My boa has suddenly had a personality shift. She used to be very tame, docile and friendly. Now, she's a little demon who hisses and strikes whenever I take her out of her enclosure. She's even tried to strike through the glass, a habit I'm worried will injure her. Asides from handling, do any of you have any suggestions to calm her back down? Also, why this sudden change in attitude? She can be a little hissy while in blue, but her eyes are clear and she shed not that long ago. The last time I held her, before she got [bleep]y, was a bit of a scare. It was right after a large meal, and she needed her cage spotcleaned. I took her out and she started drooling. Called a few vets, and it was likely her trying to regurge the rat. So far, no drooling and no other signs of an RI. Could that have triggered her attitude? Her husbandry has stayed the same. At worst, her ambient temperature is a degree hotter. Since the summer, I've used lower watt bulbs and rheostats to keep the heat the same. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Ever since her sudden crankiness, I've only been handling her every few days for five minutes at a time. I'd like to handle her longer, but I'm worried she'll bite my left hand. Recently had reconstructive surgery on two fingers, and if she bites them it's possible the damage could be serious.
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Docile to demon
Replies (2)
no problem in getting her calmed down. just wear a tshirt all day for a couple days. work, eat. sleep, do everything in it for 2 or 3 days. then just drop the shirt in her tank. let her crawl through it for 4 or 5 days. this will let her get "reacquainted" with your scent. as for why she is striking, i have no idea. she isnt gravid or anything, is she?
also, in my own personal opinion, if a spot cleaning is needed after a feeding, it is best to let the spot cleaning wait until a day. id rather have one of my snakes have a little mess in the tank than to risk a regurge. regurging is a hell of a lot more stressful to a snake than a tiny mess.
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1.1.0 Colombian Redtail Boas (normals)
2.1.0 Sumatran Blood Pythons (normals)
1.0 Black Blood Python (normal)
1.0 Dumeril's Boa (normal)
0.1 Coastal Carpet Python (normal)
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python (normal)
0.1 Surinam Redtail Boa (normal)
Thank you again for the advice. No, she's not gravid nor in preshed. At times while in blue, she'll get hissy, but I usually leave her alone when in blue anyways. I have two, old sweaty shirts I'll be using. One for each hide spot. Hopefully, that'll get her used to my scent, again.
I know next time to let her wait until spot cleaning her cage. This is the first time ever that I handled her, or any of my snakes, so soon after a meal. Her mess was in one of her hide spots, where she spends the majority of her time. I thought it best to have it removed, so she doesn't wallow in her own filth. Admitedly, I was wrong.
