Why do snakes hiss?

[cherriepie]

I have had my redtail for three weeks now and fed her the first day we got her and handled her the next day. We have handled her daily and fed her again Sunday. She was soaking the Monday when we tried to pull her out and she hissed. We left her alone and waited until the Tuesday to try again. She let us handle her with no problems. I tried to pull her out again today and she hissed again! I think she may be shedding... although her eyes are not cloudy her back is extremely dry. Should I pick her up anyway or should I give her space? Is she being defensive, moody, scared... what is her problem?! The first time we thought she may have been very full so left her until the next day.

[trinitywolf]

welcome to RTB!
You really should not handle your boa until 3 days after you feed her. They really don't have any way to hold their food down, so handling them can cause them to regurge. Anyway, hissing is a defensive mechanism and let's you know that snake does not wish to be handled. It does sound like her humidity needs to be raised, so if you don't mind, give us a little more info. What is her cage set-up like? What are your high and low temps? What is the humidity? Tank size? What are you using to heat the tank?

	regurgitate Throw up. Reptiles will regurge when they feel they are in danger or if they have some sort of health issue. If your reptile has regurgitated his/her food please seek help!

[cherriepie]

Her humidity stays pretty stable at about 55- 60%. We have her in a 40 gallon breeder tank with a mesh lid 80% of which is covered to keep humidity in. We have an undertank heat pad that reaches pretty high temps (100+), so it is about six inches from her hidebox. She has an ambient temp of around 80. We use the heat pad and heat lights to keep her warm. We do have a thermostat for the heat pad but have yet to install it. It is possible that her temp may be low in the hidebox. Would that cause her to be cranky? Should we pick her up although she is hissing?

[MythsBishop]

I'm no expert but I know that if you keep messing with them after a hiss, it is often followed up with a strike. Some snakes are just naturally cranky and the only way to settle them down is to handle them often, even if they bite.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help

[Ace]

Your snake is probabley just a little grumpy, let it get acustom to its surroundings, feed it and leave it alone for 2 or 3 days. You should have left it alone as soon as you got it for about a week maybe even more so it could settle down and get used to its new home. After a while once your snake gets used to its routine of being feed and handled, then if your snake hisses pick it up. Otherwise it will know that all it has to do is hiss and you will leave it alone.

[eddie]

We have an undertank heat pad that reaches pretty high temps (100+), so it is about six inches from her hidebox. She has an ambient temp of around 80

Wow!
You need to get the temps a little more under control
Or possibly a better temp measuring device(s).
The floors too warm and the airs too cool so I am guessing that the temp gauges or strips are off a bit in their readings.

[trinitywolf]

I agree with Ace. I would also add that I believe 100 to be a little too high for boas. I keep all my boas between 88-92 for their warm spot and the ambient temp is around 82 with a low somewhere close to 78. I have heard others keep them that warm, but I find it causes them to be irritable, pass runny stools, and just generally be a little more restless. That is my experience, and I currently keep 20 boas, which does not make me the most experienced on this board.
It does sound like your set-up is good, but try providing a few different hides and tweeking your temps a bit.

[trinitywolf]

Eddie kinda beat me to it this time.