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My baby Argentine has been twitching his tail lately when I get near the cage. I've never seen that before in any of my snakes. I'm guessing this is a natural defense, diverting attention from the head when threatened? Anyone else ever see this? Should I be concerned?
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JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.

you know, like if you call someone over with your finger?
'hey, you.. come over here!'
who knows what he has to say? he must really like you, or, maybe not!
ok, ok, enough of that nonsense...lol

your pretty lucky to observe that behavior! it's not commonly seen in more domesticated animals and when it is, the animal usually has lots of room - so seems like you're taking care of him..
Not sure exactly what it is, but it's sort of like what a frisky cat would do, twitching just the tip of it's tail...

hopefully someone else knows exactly what that is for

later
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'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin
Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo

Hehe, thanks for the reply. Yeah, he's in a 30 gallon right now and he's only about 24". Seems big for him now.

>>you know, like if you call someone over with your finger?
>>'hey, you.. come over here!'
>>who knows what he has to say? he must really like you, or, maybe not!
>>ok, ok, enough of that nonsense...lol
>>
>>your pretty lucky to observe that behavior! it's not commonly seen in more domesticated animals and when it is, the animal usually has lots of room - so seems like you're taking care of him..
>>Not sure exactly what it is, but it's sort of like what a frisky cat would do, twitching just the tip of it's tail...
>>
>>hopefully someone else knows exactly what that is for
>>
>>later
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>>'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin
>>Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
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JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.

i have seen this in a few of my boas over the years too. in some snake species this is done to lure in prey, called "caudal luring". i dont know if this is the case here though, i have also seen it in aggravated boas but usually they will hiss and puff as well..... i dont know in this case but it is an interesting behavior to witness.
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IF YOU HAVE IT SHOW IT. IF YOU OWN IT FLAUNT IT!!

My 8' BCC was doing this just the other day. I assumed that she was pissed judging from her other body language. Plus she had just eaten and did not want to be messed with. Due to the size, I gave her exactly what she wanted

to small critters he might eat in the wild. I have seen my 6' female suri do this occasionally as well as most of the babies. If you walk in to my snake room during dusk or dawn most if not all of the baby chondros will also do this.. this is a good time to feed problem feeders as they are usually more alert when luring.
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Got Bats?

>>to small critters he might eat in the wild. I have seen my 6' female suri do this occasionally as well as most of the babies. If you walk in to my snake room during dusk or dawn most if not all of the baby chondros will also do this.. this is a good time to feed problem feeders as they are usually more alert when luring.
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>>Got Bats?

He just ate on Saturday or I would feed him. *Very* good feeder so far. He was a hisser(naturally!) when I first got him but seems to have calmed down now. That's why I thought it was strange that I would have scared him. I guess the movement stirred his feeding response?
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JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.

regardless of the last time they had a meal. I have seen the suris do it occasionally and still reached in and picked them up with no problems... it almost makes sense. If your tail is going to be a different color from the rest of your body it must bbe for a reason. Maybe the bright red tail attracks prey when they are younger ? I know the chondros definately use their tails to lure in food and when they are luring their heads are positioned right above the wagging tail ready for the kill ! Oh Yeah... the chondros tails are different colors then their bodies also. I will try to get some video of a chondro luring for you tonight.
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Got Bats?

and thats exactly the reason they are born with brightly coloures tails, but never in a Boa constrictor sp. I knew that gorgeous red tail had some function. Cheers!

how is the cage furnished? I've had boas that had sparsely furnished cages (hide box and water bowl) and they would at times, and IMO, not feel secure on a flat surface and would slowly move their tails around in search of something to grab on to. try putting your finger in there and see if your oxy grabs on to it w/ her tail... maybe she's looking for something for balance?
...or, maybe she is luring? who knows? but there's one good way to find out :-D ... RISK A FINGER! lol
later t, jb
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Jonathan Brady
My Kingsnake Photo Gallery

He has a branch that he loves to climb. I don't think he's looking for something to grab, it is definitely a twitch. It is either luring or distracting attention away from the head.

>>how is the cage furnished? I've had boas that had sparsely furnished cages (hide box and water bowl) and they would at times, and IMO, not feel secure on a flat surface and would slowly move their tails around in search of something to grab on to. try putting your finger in there and see if your oxy grabs on to it w/ her tail... maybe she's looking for something for balance?
>>...or, maybe she is luring? who knows? but there's one good way to find out :-D ... RISK A FINGER! lol
>>later t, jb
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>>Jonathan Brady
>>My Kingsnake Photo Gallery
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JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.

The only boa I ever had that did that was a baby Dums when I threw a mouse in the cage. He would hide under the substrate and project his tail vertically and wiggle it. I just assumed he was luring the mouse. That's the only boa I've ever seen do that.

It is almost cat like.

>>It is almost cat like.

Exactly! Looks just like my cat!
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JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.