I startled my boa last week and she got me pretty good! It doesn't help I was holding my rabbits before(I washed my hands but the rabbits are molting so lots of fur everywhere) It's a part of owning snakes. I currently have 25 so it's bound to happen! So far I have been lucky and all the bites I have got where quick nips no one has hung on yet! The cat scratch I got later that day hurt much worse then the boa!