Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Heya, new snake owner with some questions.

I've had my Central American for 2 weeks now, she ate without a problem this monday and when she comes out of her hiding spot around twice a week. When she is out of her hiding spot I can pick her up and handle her without any hisses or freaking out. But if I try to get her from her hiding spot she hisses and I let her lay. The reason I wanted to get her from the hiding spot is that I heard it's a good idea to handle them often as young boas so they get used to it, and i didn't want her hiding under her log just so she can avoid contact and never get used to me. Soooo.. Should I use a hook to get her from her hidding spot and handle her ever other day and jsut ignore the initial hissing, or should I wait for those few times at night when she comes out on her own and doesn't hiss at all when I pick her up.

Just so you know, she's not about to shed and I wouldn't handle her while she is. I also don't want to handle her for 24hours after eating. I already know those rules n_n

Any advice or suggestions would be appriciated!

After only two weeks things are still pretty new for your boa. Right now I would stick to handling when the animal is out of it's hide and just let it continue to get comfortable and used to your handling. C.A.'s have a reputation for being a little nippy as youngsters, so eventually it will grow out of it, with patience. My boas are very nocturnal and more or less snooze during most of the day. I try to handle them as much as possible while they are active. That doesn't I may not disturb them at other times but they're also a bit more used to me, my smells, handling habits, etc. and rarely do I get too much protest. Some animals just adapt to handling a little quicker than others. Consider you'll have your boa it's entire life (20 years) there's time to let it get used to you. Give it another few weeks or a month or two, I'm sure it'll eventually chill!

Steve
-----
"It's not that we don't know...it's just that we don't want to care..." -Wind on the Water, Crosby & Nash