I\'m new and Chicken!!

suzi · #1 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 04:32 PM

I'm new at this RTB ownership, (only have Ball Pythons till now), and I am totally intimidated!We rescued this big, beautiful, 5ft girl from a guy that gave her a rat she wasn't hungry for... do the math. Anyway, she was going to be killed, and she was saved. SO, when I first held her, the day we got her, she was fine, but I wasn't the one getting her out. After three weeks, two feedings, and a shed, she scares the crap out of me. I just CAN'T pull her out like a Ball. I can't "read her" the way I do my small snakes, and don't know when she means" leave me alone" or anything. I feel like a loser! Please help me get over this fear! She is beautiful, and I just want to hold her and love on her!
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Ed_r · #2 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 04:52 PM

First off Welcome to RTB!!!

By the you do the math comment I assume she got chewed up by the rat? Is she healing ok?
Now how do you mean she scares you? Is she agresive towards you or striking? Or are you just not sure of her intentions? Plus don't be too impressed about a 5' female, chances are she will get much bigger.
Are you feeding Live prey or f/t? If she is aggressive, what are her present cage conditions? Size, temps, etc...
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telefrag · #3 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 06:10 PM

You should look into getting hooks, that may help you overcome any intimidation.

The snake probably hadnt had the best care, so maybe its just really freaked out.

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morti · #4 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 06:27 PM

My first snake was a boa, and I had the distinct honor of getting to watch her grow up. Over time, you will learn their behaviours and they are a bit different from ball pythons. The only way to really get this experience is to handle her every day.

The first thing you need to know is holding her neck in an S postion does not always mean she wants to bite you... she is just keeping her fight or flight options open.

And I agree with Ed... A little more information would go a long way toward our ability to help you.

Oh... And welcome to Redtailboa.net!!!

-Your Sick Uncle Morti.
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SteveP · #5 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 07:43 PM

"I feel like a loser! Please help me get over this fear! She is beautiful, and I just want to hold her and love on her! " -Suzi

Suzi...welcome to Redtailboa.net! If you've successfully kept Ball Pythons I doubt seriously you're a loser! First of all you keep snakes...so that makes you a winner right off the bat as far as we're concerned!!!

I think your situation just requires some time for you and your boa to get to know one another and each others idiosyncrasies. You'll read elsewhere on other threads about placing a previously worn t-shirt in the cage with her so she get accustomed to your scent, feeding in separate enclosures so the snake doesn't associate the opening of the lid with an automatic meal, and various other methods of getting a new snake familiar with you and your routine.

How long ago did you acquire your 'new' little girl?
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hisba · #6 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 08:24 PM

Hi Suzi
Don't worry, most people are a little nervous with their first adult boas (I know I was!!).
The t-shirt trick works good, do that! Also, something I do with adult boas if I am not
sure of their temperment is use a shield... basically get something large and flat (I use
the top of a rubbermaid tub) and use that to shield the snake's face from your arm
as you reach in to get the out. (basically, place the shield between you and the
snake's head) This way, the snake cannot focus on your arm/hand and you can pick them
up from the other side of the shield w/out them seeing you and possibly striking you. (typically
they just threat posture but it isn't always followed by a strike, the snake is just nervous
and unsure of you, if you are a threat or food source or not.) Then once you have a hand
under the snake, pick it up slowly, you can use the shield in your other hand (or have
someone help you) to keep the snake's head pointed away from you.
Even just sitting by the cage so the snake can see you every day for 15-30 minutes helps
them tame-down and no longer see you as a threat.
(and even if you *did* get bit, don't worry, a bite from a 5' boa will most likely scare you
and it will bleed a bit, just close the cage, wash off your hand and you'll be fine. Any pain
is usually from the force of them hitting you andnot the actual bite which is usually just
a few pin-pricks or scratches.. it can be scary esp the first time, but it's not really dangerous)
Again, IMO, it's always a good idea to have someone else there in the beginning to
help just in case. If the snake bites and curls around you, unwrap from the tail end first,
if it doesn't let go, just pour some hot water over it's head and that usually does the trick.
But you will probably never need to do that. I've been bitten a few times (4 or 5) by
adults and I have never had them constrict.
Good luck!
-April
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John_White · #7 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 08:28 PM

Suzi, I think you need a good bite.
As strange as that sounds I think that you're worrying to much about nothing. A bite from a 5 ft. RTB isn't pleasant, but once it happens you'll see for yourself it's not that bad. Once you've been bitten, much of your fear and anxiety about being bit will disappear and you'll be able to place a bite in proper perspective.

John
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Ed_r · #8 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 08:33 PM

While it sounds terrifying, John is right. A bite is not terrible. There is way more shock than pain. You don't fell the actual teeth sinking in your skin, the teeth are too sharp. A dog bite is 100 times worse. While I'm not saying let every snake bite you, just it is not a life threatening thing. Just don't let it bite you in the face. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

_________________
A man isn't done till he is married... Then he is finnished!!! Marriage is like a 3 ring circus, Engagement ring, Wedding ring, and Suffering.

SteveP · #9 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 09:01 PM

Maybe we should clarify something here! The title of this post is: "I'm new and Chicken!!" Now if this is true you may have justifiable concern Suzi. I don't know many boas that would pass up dining on a new chicken, or any other poultry for that matter!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] j/k

...sorry, I couldn't help myself. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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suzi · #10 (**permalink**) 07-25-2003, 02:09 PM

First of all, thank you, thank you! All the advice seems most helpful, with the exception of getting bit, which just sounds scary. If it happens though, be assured I will love her anyway.
About her tank, it is a 55gallon, we're working on bigger and permanent. At the hot end, it runs 90, the cool end goes 78-80. She has a large water bowl she loves to lay in. She only eats prekilled rats, one large, weekly. The bottom of the tank is coconut bark. She does get fed in it. Oh, humidity goes 60-70, depending on weather here.
I got her on July 3, named her Independence, we call her Indy. She was kept at a local guys shop till her scar closed up and looked better. It was about 8 in. long, 3 in. at the widest. She's shed three times since the bite, it's closed up and not too bad now.
She sits right by the couch, so she sees me a lot. She doesn't strike at me, or hiss, but the "S" posture is the norm, and she pulls away if you even pet her. She did strike at my boyfriend when he got her out to change water, but it was the day before her shed, so duh. What else? She is very interested in watching every move when you're by her, doesn't strike the glass, or go hide. I think that's all. Sorry this is long... oh, and I DON"T smell like a chicken, just feel like one. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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Ed_r · #11 (**permalink**) 07-25-2003, 02:53 PM

Suzi it sounds like you have very little to worry about. A couple things I will point out and advise.
1) Don't feed on the coconut bark, it easily gets ingested into the snake while eating and could cause big problems. Try to get a large Rubbermaid tote, drill holes in it and feed your Boa in the tote. Some snakes may not take to this too well, most do. If yours is a picky eater then you can continue to feed in the cage, but switch to a newspaper substrate. I know its not pleasing to look at but much safer for the snake. I keep all my boas on newspaper, but also feed in a tote. Another reason for feeding in a tote is the snake will not be trained to every time you open the cage , it's feeding time. This will help eliminate feeding response strikes.

2) It's great your feeding prekilled rats, Great job! Since it is eating prekilled, try moving it to frozen thawed prey. When they prey is frozen the remaining parasites in the rat die. Even breeder raised feed carry worms and other parasites.

3) Just being picky now, just drop your hot side temps a couple degrees , so it doesn't get hotter than 88, 90 starts getting a little too warm for them.

The strike while during shed is kinda normal, the snake is in a new environment, and when they are in shed they are practically blind, and easily surprised.

Sounds like you have a nice girl though, Good Luck with her.
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