Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,

I was out of town for 6 months for work and while I was gone I had two people look after my 5 boas (dbl het ghost female,dbl het ghost male, normal f,dbl het sharp snow f, and kahl albino het anery m) and my black and white tegu. They took really good care of the snakes in terms of feeding and cage cleaning; however, they were not held much. I went to get them out and everyone of them struck me without any sign (didn't hold on or grind or anything) and that was the first time that any of them have done so. It was also the first time I have ever been bit in 3 yrs by a captive boa so I now find myself hesitant to get them out.

I was wondering if anyone else ever had a issue like this and if continued holding would make them acclimated to me as a "tree" and not as a threat again? Any advice would be appreciated because this is beginning to become an issue with my girlfriend not wanting to hold the bigger ones.

Thanks again for the advice.

This happens.... They need to get back into a routine.. Getting snapped at just comes with the territory.... Most probably they will chill out after getting used to handling again

if theye've gone that long without any human contact, they probally see you as a threat, we have a '04 circlback f. and shes the same way, we bought her from a guy who had 3 boas and 200 bp. and he just didnt have the time to handle his boas, and she was a total b!thch.(and he was acutally terrified of her, and thats something too, if they sence your scared, they'll be sence it too, i mean just think, their scales are all little vibration sensors, so if you shaking they're gonna feel it!) she still is a little testy, you can reach in and rub her down, even her head but as soon as you go to pick her up, she strikes. what we have done and it has acutally helped, is we had to pin her head to get her out and then let her calm down and quit squirming around, and put her in a pillow case, and hold her thru the pillow case so she gets used to being held, gets used to your sent again,and she wont bite because she cant see you! and she has done ALOT better! shes still real territorial, but shes not as nippy when we get her out now!
hope i helped!

they seem to be a little more testy when they are hungry also