Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a BCI just over 1 years old and recently it has become quite agressive any time I come near the cage, change water, spot clean, etc. It thinks it is feeding time - all the time.

I hold the snake about 2 times per week and up to this point I have had no issues. I am currently feeding it a small rat 1 time per week. How do I change it's aggessive behavior?

For the most part it settles down once held for a few minutes but still has shown some aggresive postures. Any help would be suggested. Thanks.

What worked with my boa was I started to pick her up everyday and carry her around for about an hour. Now she doesn't show any aggression at all, even after I accidentally hit her head on a door frame and had to give her really painful shots.

Your boa just needs to be played with more offen.

Thanks for the thoughts. I will hold more frequently. Any other additional ideas regarding the behavior and how to correct it would be greatly appreciated.

When I feed my boas I throw down a newspaper ad, the kind you get at the front of the store with coupons etc. I know the snake will not keep the rat on the paper but I believe I have trained them to the paper. When they see the paper they start to tense up, breath fast and get ready to spring. When I don't use a paper I can reach right in and pat them on the head I feed in the enclosure and have not been bit yet (knocks on wood). I hold my boas about 1 hour per week maybe a little less. I don't use newspaper of any kind for the substrate.

Anyone else do anything like this?

I have also gotten a couple boas to mellow out just by putting a hide in their enclosure.

Thanks for the idea / feedback.

We use two hides(one on each end) and I have never even been struck at in 3 years. Also perhaps you could up the prey size? Perhaps she really is hungry?

Randi

When it's not feeding day I always use a hook to take out my boas, for cleaning and playtime. When it is feeding day I never use a hook. I feed in the cage on newspaper. They quickly learn to chill out when you touch them with the hook, because they will learn that it is not dinner time. That is called hook training.
-----
Caden Chapman
slithering.serpents@gmail.com
http://slitheringserpents.com