Iridescent Colombian rainbow boa found under a chair indoors, then nips hand during rescue

A person trying to rescue a young rainbow boa constrictor tucked beneath a chair received a bite to their hand while trying to move it to the bathtub.

They then took to the internet to ask, "How long do I got?"

What happened?

The bite came during an attempted relocation. In the post to Reddit's r/Snakes community, the original poster said the young boa was under a chair inside the house and later nipped their hand when they tried to move it.

They added that, "When I woke him up, I scooped him into a tub. He bit me in the process so I took him far away and put him in a nice little warm spot. He fell asleep in the tub."

Commenters were quick to comment both on the snake's identity and that it wasn't dangerous, with one writing, "Colombian rainbow baby! That's what mine looks like. As babies they're super skittish, but when they get a little older, they're chill af. 10/10 would die of friendly bites again."

Another joked that OP only has another "50 to 60 more years [to live] depending on your age. Better start making arrangements, now."

Why does it matter?

Because Colombian rainbow boas are exotic animals in many parts of the world and not the kind of snake people typically find loose inside a house, the most likely explanation is that this was an escaped or abandoned pet.

A small boa in an unfamiliar environment may be stressed, defensive, and searching for warmth or cover, making a quick bite more of a warning than an attack, especially as it is non-venomous.

As BBC has noted in its reporting on animal attacks, bites and other close encounters with wildlife are often shaped by human activity that changes where animals live or brings them into closer contact with people. 

In this case, the human role appears especially direct. The colorful, likely escaped snake ended up in a home environment where neither the person nor the reptile was fully prepared for the encounter.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.