Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female red-tail that's about 24-28 inches ( measuring her has proved impossible ). She's ALWAYS burrowed. I'm told it means she's insecure in her surroundings so I've taken to totally wrapping her takn in paper towel. Covering everything but the lid ( She's in a tank. They suck. I know I'm ordering a custom tank I don't need a speech ). She usually burrows all the way down leaving just a bit of her nose peeking up. Today I went to pull her out like I usually do for the ride to my friends job. Her nose wasn't peeking today so I had to go digging for her. At one point I felt my fingers move against something so I pulled my hand away. For some reason something told me to snap away. It was the right thing. She sprung out of her bedding and was acting VERY defensive. I though she just might of thrown her head. She's not a striker so I automatically assumed the best. I gave her a few minutes and went to scoop her up. I had her all the way out hanging from my hand and she full on struck at my face. Her entire body shot foward luckily her tail was wrapped around my fingers and she couldn't get the distance. Needless to say I'm upset. I put her back in and I'm leaving her alone.

Is she just being insecure and afraid? Or is something wrong?

I have an argentine that always burrows, and he is in a tank as well. He doesn't seem very insecure with it though. He will come out and see whats going on occasionally and then burrow back down. He used to be a bit snippy, but that was because of his previous owner. I don't know who thinks it is funny to blow alcohol breath in a snakes face, just to watch it strike. Anyways, it could be that she is in a feeding type mood, being as they are ambush predators, they will burrow and go at any motion. This could explain why she lunged at your face. I found my guys to be a bit grouchy when it's feeding time. There could be many other factors. How long have you had here. I got my guy to calm down to me by rubbing a dry washcloth against my skin to get my scent on it, then I left it in the tank. It helped tremendously. At any rate, good luck. I'm sure it will all work out.

Also, I used to have a Columbian and it turned cranky all of a sudden, it just means you have to work with them a little more carefully and it should resolve.
-----
1.0 Dumeril's Boa(acrantophis dumerili)
1.0 Argentine Boa(Boa constrictor occidentalis)

Thanks for the advice. I usually leave a damp rag in her tank with my scent on it. It serves a dual purpose a bit of extra moisture and my scent. She's usually VERY good natured even right after feeding ( I had to clean her off once and she took it VERY well ). I think it was just an off day or something..maybe I had the smell of my girlfriends pet-rat still on me. Maybe she was sleeping and I disturbed her which made her cranky. Who knows. I love her all the same. I had her out for a few hours today. She was perfect as usual.