Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a minor issue with my beloved Hope. She's been acting incredibly odd lately. She's been striking at anything female ( human ) and has been hissing.

She only strikes at me personally when theirs food in her tub or if I go to replace stuff in her tank within 6 hours of he eating.

My female friend Chrissy she strikes at CONSTANTLY. She'll sit curled around my wrist and strike non-stop until Chrissy either stops touching me or leaves the room. Could she be jealous? Or does she just not like something about her?

Does your friend have other pets (furry ones) or wear perfume? Either can leave scents that your boa doesn't like, or recognizes as pheromones from prey.

She wears perfume. I'll see if we can get Hope to relax when she doesn't smell like that.

She DOES have dog's but Hope on a whole doesn't seem to give a $hit about dogs. She's actually claimed my dogs tail multiple times ( She curls the very end of her tail around his. She does that with alot of stuff..I actually had to buy he a pet Beta Fish because she coiled it's tank at Petco and REFUSED to release. )

That's kind of funny, I was just yesterday speaking to a gentleman who I'll be adopting two BCC from (tonight), and he had said that the only times his snakes have acted aggressively (aside from shedding and feeding time) has been when he has had women in the house as guests.

I'm of the female persuasion myself and have never had a problem with a snake striking *just* at me... either they are ok, or pissed at everyone. But then again, I NEVER wear perfume, ever. I'm guessing that this is probably the key in both cases. Many kinds of perfume use a "musky" smell - perhaps some component of it smells like rodent, or some other prey, to boas.

Heh, definitely a good reason for me to still not wear perfume unless I'm not going anywhere near the snake room that day!
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Lauren Madar
www.ophidiagems.com
1.1 Hog Island Boas
1.1 Hypo BCI
0.1 Sorong-type GTP
1.0 Normal Ball Python

One of my colognes has triggered a more defensive action out of some of my boas, and caused one male who I had never had problems with (even opens his mouth slowly to eat, and doesn't constrict, just takes the f/t rat off the tongs) to bite.

We narrowed the issue down. Apparently Hope is not a fan of the smell of Victoria Secret something or other. Hope's owner is..but Hope always get's her way.