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#1669933
Boanoob
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 Help with my very snappy boa.
Hello everyone, I recently bought a 4 month old boa. At the pet store I bought him at, the owner held him and played with him like he was a puppy. I brought him home and put him in his new tank, the temp is around 85 on one side and about 70 on the other. I have had him for about a week, I have left him alone besides feeding him 3 days ago. Today, I tried to handle him a bit, I opened his tank and let him see me, then I went to scoop him up(he was in a ball) and I got him about halfway on my hand before he struck at my forearm, I didn’t react to it and he pulled away and then repeatedly started striking my hand and arm until I finally removed my hand from the cage and put the top back on. As I was in front of the tank afterward he tried to strike at me and hit the tank. I washed my hands before I attempted to handle him. I was wondering why he was so snappy after I saw him so lovable a week earlier. I have ran out of ideas and I don’t know how I should go about taming him. Please help me.
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03/21/08 02:27pm
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#1671123
Scruffy2000
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Message To: Boanoob In reference to Message Id: 1669933
 Help with my very snappy boa.
dont handle a snake when its just ate. try making him look at 1 hand and then grab him wid the other or u cud put a stick for him to strik at and then grab him.
scruffy2000
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03/22/08 10:47am
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#1674745
ColdBlooded666
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Message To: Boanoob In reference to Message Id: 1669933
Help with my very snappy boa.
Okay first of all...you should’nt have fed him while he was still adjusting to his environment.
What sized cage is he in? What is his humidity level? The temps could actually be a bit warmer.
How many hides do u have, whats his cage look like?? Give us some info on the cage and everything first, plus..hes a baby, babies are snappy so get used to it since it will probably happen more then once. Soooo give us the info on the cage first then we’ll see what we can do.
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03/25/08 12:05am
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#1674821
Boanoob
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Message To: ColdBlooded666 In reference to Message Id: 1674745
Help with my very snappy boa.
I fed him when the previous owner recommended me to do so. He is in a 20-30 gallon tank that was purchased along with him(the same tank he was in at the pet store), with humidity at about 50-55% and the temp is what was recommended by previous owner. I do not know the previous owners experience but he owns a pet store and has been dealing with snakes for about 20 years, he may be wrong with some of the information he gave me, but this topic is not about questioning his snake knowledge, it is to help me find a way to stop the snake from being so snappy. I have a water tray large enough for him to place his whole body in, and the snake has about 3 places he can be in and be hidden from site. As for the "get use to it" comment, I would be very open to getting use to him bitting and snapping at me if I saw him act that way from the start, but seeing him acting fine, even getting to pat his head and hold him a little before buying, then to see him be like this is strange to me. I was told by the store to feed him about 3 days after I get him home then try to handle him 2 or 3 days after that. I did not handle him after he first ate and I am not going to grab him by actually provoking him to strike a stick. I hope this will provide enough information to receive helpful posts. 
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03/25/08 01:27am
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#1674827
ColdBlooded666
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Message To: Boanoob In reference to Message Id: 1674821
Help with my very snappy boa.
Well don’t feel bad about the biting because it happend with me with my rosy boa. He was fine when i first bought him (August 07) and then in december (actually the first day of winter) he started biting me and getting very snappy. Got me 5 times since then. Sooo don’t feel bad, i thought he’d do well like my husband’s rosy did who is a complete sweetheart. But..everything seems to be alright with the cage, like mentioned the temps need to be a bit higher. As with getting him not to be so snappy..well, you can always try and hook train him. Take him out with a hook everytime u want to hold him. Or if u really needed to you could wear gloves when u take him out so that way you don’t get bit and he only bites the glove then he’ll more then likely get sick of biting leather (or whatever else they’re made out of). Thats all i can think of, plus hes a baby...hes scared and unsure of whats going on and doesn’t know if you’re a threat or not.
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03/25/08 01:41am
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#1675015
Drock1985
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Message To: ColdBlooded666 In reference to Message Id: 1674827
Help with my very snappy boa.
When i first got my dum at the pet store he was fine and didnt mind being handle. a week after i got him home everytime i tried to handle him he was jumpy, but never acted like that when he was at the pet store. But now he’s fine, you just got to give him time to adjusts. Also the Hook idea by coldblooded666 is a good idea. thats what i had to do with my dum even though he never tried to bite me he was always jumpy so i used a hook to get him out and he didnt mind it. it was alot easier to handle him that way. now i dont even need the hook.
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03/25/08 09:26am
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#1675040
SusanC
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Message To: Boanoob In reference to Message Id: 1669933
 Help with my very snappy boa.
First of all, congratulations and welcome to the world of boas. My first question would be what kind of boa do you have because THAT is the deciding factor on what temps you should be keeping your enclosure... people are giving out generic information. The BEST advice I can offer you is to buy the book Barrons Boas. A Complete Pet Owners Manual. It has covered every question I have had. I suggest you read... ask questions... read some more.. and just when you think you know what you’re talking about, read the book again. I do agree however that most baby snakes are nippy and it has been my experience that they calm down once you get them in your hands and they get used to being there. Most people I know would suggest that you buy a snake hook... then they associate the hook with being handled. I’m not really sure what your pet store owner told you the temperature of the enclosure should be (it’s been my experience that most pet stores don’t give very good advice when it comes to herps) According to the barrons book(page 29), you should use an UTH to heat 1/3 to 1/2 of your enclosure. The warm end should be between 85-92 with the remainder being in the low 80’s. A drop of several degrees at night is also accepted. Humidity will depend on type of boa... it’s skin condition and the temps and condition of the place it is being housed. I hope I am being a little more helpful. please beware of people giving out advice... even if they say "I have been keeping snakes for 30 years.".. guess what? you can do something WRONG for 30 years. When I give advice that is my opinion.. I state that this is my opinion... when I am giving advice that requires fact.. I will always cite my resource. Just buy a book... read everything you can on your snake. My boa book lays on my desk in front of me. I have one on every type of snake I own. It’s important to challenge yourself to learn everything about the animal you keep. It didn’t ask to be in your care... so make sure that you are giving it the best care possible. I’m really glad that you chose a boa. They are my favorite. learn the facts... watch your snake.. he’ll tell you when something is wrong. The fact that a 4 month old boa is snippy doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong... to him you are a big predator and he will be nippy. Just make sure your husbandry is on target... start hook training him.. and be patient. let me know if you want to discuss this further... be sure to tell me what book you picked out. Good luck.. I look forward to seeing pics on forum and engaging in conversations of your thoughts and opinions.
Susan
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03/25/08 09:59am
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#1675250
Boanoob
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Message To: SusanC In reference to Message Id: 1675040
Help with my very snappy boa.
Wow. Thank you all for the great information and help! He is a red-tailed boa, and I didn’t even think of hook training. The pet store sells them, I’ll go pick one up. As for the book, I think they sell that exact book at the store to. Thank you all for the help. I have one last question, how could I go about raising the temp? I use both a heating pad and a lamp, both on one side, and I can’t seem to raise the temp above 82 or so degrees.
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03/25/08 02:37pm
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#1675324
SusanC
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Message To: Boanoob In reference to Message Id: 1675250
Help with my very snappy boa.
what type of enclosure? what type of lid?does your UTH have a control switch on it that you can adjust the heat? Is the tank on the floor? If so.. remember heat rises... what temps do you keep your room?Think of little stuff.. like is it by the door... near windows... Make sure your UTH covers 1/3 to 1/2 of the enclosure. I’m BY FAR an expert.. but next to snakes... guess what my favorite pastime is? YEP... yoou guessed it... I read... and I read A LOT! Over 250 books in one summer. Buy the book.. I promise it’ll help. We’re all here so you can ask questions...just be careful of anyone not backing their knowledge with a place to prove what they are saying... Let me know how it turns out.
Susan
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03/25/08 03:51pm
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#1675330
SusanC
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Message To: Boanoob In reference to Message Id: 1669933
Help with my very snappy boa.
P.S. I just re read your post. I don’t wanna sound ugly.. so I’ll be really careful in my wording. It’s a really good idea... to let him acclimate to his environment... don’t handle him... get your temps up... spot clean his enclosure... offer fresh water... but kinda just let him adjust for a week or 10 days. If you have other animals... be sure to quarantine the boa in a room by himself... and just let him chill. This quarantine time ranges with personal preference..usually 30-60 days. If you do handle him even after this time frame.. make sure you wash your hands afterwards and in between animals...Good luck
Susan
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03/25/08 03:57pm
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