Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I just acquired an Isabel Island Candoia ground boa a few weeks ago. She is about the size of an adult male ball python. She is so beautiful! I have kept ONLY ball pythons for over 5 years now with a collection of 20 now. I have NEVER been bitten. Yes I am aware that it is just a matter of time, but my respect is always at its' fullest when handling ANY snake. I handled the boa when I picked it up from the guy and she was fine. A week later I was handling her and she turned into SATAN!! Her favorite place to strike is my FACE! I can not handle her without her snapping repeatedly at me! She even strikes BACKWARDS with NO warning...AHHH!!

My question is; does anyone else who works with these guys have similar problems with their temperament, or did I just get a biotch? And with constant handling, will she ever completely tame up or will she ALWAYS be looking for a piece of flesh to latch on to?

On another point, she does not strike AT ALL at ANY prey items!?!?!? I left a dead small rat in front of her face over night and she at it, but she will NOT strike at ANYTHING other than ME!!!..lol.

She has NOT tried striking at me while in her bin, but when I take her out, she is nasty and very flighty. I wear leather gloves and a leather jacket and have been working with her in my hands, but I am worried that when the gloves come off she is going to see the warmth from my hands and continue to bite.

Any tips, tricks, experiences, info, or other cool websites about these guys would be greatly appreciated.

I havent owned any groung boas, but i've had plenty of nasty snakes over the years... black rats, w coachwhips, and worked at a pet store with an EVIL af rock.

best thing you can do is handle it a lot. never put it down due to it biting... once it realizes that biting won't work, it'll usually stop. as long as it's eating well, try to dominate the snake a little bit... curl it up and hold your hand over it's head so it adopts a more passive defensive attitude ranther than an aggresive one.

just stick with it... it'll come around.

* I do know of one bullsnake that is around 10 years old, handled at least weekly, and literally slams it's face into the glass as soon as someone enters the room. so i guess it's possible that the snake won't ever calm down. thats pretty rare though.

That gives me some hope. As soon as she starts eating regularly, I will start holding her often with the gloves, and one day when I am comfortable that she wont bite, I will take the gloves off. Thanks again.

If the enclosure is large enough, go work out and get all sweaty. Then take off your shirt and leave it in the enclosure to imprint your scent on the snake.

Like was already said, don't give in to the nasty behavior or you could reinforce the "being nasty gets the human to go away and leave the me alone" attitude.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

If you're serious, i'll do it. And, that makes sense about the "If I bite, he will leave me alone" thing. Thanks.

Not saying it will work, but they do have a sense of smell and if your smell is one they are used to......
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats