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I've had my common boa for a year or so. It was given to me because someone needed to get rid of it ASAP. I've very rarely handled it but feed it regularly.

The other day when I had the boa in a temporary container while cleaning it's cage I was just stroking it lightly because it has never seemed to enjoy ANY contact. I was petting it's tail and it jerked away quickly and I continued to lightly touch the tail and the weirdest thing happened. The 5 1/2 ft. snake gapped it's mouth open and made a very distinct, loud hissing sound.

This really freaked me out and I obviously stopped touching the snake. I've owned many reptiles over the years and I've never seen a snake exhibit this behavior, only monitors.

Has anyone else noticed their snake do this?

My blood python and hognose snake do it constantly... So does one of my rat snakes and a few sand boas. it was just a threat display I'm sure. He'll never get any tamer if you don't work with him though.

Oh yes! That is the first and last warning sound that you got there! LOL! Be glad you got that and not a nibble mark somewhere. I have a female that does this every so often - she's my little tasmanian devil. With more handling, usually they will calm down. Now, I have noticed that - unless your boa is used to being handled - they are a little touchy about the tail area. But, don't be alarmed, it's just a warning hiss.

Dont worry.. its normal. Especially if you rarely handle the snake... normally newly accuired snakes will do this.. after they are accustom to their environment and the owner.. they usually settle down

>>I've had my common boa for a year or so. It was given to me because someone needed to get rid of it ASAP. I've very rarely handled it but feed it regularly.
>>
>>The other day when I had the boa in a temporary container while cleaning it's cage I was just stroking it lightly because it has never seemed to enjoy ANY contact. I was petting it's tail and it jerked away quickly and I continued to lightly touch the tail and the weirdest thing happened. The 5 1/2 ft. snake gapped it's mouth open and made a very distinct, loud hissing sound.
>>
>>This really freaked me out and I obviously stopped touching the snake. I've owned many reptiles over the years and I've never seen a snake exhibit this behavior, only monitors.
>>
>>Has anyone else noticed their snake do this?

My girl has never hissed (although she breaths heavily when I handle her for a while, cuz she's so lazy, and it sounds like she's hissing) but she does recoil some when I touch her tail...that's definitely not the place to be poking her if you're trying to calm it down to start handling more often . . . go right for the middle...this might be kind of amateurish (but that's what I am!) but after I feed my girl and transfer her back to her normal housing box, if she's being touchy, I use a yardstick to rub her a little before I use my hand..that way if she gets nervous, she doesn't take it out on my hand

Thanks for the all the replies. I've never given it much thought because the biggest snake I've owned before this boa is my 3 1/2 foot ball python. I've never seen a ball that is anything but calm so I'm new to the world of big angry snakes. I'll work with it more to avoid sustaining any substantial injuries from this one! Do you find much success 'taming' a sub-adult that is of this size (5 feet)?