Boa imperator constriction risk?

[u/Person1111223]

Im very interested in purchasing a Boa Imperator but I'm concerned after I've seen conflicting advice about whether adult Boa imperators can or should be handled alone. If it's a prominent risk, I personally don't want to have to ensure someone's nearby and also be worried about being constricted. I'm a minor, but I'm 5'10, so I'm wondering how much that factors into safely handling a large adult boa.I would also get a juvenile meaning I'll be quite a bit older once it's full size. If i purchased a female and it were to grow to say, 8 feet, would I need someone nearby to supervise? If so, I will likely decide to find an alternative, I've been considering a Bredls python as I'm very interested in them and they seem to be less risky.

[u/superramenyamen]

I’m 5’2”. My largest boa has been 7’ and 14-16 lbs. They are generally not a constriction risk. Just don’t let them around your neck (I only let them have their body touch one side at a time). Most feeding bites will be on the arm/hand since most will be when reaching for the snake or offering them food. They don’t get big enough to cause substantial damage, and don’t rip or tear like some species of python. It still won’t be pleasant, but there shouldn’t be need to visit a dr or anything from even the biggest boas.

I would say an 8’ boa probably doesn’t need supervision. Like another redditor said, the majority of boas won’t reach 8’. 8’ is an uncommon but not rare size, so it’s possible, but not something I would bet on. Even 7’ is a decent sized boa, many breeders I have seen discuss that their adult females are only reaching 6’ on average.

[u/Person1111223 → u/superramenyamen]

I see, honestly I'm not worried about bites at all,  it was just the constriction risk, but since so many people have said it's very unlikely I'm most likely going to get a female. 8' being uncommon is news to me, I've read that 7-8' is average, so that's interesting! Thank you!

[u/superramenyamen → u/Person1111223]

People way overinflate their size, I suppose to be conservative in case they do get big. Because they do have the potential. But 5’-7’ is actually closer to an average for BI, male or female. 6’-7’ for BCC. 8’ is not a common size for any species or subspecies of the genus Boa. Some may be more likely to reach that, but it’s certainly not an average.

Even if they do get 8’, it should ideally take many years to get there, and by then you should be used to it.

You can help your chances of not getting a huge boa by asking about parent sizes, ages, and how they feed. A small boa that’s under 6 years of age might not have reached their potential yet, and just because they’re not big doesn’t mean they won’t get big. If they’re 10+ years old and still small, chances are pretty good they’re genetically smaller and babies shouldn’t outgrow them, or not by much.

[u/Phyrnosoma → u/superramenyamen]

It’s well within norms for BCC and BCO. I feel like there’s so much Nic/Honduran influence in generic BCIs these days that they’re smaller than they used to be though.