Handling a Red-Tail Boa

Handling a Boa is the same thing as holding your Boa, or letting it out of the tank while being supervised.

How often can I handle my Boa? 

When shouldn't I handle my Boa?

How do I handle my Boa? Do I need to hold on to them to make sure they don't fall?



How often can I handle my Boa?
I've seen people who handle their Boas every day without much problem. You'll want to handle it at least once per week to assure that it still recognizes you and doesn't get aggressive.


When shouldn't I handle my Boa?
You should leave your Boa alone during shed, and after feeding. When you feed, wait at least 48 hours so the Boa can digest it's food. If you want to be sure, run your finger down the Boa's belly and see if you can feel anything solid. If you can, it means he's still got food in there, so you should leave him alone. If everything is pretty mushy, then he should be fine to come out.


How do I handle my Boa? Do I need to hold on to them to make sure they don't fall?
Not usually. You should let the Boa explore at its own will. Instead of you HOLDING the Boa, let it hold on to you. Boas constrict, and they have amazing power and muscle mass within their body to hold on to things tightly. The only time I've ever seen an issue with that is if the Boa is sick or if it's a newborn and hasn't quite developed enough muscle to be stable.


Handling a Boa

Support most of the Boa's body with your hands or arms. Whenever they feel something near them that they can grab onto, they will wrap their body around it. You don't need to hold on to your Boa to make sure they won't fall, just make sure you are supporting it and they will do the rest!

You should also refrain from sharp movements as it could scare the Boa. Be gentle and move slowly. If they start to smell your face with their tongue, don't get freaked out! This is just them trying to get to know you better.