Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a question. Its not about my Burm and most people have other snakes here and well the boa forum is full and never really answer the question before 600 people post on top of yours.

My boa is about 3 years old and about 5.5 feet. I kept her in a vision cage for awhile 2 years she ate great as a baby and then stopped and then would only eat once in awhile. So I stopped handling her. Well I have since moved her to a rack that I built and she has not missed a meal in a year. The rack does not get any light in it, is that a problem. Second question, when she was a baby I could hold her all the time. I stopped holding her and well, she bites me everytime I hold her for a little bit. I can take her out move her without a problem but I dont let her wrap around my arm to tight, is that why she is biting. Just hits me and then stops and always while I am holding her, could it be that she feels insecure when I am holding her and thats why she bites.

Thougths???
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
0.1 Green Burm
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

I have a RTB thats about 4 ft. that is in a similar cage. She has a light in her cage but I turned it off b/c she was biting and I was trying anything I could to get her to stop. I let mine wrap around my arm as tight as they want- so long as no part of me turns purple. You might try letting her grip you better and see if that helps..... If she's eating better in the rack- leave her there. hope that helped
Beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

There's something in the rack that makes the snake feel safe; most likely, subdued lighting and a tight fitting box. You can put a sterilite container, with a large hole in the lid, that is approximately the same size inside the old cage to allow the snake to get some exercise but still retreat into a dark, tight fitting hide area (or just leave in the rack if you feel that is the best). The biting is something that is triggered by fear...perhaps you are taking the snake from low light levels to bright light when you are in the room; try subduing the lights a bit. Some nocturnal animals, however, become far more aggressive in low light levels rather than daytime ambient light so that could be something else to consider. Or, you just have a tempermental snake that you just need to deal with and it sounds like you are. Perhaps, in time, the snake will calm down back to its old self.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center

>>I have a question. Its not about my Burm and most people have other snakes here and well the boa forum is full and never really answer the question before 600 people post on top of yours.
>>
>>My boa is about 3 years old and about 5.5 feet. I kept her in a vision cage for awhile 2 years she ate great as a baby and then stopped and then would only eat once in awhile. So I stopped handling her. Well I have since moved her to a rack that I built and she has not missed a meal in a year. The rack does not get any light in it, is that a problem. Second question, when she was a baby I could hold her all the time. I stopped holding her and well, she bites me everytime I hold her for a little bit. I can take her out move her without a problem but I dont let her wrap around my arm to tight, is that why she is biting. Just hits me and then stops and always while I am holding her, could it be that she feels insecure when I am holding her and thats why she bites.
>>
>>Thougths???
>>-----
>>0.2 Rotts
>>1.0 Super Tiger
>>0.1 Green Burm
>>0.1 Ball Python
>>0.1 Red Tail
>>0.1 Blood Python
>>1.0 Green Ananconda
>>1.0 Emerald Tree Boa
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL