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Just an observation (took my boa outside)

Kevin Saunders Sep 05, 2003 11:30 AM

Since it's been sorta slow, I thought I'd share something I thought was a little strange. I took my 03 colombian bci out for some pics a week or two ago and sat him in the grass since I see so many pics like that. Normally, he's very clingy and likes to hold onto things, but I thought he'd be fine. I've sat him on my bed and in the windowsill before and he didn't seem to have any problems with it-he just reached for me and tried to climb the camera. Anyway, when I put him in the grass, he raised up the first 1/4 of his body like a cobra. At first I thought this was a sign of defensiveness, but he started moving-and I mean MOVING. I swear it looked like a sidewinder on tv. He was throwing out a coil and just flying across my yard faster than I've seen a boa move. As soon as I got in front of him, he'd just climb up me and act normal again. I tried this again and got the same reaction. Do you think he felt exposed out in the open sun like that or did he just want to be climbing something? Has anyone else had similar experiences? Maybe he just loves his daddy and didn't want to be alone (hehe-yeah right).

Replies (6)

Lucien Sep 05, 2003 11:52 AM

Well.. they are very aware animals.. the change in location probably brought to him alot of smells and interesting things he's never come in contact with... *chuckles* So he wanted to move.. find a place to hide probably and take it all in. He did probably feel exposed and when he "climbed" you.. he felt safer. You're a known quantity in the equation.. familiar to him like a favorite tree to hang out in...

boamorphs Sep 05, 2003 12:10 PM

In my area I only put large snakes out in the yard like that. I've seen good sized wild garter snakes grabbed by hawks or ravens and taken up into the trees to be eaten. It's always been a nightmare of mine that someday I'll be walking with a small snake around my neck to have it grabbed by a bird of prey. Imagine watching an albino boa being carried up into the tree tops to be ripped apart. I once had a pet rabbit out in the yard wirh me and looked up to see two turkey vultures circling around 100's of yards up in the sky above waiting for the right moment. Needless to say I am always on guard with small snakes outdoors.

AbsoluteApril Sep 05, 2003 04:28 PM

Oh sure, I have seen that same behaviour, in every young boa (bci)
I've taken outside, I assume they are just nervous and unsure
in the new environment and are looking for the closest place
to hide. The same cobra stance (I call it the BP look, BPs
like to move around with their head and necks elevated.. hee).
With my adults, I don't see that behaviour as much, they seem
more content or at least secure in themselves and their size
that they will just hang out on the grass or explore a bit but
not in the frantic run that the babies do.
The baby tries to climb back up you since you are the one thing
in this 'foreign' environment that is recongnizes as being 'safe'

It's fun to see these behaviors! TGIF


Image

CE Sep 06, 2003 09:06 AM

this male suri is normally a very calm slow moving snake. As soon as you bring him outside he get's a little jumpy and begind to run. In this photo he is moving super fast throwing one coil out and lunging his body forward super fast, it's alwats a challenge to keep up with him. After a fe wminutes he usually calms down and starts moving normally.. untill you startle him, then he's off to the races again. I think he's very uncomfortable outside and doesn't know what to do.
Image
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JohnLokken Sep 06, 2003 09:11 AM

>>this male suri is normally a very calm slow moving snake. As soon as you bring him outside he get's a little jumpy and begind to run. In this photo he is moving super fast throwing one coil out and lunging his body forward super fast, it's alwats a challenge to keep up with him. After a fe wminutes he usually calms down and starts moving normally.. untill you startle him, then he's off to the races again. I think he's very uncomfortable outside and doesn't know what to do.
>>
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"To be the best..........You must lose your mind."

CE Sep 06, 2003 09:39 AM

the faded saddles and light pink make him stand out in the collection...Now if he would only breed.. Got Any Viagra?
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