I posted a couple of weeks ago about moving my boa outside. Actually, he's in our garage in a bigger cage, in a well-ventilated area. I've noticed a personality change since I've moved him, and it's not for the better. This morning he semi-struck at my husband and my husband is not particularly thrilled. This snake works around children as part of an educational program and it is paramount that he be predictable as much as a snake can be. I've worked around animals my entire life, including college, and have worked with mostly herps for the past 7 years. This is my first boa and I've had him for about 6 months. I understand that no animal is 100% predictable, but I also understand that behind most undesirable behavior is a solvable problem.

Anyway, he is in a wooden cage that measures 4x2x2 with screen on the two long sides and a door on top for feeding. When I first got him he was in a 40gal aquarium with a heating pad. Our current temps in the garage peak at 86-88 and fall to around 80 at night, medium-high humidity. Since the first day I put him out there, he spends the evenings cruising back and forth, rubbing his nose on the screen door. I checked the door and the inside is lined with a soft mesh so I don't think he'll damage his nose. During the afternoon he hides in his box. He seems very scared, doesn't want to be touched, runs away when the door is opened. He is 3 years old, a little over 6ft long, eats a jumbo rat every week-10 days. He's been dewormed, seems healthy as horse, sheds fine.

Any ideas on what is scaring this poor little guy? I really can't have a snake that is striking in defense, so I'd like to work with him if I knew what the issue was. I'm sure the move is stressful, but he wasn't this stressed when I first got him and moved him to my house. There's probably more traffic through the garage than there was in my office inside. There's a pair of mice that live in the garage, but I figured that would bring more of a feeding response/strike than a defensive strike. It was more of a "leave me alone", very soft strike, no contact, very slow.

[ Hide Replies ]

• Boa outside, really need help - laurarfl, Sun Jul 1 09:00:53 2007
• RE: Boa outside, really need help - Ophidia_Junkie, Sun Jul 1 12:12:26 2007
• RE: Boa outside, really need help - amarilrose, Sun Jul 1 12:25:53 2007
• Thanks, and some answers - laurarfl, Sun Jul 1 13:06:29 2007
• more on handling - amarilrose, Sun Jul 1 14:43:09 2007
• RE: Boa outside, really need help - TnK, Sun Jul 1 20:40:32 2007
• RE: Boa outside, really need help - shot, Sun Jul 1 21:19:12 2007