Nervous Morpheus

[TammyJamaica]

My bci, Morpheus, is getting more nervous as he grows, and more difficult to handle.

First "he" could be a female...have not had him sexed and there are no experts here in Jamaica so I would have to attempt this myself and have no immediate need to. Lives in tropical conditions in a glass tank about 65%-70% humidity, I keep the top which is mesh, mostly covered to retain moisture. Newspaper substrate, cozy hide box, nice soaking pool, driftwood to climb on, rocks to rub on and low to moderate outside traffic. About 2 feet 9 inches and almost two years old, eats fresh killed young rats or adult mice when I have no rats available which is like 30% of the time.

I handle him hardly at all (about once per week and feed him afterwards) because he displays such hostility/fear? on being approached, so of course I guess the less I handle him the worse he will get, right? He is really snappy, lunging at me when I go to take him out, lunging and hitting the side of the rubbermaid container that I feed him in, instead of going for the prey, as I pass by anywhere near. Even after I put him back in his tank after being fed, he lunges and snaps at me from inside his tank as I stand there looking sadly at him....! Sometimes when I take him out and have him for a while, he does calm down and relax, but after some time! And I have to keep him away from my face!

I have given other people on this site advice about calming their snakes and now I have this problem and feel awful about it. He was given to me by someone who did not want him because of this behaviour, and he was much smaller then, a baby! My other bci Boadicea, is a darling...and I am tempted to handle her more, although I do not.

Any ideas? Encouragement? Scolding?

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[mpgt]

You should check to see if there's anything that might reduce stress for him...light, temp, hides, traffic around the cage... I certainly hope nobody scolds you because your snake is aggressive. You obviously care for him.

[LdyDrgn]

Also, what locale boa is he? He may be entering his "I'm cranky because I want to breed" stage, lol.

[muzixman]

Have you ever had it checked for internal parasites?? Almost 2yrs old and only 2’9” I would defiantly have him checked.

[TammyJamaica]

Thank you all for replying. I am totally unsure where he originated. I know that he is a sibling to the other boa that I have and they are totally different in temperament. They live in the same room but not in the same tank, in identical conditions of traffic, temps etc. The tanks are not close to each other and they cannot see each other (I don't think but maybe they can smell each other sometimes?) and his temperament has always been testy but its getting worse.

He is not skinny and eats well, but maybe I should start feeding him more often as perhaps his aggression is partially due to hunger? He gets fed every eight to ten days, and he eats his prey OK although he takes longer to actually take it in his mouth and start swallowing, than Boadicea who does not hesitate. No mites, no signs of internal parasites, I think he is really healthy physically. Sheds perfectly and regularly and poops just dandy. Going to send some pictures soon as I get my computer at home back in order. Maybe I am just guessing his length, he may be more than 2 feet 9 but not by much.

By the way did I say that he spends about 75% of his time in his hide box?

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[muzixman]

Originally Posted by TammyJamaica

no signs of internal parasites

There isn't always signs visible to the eye.Tthe reason I am saying it can be internal parasites is because they can rob nutrition from your boa and he wont grow at a normal rate also feeding fresh killed can pass parasites to your snake. It really would be a good idea to take a sample in and have it checked, around here its only like $20 better safe than sorry.

[morti]

And of course, as you said, the less you handle your snake, the less handleable it will be. The more you handle it, the more handleable it will be.

[TammyJamaica]

I believe this to be so and that I am guilty of reluctance to handle him because he is so unfriendly, and thus I compound the problem. But I always wondered, isn't it a memory of being handled before that makes them calm about being handled again? And are they that smart to remember being handled before? Reptiles? Is it a different kind of memory then, than ours?

I had a turtle that used to come out of her tank and plant herself under my chair on the patio every time I came out and sat, it just happened that I used to feed her by tossing bread/whatever to her from that chair. So she must remember that I would feed her, and hurry on over every time! A turtle. Is this "conditioned reflex"? Is it the same thing with the handling of the snake?