interpeting hissing sounds

sabre_and_barons_dad · #1 (**permalink**) 01-14-2003, 03:38 AM

I have a approx 2 yr old boa I bought second hand about year ago. He is about 5 1/2 feet long.. My question is this...sometimes when I reach in to pet or touch him...he gives out a loud hiss each time I touch him...I basically takes this as a sign to leave him go. Just recently I had him out of his cage and was holding him. He seemed very active..and wanted to just go..move around..and he gave what I thought were hisses as I tried to restrain him. To be honest if freaked me out and I put him back in his cage. I am now wondering if he was just breathing loud and making a hissing sound or if he was actually hissing..and does hissing always mean aggression or warning that he will bite? He never bit me before or tried too..other than when a rat was in his cage and I walked by....he struck at me but he was in that feeding mode. I have a ball python who is extremely docile and friendly...but my boa is starting to scare me a little..he is a gorgeous speciman who eats well and is very healthy..I just am not sure how to interpret his actions and sounds..I know sooner or later I will get bit from what I hear...but really want to avoid this..thanks for your replies... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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Eric From Cincinnati · #2 (**permalink**) 01-14-2003, 03:44 AM

I have a juvie that's about 33 inches i guess and she hisses on occasion. You can tell the difference in a hiss and a wheeze from breathing...she's very small and you can hear her hiss in the next room. Hope that helps.

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OverTech · #3 (**permalink**) 01-14-2003, 04:14 AM

I'm no expert by any means, but mine is a bit over 5 1/2' and sometimes it sounds like she's hissing, but I it's really just heavy breathing, like a huff. On the rare occassion that she does hiss, there's no mistaking it.

If yours is really hissing and you put her down, you are only teaching her that by hissing she will be left alone. Seems to me it would only encourage more hissing... Unless she's just eaten or shed or for some other reason shouldn't be handled right then, I'd ignore it.

I'm sure someone that knows a lot more than me will come along and throw in some better advice...

Dave
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herp_chick · #4 (**permalink**) 01-14-2003, 04:28 AM

I notice you said "A rat in his cage"

Was this a live rat? or Prekilled/ frozen/thawed?

Also, I agree with Dave. If you put him down when he hisses, you are teaching him that to get left alone, all he has to do is hiss. Bad habit to let him get into

If you are feeding live, STOP. It is dangerous for your snake. switch to prekilled or frozen/thawed. LIVE food can make snakes more aggressive.

Last thing, try feeding him in a plastic tote. I feed all my snakes, even the 8 ft burm in a plastic tote, because I don't want her associating her cage(safe place) with going into feeding mode.
Keeps the odds down for me getting struck at or bit, because they know no food comes in there.

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sabre_and_barons_dad · #5 (**permalink**) 01-14-2003, 04:55 AM

Feeding fresh killed...no one sells frozen rats in my area and I really dont have the freezer space to store them if bought from an online place..plus the thought of a rat in my freezer... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] anyways..I see what you are saying about teaching him/her to keep hissing if I put it away but also...from what I read...its a snakes warning sign to leave it alone or get bitten. seems like a catch 22. I also have parrots (no comparison in the intellligence level between those and snakes) and the same principal applies..if they fluff and bluff to bite..and you leave them alone..it will teach them to always do that if they want left alone..well...it doesnt work to well with parrots..I can't see how a less intelligent animal such as a boa will learn that...I got bitten so many times by my parrot buy taking that advice...btw..i rather get bit by a snake because a parrot bite hurts like H_ LL!! My parrots still bite if they dont want handled..regardless of what I do or dont do.. so..do I respect the snakes right to be left alone if he is not in the mood for handling by heading its warnings...or just ignore it...and risk the bite...and even more distrust in him? there are times he is totally calm and enjoying being handled..from what many folks say on here..the snakes memory is mimimal and short lived..and if thats the case...how will it remember from day to day if it hisses..i will let it go. i see a catch 22 here [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
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cb76 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-14-2003, 05:27 AM

snake d hve short memory, i have even heard short term is 3 minutes or so- i will post the report i read it from as soon as i find it.

when handling your snake you have to remembr they are cylindrical and their lungs are in their bodies fairly tight. when ever they move or bend that may force the air out of their lungs at some pont or nearly all the time.

so if he hasnt attacked you yet, i wouldn't be worried.

a lot of snakes, especially my burmese pythons give th occasion "outburst of air" before i pic them up. that is just becaus they were sleeping and i startled them or they were content with out anybody bothering them. i even had some flick my hands off by doing a wave with their bodies.

i called it an out burst of air becaus its not a hiss. its just an out burst.

this is a hiss........

anoter view....

i love looking at these pics! he is calm now, bu does occasionally strike at me when i walk by.

i was serious though when i said whie handling, it my be just forced exhale by body movement.

good luck!

will
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Stormyva · #7 (**permalink**) 01-14-2003, 03:12 PM

Our 6' BCI will expel air when you pick her up and that's all it is. Our Hog Island on the other hand has done a real hiss a few times.... and there was no mistaking it. It sounded almost like a spitting sound. The combination of the hissing and the posture of the Hog Island there was no mistaking it. He has only done it three times though... once in his feed tub, once after getting his picture taken (doesn't like the flash), and one time at my son who was waving a hand in front of him while he was in "blue" and soaking in the bath tub which he does not like either.,
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sabre_and_barons_dad · #8 (**permalink**) 01-14-2003, 03:17 PM

Thanks ... I think I was overreacting then...at no time did he open his mouth while making this hissing sound..it must be expelled air then. after seeing those pictures...it was def no hiss lol.. unlike most boas...he does not seem too content to just hang out with me...he is always trying to go somewhere...and I feel bad to keep restraining him to keep him with me. I get him out a few times a week..maybe I should do it more often..for more exercise. thanks everyone for your help. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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herp_chick · #9 (**permalink**) 01-14-2003, 03:19 PM

You didn't say what kind of boa, but I know that argentine boas make a lot of noise. I have several, and they put on a big show of hissing, even striking out, but it's all bluff. Reach n a dn pick them up anyway, and they are fine.
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nomadbean · #10 (**permalink**) 01-14-2003, 03:55 PM

LOL...yup those pics are hisses it sounds like a growl almost from a snake as large as tje one you are describing...my burm huffs and puffs sometimes when I go to take her out, but when she hissed at me once...I knew it was a hiss.....you can tell the difference when you hear both. Good luck.
Trina
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herm · #11 (**permalink**) 01-14-2003, 04:11 PM

If you have to ask, "Was that a hiss?", then it wasn't. Believe me you'll know it when you hear it. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
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Constrictor_BO · #12 (**permalink**) 01-14-2003, 09:48 PM

yeah, you will definately know when your snake hisses. No doubt about that sound. You think the sound you are hearing now is intimidating???? Just wait and see if you ever hear a hiss, then let us know how it sounds LOL.
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sabre_and_barons_dad · #13 (**permalink**) 01-15-2003, 02:14 AM

The sound was loud but it definately was not a hiss from what you all are saying. Just came out of his notrils...mouth was closed. He is just such a devilish looking snake...his appearance is more scary than anything... My Ball Python is not itimidating at all...and its because he just has a "cuter" look... My boa is named Damien..and as a joke..I call him the devil...now my parrotts call out all day..."the devil"...UGH. by the way..someone asked which species..I got him from the newspaper ad and i would have to say he is a common columbian boa...BCI...or BCC. .Hard to say..His tail is a reddish color but not the highly red color..I got him and the Ball little over a year ago..both doing well...the ball is an awesome eater...
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#14 (**permalink**) 01-15-2003, 02:26 AM

Will.. Those pics look like the "I'm mad leave me alone" type hisses..lol. I know those ones haha. I also have larger snakes here that do not open their mouths like that, but are most definately hissing at me np. Can tell from the strike that follows is all sometimes [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
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