Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I adopted a 5 foot boa from someone, and I have had it for three months. She has been very temperamental lately.

She began biting me when I handle her starting a few weeks ago.

She has NEVER bitten me before. She has always been a very docile, sweet boa up until maybe three weeks ago.

I handle her gently but she still bites me.

I am not sure what to do.

Any help or advice is appreciated.

I don't know if this will help but here is my experience, it may be going to shed, if not then i use a papertowel roll and pet them and talk to them and then handle them, MOVE SLOWLY!!! i have a male hogg who is known to strike at the owner and others, i have yet to have it strike at me, due to a ritual i set up, even with my yealings, talking and petting, then picking up, i even use a towel on my new BRB when i first got her and then let her go to my hand and remove the towel and bring my hand to her slowly, the "S" still comes about, but even in shadow country and TV going and dog near by this always has worked for me... find a rountine and stick with it, it works for me even with a strange snake.
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1.4 various boas(Flicka,Felony,Nova,Alias,Abby)
0.1 BRB Abalone; ABBI
1.0 Rott X (OSO)
2.0 cats (Simba, Morris)

fish & feeders

I have a female that got a nasty RI last year. when she got sick she turned evil. Im not saying that yours is doing the same but it can be a possability.

Try putting her in a pillow case and closing it with a rubber band. Then let her spend lots of time with you on your lap while you watch TV or spend time at the computer. Rub her gently through the case to try to make her feel more secure. For some reason she has become fearful. She just needs to be reasurred that everything is ok.

Perhaps the snakes enviornment is a little stressful, make sure the humidity and heat settings are appropriate. Also make sure the enclosure is not in a place where the snake is constantly exposed to people walking by or causing vibrations on the tank. If that fails, then I suggest leaving a cloth in the tank with your scent on it, try this for a week or so and the snake should be used to your smell and should not associate your scent with a threat.