help boa turned evil

joaboa · #1 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 01:39 AM

i need some help my 7 1/2 foot female boa has gone evil and i don't blame her i had to leave the country for almost two months and had a cousin feed my reptiles and dogs i also told him he had to handle the boa at least a couple times a week. he held her no prob when i was here but when i got home a week ago she was snapping at her cage she was do that day to feed so i fed her and she still strikes the glass when i walk by she wont let me pick her up either. i asked my cuz if he fed and handled her he said he fed on schedule but he was to afraid to handle her with out me here i wish he told me that before i left i would have found someone else. shes about 3 years old i had her for a little over a year shes always been very tame she wasn't head shy at all never showed any aggression whats so ever. when i got her i wasn't planning on getting a snake but i was at a house buying a couch and noticed a seven foot snake in a 20 gal Tupperware tub with just a light over it i asked the guy if she just fed he said no that was her home so i offered him $100 for her and i took her she wasn't even aggressive after that i built her a huge encloser that i could live in comfortably she was about to shed when i got her but it was coming off in pieces because he didn't keep the humid right so i gave her a bath with no problems she hissed a little when i pulled the skin around her head but nothing else. so my question is what could have got her to turn and how can i re tame her with the least amount of scars, its not the bite that scares me i think its the motion. my cuz also didn't give her the frozzen thawed i left for him he was giving her live, before i got her the other guy was giving her both so i don't think that's the prob shes also been sitting in her own filth im going to get a snake hook after im done with this post to clean the cage also shes do again for a rat i feed her once a week. i just don't know what to do from here any suggestions?

HERPHAPPY · #2 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 01:56 AM

Feeding live had alot to do with her attitude I am betting! And sitting in filth will tick off many a snake too, though not all. Just be patient... Having a stranger there was upsetting too! You don't think she noticed? Again, some snakes don't care, but recognizing the caretaker is a comfort, a stranger is kinda scary! All that combined...???

toxic.kitten · #3 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 01:59 AM

I think also with no regular handling may have played a factor?

Hypoboa1234 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 02:00 AM

try hook training..some snakes are cage agressive but if u pull em out ther just mussshhes lol!!!!!!!

DontBlink · #5 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 02:08 AM

You feed a 7.5' snake one a week ?

HERPHAPPY · #6 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 02:20 AM

You can always get one of those padded suits the dog trainers use (for attack training the aggressive breeds)? LOL! Shouldn't get too many scars that way?

Rachel SS · #7 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 03:40 AM

I just refuse to believe that handling has an effect on how "aggressive" snakes are.

I think your snake is incredibly stressed out. How big is her enclosure, what are the temperatures and humidity, and what are you using to measure temperature and humidity?

She may be underfed and hungry as well. What size prey are you feeding her? Do you have any pictures of her?

sFlsniper · #8 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 04:22 AM

I agree with Rachel, she sounds stressed out.

Herphappy- I hate to see the beats of a snake you need a $1000 bite suit to handle! :lol2:

how long did you have her before you left? was anyone else in the house with the animal besides your cousin?

Stargazer · #9 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 05:10 AM

Okay, first thing, calm down. Put an old shirt or sock of yours in her cage so she can get used to your smell again. Then start hook training until she feels calm around you again. The most important thing is your calmness level. You both need to be able to build trust again. This goes both ways. There will be a point where you will need to just bite the bullet and take her out. Hold her neck down with a hook and put a cloth or something over her head while you pull her out of the cage. Make sure someone else is in the room. And then handle her with confidence, keeping her head away from your face. I've done this a few times with my BCI, though she's not quite as big as yours. I hope I will be able to take my own advice when she gets that big though.

Derekcm87 · #10 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stargazer

Okay, first thing, calm down. Put an old shirt or sock of yours in her cage so she can get used to your smell again. Then start hook training until she feels calm around you again. The most important thing is your calmness level. You both need to be able to build trust again. This goes both ways. There will be a point where you will need to just bite the bullet and take her out. Hold her neck down with a hook and put a cloth or something over her head while you pull her out of the cage. Make sure someone else is in the room. And then handle her with confidence, keeping her head away from your face. I've done this a few times with my BCI, though she's not quite as big as yours. I hope I will be able to take my own advice when she gets that big though.

But then again if a smelly sock may make her even more angry

jere000000 · #11 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachel SS

I just refuse to believe that handling has an effect on how "aggressive" snakes are.

I think your snake is incredibly stressed out. How big is her enclosure, what are the temperatures and humidity, and what are you using to measure temperature and humidity?

She may be underfed and hungry as well. What size prey are you feeding her? Do you have any pictures of her?

I have to agree with rachel here, i also don't believe feeding live over frozen has anything to do with aggression i have fed both and neither affected how aggressive my snakes were.

SublimeBoa · #12 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 11:37 PM

Don't think handling has an effect on their aggressiveness eh? I say yes it can. Proper handling is one thing, but what about improper handling? Example, go into one of your larger Boas cages that you know to be accepting of you, and nervously reach in real quick and grab it behind the head and pull it out. Tell me how it reacts.

Your cousin admitted he was scared. Scared people tend to try and "secure" the animals, rather then handling them properly. Suppose he did it like I mentioned above. Suppose he dropped her accidentally.

Just saying, improper handling can too cause aggression in an otherwise accepting snake.

(Tame is not a word to be used with any reptile. They "accept" our interaction. Or they don't)

A 7.5 ft Boa should not be getting fed weekly either, unless your goal is to only have it around for a few more years. IMHO.

Try putting a blanket or something over her viv, and give her a weeks time out from all movements and distractions. Let her just calm down for a while. That should be your first step.

Rick

jere000000 · #13 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SublimeBoa

Don't think handling has an effect on their aggressiveness eh? I say yes it can. Proper handling is one thing, but what about improper handling? Example, go into one of your larger Boas cages that you know to be accepting of you, and nervously reach in real quick and grab it behind the head and pull it out. Tell me how it reacts.

Your cousin admitted he was scared. Scared people tend to try and "secure" the animals, rather then handling them properly. Suppose he did it like I mentioned above. Suppose he dropped her accidentally.

Just saying, improper handling can too cause aggression in an otherwise accepting snake.

(Tame is not a word to be used with any reptile. They "accept" our interaction. Or they don't)

A 7.5 ft Boa should not be getting fed weekly either, unless your goal is to only have it around for a few more years. IMHO.

Try putting a blanket or something over her viv, and give her a weeks time out from all movements and distractions. Let her just calm down for a while. That should be your first step.

Rick

Yes but he said his cousin didn't hold her at all and i don't think a calm snake becomes aggressive because she hasn't been handled in awhile.

Rachel SS · #14 (**permalink**) 08-28-2010, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jere000000

Yes but he said his cousin didn't hold her at all and i don't think a calm snake becomes aggressive because she hasn't been handled in awhile.

Absolutely agree.

Rachel SS · #15 (**permalink**) 08-28-2010, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SublimeBoa

Don't think handling has an effect on their aggressiveness eh? I say yes it can. Proper handling is one thing, but what about improper handling? Example, go into one of your larger Boas cages that you know to be accepting of you, and nervously reach in real quick and grab it behind the head and pull it out. Tell me how it reacts.

Your cousin admitted he was scared. Scared people tend to try and "secure" the animals, rather then handling them properly. Suppose he did it like I mentioned above. Suppose he dropped her accidentally.

Just saying, improper handling can too cause aggression in an otherwise accepting snake.

(Tame is not a word to be used with any reptile. They "accept" our interaction. Or they don't)

A 7.5 ft Boa should not be getting fed weekly either, unless your goal is to only have it around for a few more years. IMHO.

Try putting a blanket or something over her viv, and give her a weeks time out from all movements and distractions. Let her just calm down for a while. That should be your first step.

Rick

Just like you said - a snake either puts up with us, or doesn't. If you reach in and grab at your snake, you can expect to be bit. Why? Snakes don't like being poked and prodded. They don't enjoy handling. WE do! but they don't.

I believe there are some snakes who are more active than others and "enjoy" (i'm using this term loosely as I don't think snakes truly are happy about anything) climbing on things - people, fake plants, couches, anything that they can stretch out on.

I ONLY handle my snakes when I'm cleaning. I have an aggressive Amazon Tree Boa that I tried to get to a point where I could handle her - it's impossible. I have a Hog Island Boa that has only bitten me once, by accident, when I was feeding her.

Again, I never pull my snakes out for enjoyment to handle. I leave them alone 24/7 unless feeding and cleaning. Why is my Hog Island such a calm, non-excitable boa if I never handle her?

SublimeBoa · #16 (**permalink**) 08-28-2010, 12:10 AM

I've had family lie to me many times. I don't put anything past anyone.

Just sharing an idea is all.

jere000000 · #17 (**permalink**) 08-28-2010, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SublimeBoa

I've had family lie to me many times. I don't put anything past anyone.

Just sharing an idea is all.

Good point that's happened to everyone.

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