Boa Constrictors-The Perfect Pet for Autistics

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I have a pet boa and I just wanted to share why I think they are the perfect pet for people like us. Of course, only if you enjoy reptiles.

Their enclosures must be maintained at perfect temperatures and humidity levels. It is very precise and comforting.

Boas enjoy routine and get very aggravated if it is disturbed. I can relate to this and find that I feel a sense of kinship. They must be fed on a strict routine as well. I enjoy counting down the days so it is exactly 21 days. My boa gets very upset if I move his water bowel or his hide. He doesn't like change. I love him for this. He is one of the few people in my life who experiences some of what I do.

There is little to no mess involved in keeping a boa.

Although I love my furry pets, my boa is my favorite because he is not needy. He is perfectly content being by himself, and while he enjoys being handled, he does not force me into it.

This next positive to keeping a boa as a pet may seem a bit weird. Do you ever feel anxious, and you feel this need to have pressure on your body? Sometimes when I'm having a meltdown I will lay down UNDER my mattress, just because the physical pressure makes me feel better. My boa gives me this when I hold him. He wraps around me nice and tight so he won't fall off me. It's one of the most comforting things I've ever experienced. I feel like keeping him is a gift every day. He makes my life better just by being himself. How many people can say they have someone in their life that isn't a burden, at least at some point. He never feels like one to me.

I like counting his scales sometimes.

Since he doesn't like change, I am the only one he enjoys being held by. It makes me feel good, knowing we have this bond. My dog will love on anyone who will have him. My snake only wants me. It's selfish, but who cares?

Those are just some of the good things. If anyone else has a pet snake and would like to add to the list, I would enjoy reading your experiences. Any thoughts or questions are welcome.

That is awesome. I am so glad for you that you have him. It sounds like you are very special to him too. I remember when I was working at a summer camp. We would pick up king snakes and hold them and I loved that because they were very affectionate and they loved being held. Snakes can bond very well with us and it is nice to know that you have a very special friend in yours.

Erm, well, good for you and all that, but I'd rather not have a pet whose ultimate aim was to eat me.

I prefer dogs: They're cuter, more intelligent, more empathic, and you can take them out for a walk. Also, the only time they will attempt to eat you is if you die unexpectedly without leaving them fresh food out -- they'd never eat you as a lifestyle choice.

Plus they fetch sticks. Show me a snake that can do that.

That sounds absolutely terrifying.

It's great that you've found a special pet that you've formed a bond with.

No

I'm not normally small minded but I think I may have to pass this time around. Thanks, though.

I am particularly drawn to the idea that a Boa's constrictive behaviour could be conceived as 'comforting' -- I mean WTF, it's planning to eat you ffs!

Good God, woman, have you taken leave of your senses?

It is so wonderful to hear you talk about your snake. It sounds like a great relationship. I too have had closer relationships with my pets than with most humans. I don't care for dogs much for a similar reason - they are too willing to give anyone their affection. I enjoy having a pet that wants me to earn its affection. This is why I love cats so much. They are particular about who they will allow to pet them and cuddle with them.

I have never owned a reptile or known someone who did. However, I would not be opposed to it. Some of them look very cute to me. I am not really afraid of snakes, but to handle one I would need to get over my initial worry that they may bite me. Perhaps by researching this further that would ease my mind.

I keep a couple of Australian pythons. I can relate to some of what you are saying, and some not so much. They are a great pet because they are so low-maintenance. They only need feeding every now and then, and you can leave them for days without them being tended to as long as they have enough water.

As for needing a routine, I don't understand why this would be so. I deliberately feed my snakes at random intervals, as this most closely replicates what they would experience in the wild. The young snake would just prefer to be fed as often as possible, day or night, whenever, as she is a hungry beast. The older one really doesn't give a s**t, and he stops eating rats over winter and will only eat mice...so the schedule/arrangement, if I had one, would have to change.

How can you tell that your boa is upset that you have changed things? I move things around every once in a while just to keep life interesting for them but I don't think they really notice or care. I change their cardboard hides when they get messy and they just use the new one I give them, no worries. They don't care if it's me or someone else or a tree holding them.

All that being said, different snakes have different personalities of course and it seems you may have an aspie snake It is a bit of a gamble when you purchase one because it may be calm and lazy, aggressive and bitey, or something else. I recommend pythons/boas as pets not just for aspies but anyone who wants a low-maintenance pet, if you can cope with one that tries to bite you, as that may be what you end up with.

Nice reasons, I just assumed they made good pets cause you could use them to strangle people that talk too much

Although I don't care to keep a snake as a pet, I realize that others do. However, I do know that those little boas and pythons can grow to a huge size. I am reminded of a boa that was abandoned along the Wildcat Creek in central Indiana. It was 14 feet long. A conservation officer killed it. I thought it cruel to abandon this snake because the brutal winters would surely kill it.

Yeah, that is one thing that is so important with any pet but particularly with a boa or a python. If you have a pet you must be responsible and really care for him. My mom told me that she recently saw on the news that someone had abandoned a pet boa in an apartment building and he got so hungry that he ended up killing two little kids aged 5 and 6. They were siblings and they lived in the next apartment and the snake killed them in their sleep. Even though this situation was horrific you can't blame the snake. His owner should have never abandoned him like that. If you find that you can't keep one you should take it to a place that can care for it. And you should make sure his cage is secured properly.

Snakes are interesting to watch. I'm not afraid of snakes, but I do have a healthy respect for those that are venomous! While snakes are not domesticated like cats and dogs, if they're housed and handled properly then they can make pretty good pets. I actually like their markings and shiny eyes. Your boa seems to be a perfect pet!

skibum: I read that tragic story as well. The snakes were not kept properly, so I guess it was an accident waiting to happen.

Hesitant to mention this (close your eyes, redrobin62 and all!)....but I understand tarantulas can make good pets (if kept properly) and they're pretty easy to care for. Interesting to watch. I have a fish aquarium and the owner of the aquarium shop said his buddy has had an exotic S. American pet tarantula for 20 years now! She's like their house cat, sort-of.