This isn't really a joke... Getting eaten by massive snakes...

[sirtalis]

Originally Posted by McCarthy Boas

I have posted this a few time in other post but I will post it here for you too.

Boa Constrictor "Handling Safety"

Boas are the gentle giants but don't under estimate them. An 8 foot boa is around 8 times stronger than the average human.

One of the most important things we can do for our reptiles and ourselves is to educate ourselves on their care and proper handling of any reptile. Big constrictors are very powerful snakes. I guarantee they are stronger than most people think. I trust all my big snakes, even around my kids. But my kids and I also respect them even more than we trust them. I always thought that I would be able to pull a snake off of me if it ever tried to constrict me. After handling a couple of my large constrictors, who are only holding on to me to feel safe, I'm convinced I would never be able to pull one of them off of me, if it's intent was to kill. Animal planet reported a test that determined an 18-foot-long snake applies pressure equal to about 12 pounds per square inch. That doesn't sound like a allot per inch, but if you figure your arm is about 12 inches in circumference, and a snake that is 6 inches wide wraps around your arm once, that's 864 lbs of pressure on your arm with one coil. Assuming most snakes coil at least 3-4 times, that is 3,456 lbs of pressure do you think you could get enough people in the same room to pull it off of you? I don't have that many friends and my wife would rather collect the insurance money. LOL

Now I know boas will not get 18 feet long but a 10 foot 50 lb + boa will have about the same strength maybe a little less.
So for argument sake lets say a boa will only have .66 pounds per square inch for every foot of snake. Then a 6 foot long boa will have 3.96 pounds per square inch. Most 6 foot long boa are 4 inches wide. So if it wraps around your arm once, that's 190 lbs. of pressure on your arm with one coil. Now we all know boas wrap more than one time around when it's trying to kill something. So 190 x 4 = is 760 lbs pressure on your arm. Now just think if that was around your neck.

Take care
Tom

wow... that was interesting, thanks for sharing

[McCarthy Boas]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Do you mind if I keep this for future use and I'll reference you?

Yes you can use it and you don’t have to reference me unless you want to.

Originally Posted by sirtalis

wow... that was interesting, thanks for sharing

Your welcome glad you liked it.

Take care both of you.
Tom