Reptile & Amphibian Forums

lucky 'cause I didn't get tagged today, (by my normally pussycat 6' bci normal that I've had since she was a WORM) but confused as to why today's incident happened. Some background first-unfortunatly, on the 7th of this month we had to put our family dog to sleep (pictured.) "Bandit" slept and resided under the snake tank for at least 1 full year, but was always a constant smell nearby for Xena (snake) her whole life. Today, I took Xena out for a little exercise in the back yard, and noticed only two things different. She was cooler than usual-I picked her up from the cool side of the tank, and she was gripping me much more aggressively than she normally does, but I thought nothing of it. Put her down on an outside table (85 degrees outside) in the shade to let her warm up gradually. While I was looking at her she opened her mouth, hissed and lunged at me! Never, ever has she done anything like that outside her cage even as a neonate. I left her alone for about 15 minutes, GOT MY 4' HOOK, and put her back in her cage. My question is..does this aggressive behaviour have anything to do with the "change"(smell) in her enviornment, or did I just catch her in an "off day" while she was sleeping and too cool? 95 degrees belly heat in left 1/3 of cage, upper 70's on the far right. Would've put a picture of Xena, but I don't feel like bleeding right now.

Best dang dog I ever had. No more dogs for me.

Sorry, for your loss. I have had that situation happen many times over the years. Take a Boa that has never shown any aggression or has ever hissed and put them outside and watch them become, Hell on Wheels! The only conclusion that I have been able to come up with, is that they get a little taste of freedom and are suddenly smelling smells in the outside that they are either not use too or in the case of an import, have not been use to in a long time and suddenly their senses have become overstimulated and they just do not want to go back into the box. When you think about it, it is not hard to assume. As, I said, I have seen it many times and do believe that it is natural and nothing to be alarmed about........Johnson Herp

But I have always taken her outside at least once a week when it's warm enough (Florida) and I have never seen her act like that. Maybe I just woke her up too fast and she was too cold. I'll be paying more attention to body posture in the future.

LOL
No Doubt you will ......

>>But I have always taken her outside at least once a week when it's warm enough (Florida) and I have never seen her act like that. Maybe I just woke her up too fast and she was too cold.

*I'll be paying more attention to body posture in the future.*

M/

I wouldn't worry about 1 incident, probably just a bad day. hell my wife hissed at me and tried to bite when I woke her up too early this morning! However, if the behavior persists have her checked out by your vet. sometimes a nornally docile snake becomes aggressive because of a health problem, just like people when they are sick they get irritable.

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