Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well here is a picture of the little guy. He let me take him out and handle him for a while but when I tried to feed him, he again started hissing and striking at me. I'm going to give him time to relax and get settled. Hard to get a good shot with only one hand and a curious snake. Anyway, here he is.

ok for one thing he's gonna hiss and strike at the food (prey item..thats just what they do when there small.i'm not getting it?when you handle he's fine ,but when you go to feed him he strikes and hisses at you or the food?just though the food in with him close by,and wait,then handle him when his food has been down for a while,and if your lucky he won't poop on you lol..im sorry if this comes off neg.but please,just give him some time

-----
Forever Trust in what we are,and nothing else Matters

At first, he really looked interested in the mouse I offered him, I backed off and didn't move but stayed close enough that if the mouse tried to attack him I could get to it. He didn't hiss at the mouse at all, he only struck once but it was like a defensive strike, never even tried to curl around it. That's when the mouse got all crazy and started literally jumping around the cage, I had to reach in and get it out of there cause I don't want anything happening to the boa. I reached in and got the mouse without anything from the snake, it's when I put the top back on his cage that he started to hiss and strike at the glass. I don't know, I'm probably doing something wrong.

if i were you i would wait a few days before offering food. dont offer it like 5 days consecutivly(sp?). also are you sure it was eating live? maybe try fresh killed and you might not get a defensive response, its worth a shot and will be better in the long run if it works out.

yep he's saying please get away,in his way of doing it,try a dead mouse and lay it in there with him maybe even get him to strike at it 1st.but he's just freeked out by the whole deal of whats going on with the mouse jumping around and the big person at the lid of the cage,he'll be fine after awhile and you'll see things alittle defferent too,just give him time ,i know you want himn to eat asap and he will if he dosen't get to bad of a spoook jop done on him,try a dead mouse (warmed of cource) and get him to strike it and walk away slowly and watch and see what he does,,hope this helps ,,,,,,,Greg

-----
Forever Trust in what we are,and nothing else Matters

The behavior you describe - defensively biting food and hissing after being disturbed - doesn't sound unusual at all. I've gone through it with many of the babies I've raised (suris and bolivians) and they all grew to be tame and reliable feeders. Little snakes just get intimidated easily. It's almost like they have defensiveness and feeding response competing for control and they'll hiss and strike defensively but occasionally hold on and eat. First of all I would feed dead prey - no chance of hurting your snake and just easier to deal with. Second, I would make sure the snake has most of its body hidden under newspaper or something so it feels more secure. Unless the snake starts fleeing, I would keep trying to offer the food. In my experience, sometimes they have to build to a feeding response. If he starts trying to get away, back off and try again after a break. Anyway, this is a problem that has cleared up as my snakes got used to their surroundings and feedings. I bet in a few weeks he'll be taking them with no problem.
P.S. - I keep blood pythons too and sometimes when they won't eat I put a dead rat on the heated end of their cage. I think it fills the cage with food scent. When I offer the rat again they usually take it. Just don't leave it on the heat too long - I've done that and it ain't pretty! Good luck.

My colombian eats live but doesnt like it running around her, so i hold the mouse by the tail a couple inches from her face and she will take them like that all day. Maybe try that, but in your case you might want a glove if yours thinks your hand looks more tasty.

Bolivians are my favorite Boa. You don't want to feed him/her live mice. You can use a stunned mouse, but the problem is that they may eat it without constricting first and still get bitten.

Use dead mice, it may take it a while to actually eat, not all boas eat immediately. Some can be shy when young, it may take a few hours.

I got a pair a year ago. They were both very sweet and docile, but they wouldn't eat dead either. Leave the dead mouse in the cage for a while. If it doesn't eat in a couple of hours prod the mouse or move it. (Don't use your hand).

I do plan on switching to f/t but mine is only a few months old and still growing quickly, she digests so quickly that i dont think waiting extra days would be a good thing right now, she ate yesterday (2 smallish adult mice) and they are almost completely digested. After she eats she buries herself under the bedding and sits directly above the heat mat.