guarantee you the snake is NOT in perfect health, and secondly, your friend does not deserve to be owning a BCI. It is a SNAKE, not a fricken DOG. The entire reason to have it in an enclosure is for the SNAKE'S safety, as well as yours. Not to mention, it aids in making sure you have the right temperatures for the snake. Pass this information onto your friend for me, and please, DO NOT learn from his utter stupidity.

BoaBoi · 01-01-04, 03:31 PM

Well, the snake I own is going to have one the best enclosures that you can get pre-made. I should arive sometime next week, for right now I have him in a ventalated critter box with a small hide, human heating pad, and water dish...He really seems to like the hide.

James~

BoAddict · 01-01-04, 04:00 PM

Letting a boa or any reptile roam around freely is just plain stupid and your asking for problems.
and to let a boa sleep with you is just plain stupid again as it could constrict your friend while he sleeps and there would be nothing your friend could do about it.

BoaBoi · 01-01-04, 04:05 PM

I hear alot about people argueing that they are wild animals and will always have some instinct to kill. Once I see a snake eating p/k rats from you hand without even constricting it I beleive that the boa is tame as a dog for life. I also agree with you that sleeping with a snake is dumb because you never know when a snake is dog tame. If your asleep your not going to wake up to a lack of oxygen as that itself induces sleeping.

James~

C.Marshell · 01-01-04, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Well, My friend has a female BCI that roams his room 24/7. It even sleeps with him,

Sounds like another up and comming news story LOL!

BoaBoi · 01-01-04, 04:09 PM

LOL, That was a good one.

James~

zouleous · 01-01-04, 07:06 PM

Your friend needs to have that boa taken from him. He is NOT responsible owner and is exactly why laws are passed that punish the rest of us.

Z

Invictus · 01-01-04, 10:06 PM

I agree with Zouleous, and BoaBoi, if you think that ANY boa is "puppy tame for life", you are practicing a DANGEROUS belief that also gets people attacked, and gets laws passed that affect the rest of us. No wild animal is EVER guaranteed to be completely tame. Your friend needs to realize a few things:

1) If he rolls over onto that boa, he's going to hurt it. If you hurt a boa, it will bite, or do worse.
2) Unless he keeps his house at 95 degrees, the boa is COLD. A cold boa becomes an aggressive boa.
3) A mauled boa also can become an aggressive boa.

Also, you say in one breath that when a boa eats P/K from your hand without even constricting, it's puppy tame for life, then you say you never know when it's puppy tame. You contradicted yourself.

I'm not trying to come down hard on you here, but you seem to me to be young and naive, and your beliefs are going to lead to carelessness, and your carelessness will inevitably lead to an attack someday. It is not tame for life, and will react to stress just like any other wild animal.

djc3674 · 01-01-04, 10:45 PM

Where are people's common sense??? Maybe when he wakes up next to a huge load of crap and some urine, he wont let it sleep with him anymore!!

BoaBoi · 01-01-04, 11:03 PM

Some points there I totally agree with, and I always try to keep all of my pets, not just snakes, stress free. It's very hard to do and in some cases impossible, but never the less I try constantly. As far as him needing to have the snake taken away I see no point in that, granted it's dumb to do that with a wild animal, but it's still his baby. Pit bulls and Rottwhielers aren't any different, but some people live with them a long time w/o one "misshap". Thanks for all the posts guy/gals~I didn't realize this was such a contraversial topic.

James~