ATB temperment

[pablo111]

I'd love an ATB. If I buy a baby, and handle it often with tender loving care, what are the odds that when I end up with a two meter snake it will be gentle and handle-able, instead of a biting machine?

Am I doomed to only a display ATB? Or is there such a thing as a "handleable" or even "friendly a-la-ball python" ATB? Am I dreaming? Or am I just high?

[bistrobob85]

As far as i am concerned, most corallus are far better display animals. As a pet, they stress out and get sick easier ( and may just stop eating ). In the process of trying to ''tame'' and ATB, dont be surprised if it punches a lot of little holes into your skin. In my opinion, those are display animals, though i havent kept ATBs myself, i've been tagged by amazons quite a few times, hehe!

[BOA68]

I agree with bistrobob. Definatly a display animal. And chances are that you won't get a 2 meter ATB. Thats a big ATB. They usually hang around 4-5ft with maybe a 6ft female.

[SerpentLust]

there have been ATB's that are handleable. I hate to stereotype animals. Yes alot of ATB's can be defensive, but I had two that were sweethearts. I have other friends on the forums who have some that are handleable as well. It all depends on the individual animal.

[BOA68]

Thats not true. I don't care what anyone says. Yes every snake is different, but they can be given reputation by species. Just as dogs or any other animal can be given a reputation by breed. For example you can have a snippy ball python, but 99% are great snakes with a passive attitude. For the most part tree boas of any species are cranky snakes. The "sweethearts" are an exception for these species. If you want a snake that you can handle its definatly not a tree boa of any kind. Get a Ball or a BCI if you wanna play with it.

[SerpentLust]

Yes ATB's have a reputation of being nippy and I wasn't saying anything to the contrary. However saying my claim is "not true" is silly. As I said, I PERSONALLY had two that were awesome. Very docile, acting alot like my spotted. And I have a friend who has one that's the same, however he also has two that are feisty, so as I said, the animals are better judged as individuals due to the fact that they're all different.

I have two bearded dragons who will NOT tolerate being handled when the stereotype is that all beardies are very tolerant of captivity.

My best advice is to not purchase a tree boa because you want something that's handleable. Purchase it because you love them as a whole. If it turns out to be docile, then you're among us luckier ones. If it turns out to be aggressive, then you still have an amazing animal.

[JonD]

People call amazons agressive, yet any strike i have seen from all of mine was from me being too close to them. It is strickly defensive. To me an agressive snakes would chase you or come at you, ala some of the beauty snakes. It seems that you are either two things to them...... A tree, or a big preditor. Many times i have held one of my amazons only to have them strike at a person that was several feet away.

The defensive nature is all part of their design and allows them to survive in nature. Any of these so called tame amazons would probably not live long in the wild, falling victim to preditors. That said. I believe that eventually with captive bred amazons, over time, they will become less defensive with new generations.

Anyways, you can handle amazons if done properly, playing by "their" primative ways and not get bit, or luck out with one that is "docile". It is a gamble. It was stated before, don't buy for the purpose of holding them cause chances are you will end up with a beautiful display animal.

Either way they are my favorite snake and I never get tired of looking at them.

Good luck with your purchase

;)

[BoidKeeper]

I have a pair. The male is nasty until he is out and the female is always fine. Both my Emeralds are dog tame.
Cheers,
Trevor