Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey Gang...I need some advise. 2 weeks ago my 1 year old male normal Boa got an attitude. Up to that point he was friendly - allowing not only me but my 2 year old son to "play" with him. No issues removing him from his cage or letting crawl round on my shoulders while I cleaned his cage and such.

Then one day he struck at me when I tried to get him out. I thought me might be getting ready to shed so I left him alone till he shed a couple days later. The shed went fine zero retention but he has never come around. I now have to use a hook and gloves to get him out and he strikes wildly at anything that comes with in range. In fact he missed my leg yesterday and got his teeth stuck in the carpeting.

Here are the details:
Cage: 4'X 2' X 20"
Temp: 90 warm side / 82 cool side
Humd: 65-70%
Feed: Hasn't eaten since this all started (ignores FT/ and kills and leaves live)

Please help with any ideas...my wife is very concerned which means he goes or his attitude does.

Thanks
Sean

i am wondering what the hide situation is like for him. do you have hides available and if so how many and where are they located in the temperature gradient.
additionally does he prefer to stay in one area of the cage over another more often? i say this because 82 is your cool end. i keep my cool end at around 75 and my snakes are often at that end.
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- Jason F.

He currently has 2 hides one on each side. As for where he stays - the simple answer would be never in the same spot. I have had him for 2 years and I think in all that time he spent yesterday in his cool side hide (maybe the 3rd time in his life he has even been in one) and about 3 months ago spent 2 weeks in his water bowl (large enough for him to submerge himself in).

However, if you think the temp could be the issue I will lower it tonight...what do you recommend as a better gradient (FYI I use a Pro-product heat panel)

Thanks for the idea...please keep them coming.

according to the behavior you described i dont think it is so much of a temperature issue. since you asked i use 75-90 gradient for my snakes.

sudden strange alterations in behavior are usually the result of some change. is there a new smell ... new dog or cat? or possibly a change in foot traffic in the room? it is difficult to diagnose the problem without knowing the total story since i dont live there. try looking at different aspects that could have changed and upset him. in the mean time you might try covering the cage or at least part of it and see if this helps with the attitude problem.
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- Jason F.

Thanks Jason...If change is what might have set him off then I might have a good guess. I recently relocated my snakes cages to a new room.

If he is feeling in secure I will address a couple of quick things:
Lower temp (sounds like I am too high anyway - and the increase temp is really a new thing in the last couple months when I changed from heat lamps to heat panels for more even distribution)
Add more dark hides and cover one side of the glass doors so he cannot see anyone.

I would assume then that he should eventually relax and get used to his new surroundings and the attitude will go away?

Thanks for the great idea I will let you know how it turns out.

sounds like your on the way to figuring things out. the room change is most likely what caused the problem. i would think that the steps you have talked about should bring him back to normal. it seems like he is stressed from the move and some snakes take to moving much easier then others.
for example i am just about finished with college (end of the month) but have been taking my snakes back and forth from my parents house to my appartment for the past four years. although i didnt notice agressive behavior i do notice shy behavior occasionally, but both places are in my room where there is little foot traffic. usually when i see a change i cover all or half of the cage with a sheet or something and that allows the animal to relax. good luck with him and hopefully he calms down, i would hate for you to have to give him up after a year.
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- Jason F.