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Hi, trying this again: B.c.imperator P.O

GonzoBobH Aug 19, 2008 11:01 PM

Hi there.

I was fairly regular on these forums years ago (and rec.pets.herp newsgroup too ~ or something like that... haha, couple of years ago for that one)

Anyway, I did many rescues and had a fairly extensive set up.
Then I slowly transitioned to Tarantulas, but kept a snake or two (Western Hognose and a B.c.c) around also.

Lately retired with a bunch of T's and one B.c.i., but decided to sell the boa and stick solely to T's. My choice. The boa was not overly aggressive, handled regularly and ate well.

I gave the kid a very large enclosure hide, water bowl, etc.
Plus he already had a boa and was familiar with handling them.

And I talked to him for almost an hour about handling, kill the heat rock, shedding, humidity, etc.

Anyway, long story shorter, I got a call today that the snake is very aggressive to him, hissing, striking, drawing blood, etc.

I chalk it up to new enclosure, new hide, new scents, etc.
Common sense tells me to verify the temp setting, hides, keep handling him, don't show fear, and work through it. Though to be honest the hissing part kind of surprised me a little bit, though i did have a red rat snake once that was a total ass, but was always like that and didn't change overnight.

Anyway, any suggestions from you all? Anything that I am missing? I kind of feel bad for the guy if he is scared now and all.

PS I already put one of my T's in the old enclosure, an almost 9 inch L parahybana that is loving it ~ otherwise I would tell the guy to just return the damn thing. And to be honest, I kind of want to see him work through it too.

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

Here's a pic of that T:

Replies (3)

AshLopez Aug 20, 2008 02:55 AM

Congratulations on your new aquisition !!!!

I would put hide boxes everywhere in the enclosure.

If it means cardboard boxes go ahead and use them for now.

Placing newspaper over the front of the encloser might help him feel secure.

I sometimes put a used T-shirt or sock in the enclosure so that he gets used to my scent.

I would let him settle in for about a week and just leave him alone.

Then try short interactions of you holding him.

Good Luck.
-----

Ashley Lopez's Black Forest Constrictors.

blackforestconstrictors@gmail.com

WWW.BLACKFORESTCONSTRICTORS.COM

Slithering_Serpents Aug 20, 2008 11:38 PM

Try going to the kids house with a temp gun. Correct his set up. Then try Ash's suggestions.
-----
Caden Chapman
slithering.serpents@gmail.com
http://slitheringserpents.com

GonzoBobH Aug 21, 2008 06:57 PM

Cool... thanks.

Again, I sort of feel bad, but it's just a matter of time IMVHO for the kid to get used to the snake and the snake to get used to the kid.

But that's a good idea to check his set up personally.

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