Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What should i do i just purchased a new columbian red tail and have given it a week in its new settings. It is just over four feet long and 1.5 years old. Everytime i even go near the glass it snaps. i have never been bit even though i own 5 snakes but im scared of this one, whyat should i do?

These are always the fun animals for me. Nothing like a little piss and vinegar.......LOL!
I'm going to make some assumptions...So, if I'm off forgive me.
First thing you do is buy a snake hook. EVERY snake owner should have a snake hook. Because sooner or later your snake will be grumpy. This hook is the only way I have found to let them know that I am going in after them and they don't have a choice in the matter. I will freely admit I am pretty stupid at times. I almost always reach into my tanks without a hook. I handle my snakes a lot so they are more use to my hands than they are food. BUT, I have startled my snakes on occasion and they have struck. Then I get the hook out.
I have bought snakes like yours a few times. For the first month they are really defensive. You can't take these things personally. You have to remember things from the snakes perception. Some snakes are not held a lot. When they are sold, not only do the snakes have to deal with new surroundings...New smells...Etc They have to "deal" with a keeper that wants a pet. For me, slow and steady wins the race with these animals. I will always hook them to get them out of the cage. Once out of the cage they have often struck while on the hook. My stubborness will generally win with these animals. Once I get them off the hook I will hold them for a few minutes and then put them back. (If gloves make you feel safe then use them. Personally I don't. I want them to feel my warmth and get use to my smell. The tree hugging hippy in me actually tries to bring loving energy to my hands to make them feel safe. I talk to them as well. AND, I keep them away from my face. LOL!)
All my animals are use to the fact that if I go into their cage...They will be coming out. I think that my perserverence with them has really helped my out when they are completely blue. I have yet to have a snake go after me while in blue. To me, that means that they really trust me. Please remember, all snakes will bite. Just because my snakes are tame. I know I will get bit sooner or later if I let my guard down. All animals bite and have the potential to do so.
With boas that I have bought from other breeders I let them settle for a couple of days. I then feed them to make sure that they are eating. Once these "buisness" issues have been resolved I begin my taming process. I'll go in the tank a couple of times a day and hold the snake for about 5 minutes at a time. (I don't want to push too hard....The snake is usually in a stressed state.) This is a fine line to watch for. The snake will be stressed. You don't want to stress a snake so much that it'll regurge on you or stop eating. You'll have to be the judge of you animal and where it's at.
Some keepers will throw a shirt of theirs into the tank to get the snake use to their smell. I've heard it works.
Give your animal time. I would say a vast majority of boas will tame down. I have yet to own one that has never tamed down.
One thing to note. It really is my strong belief that boas/snakes are just like all the other pets we own. They all have their own personalities. Which means there is a full spectrum of personalities. It's kind of like dealing with dogs. You can have loving trusting snake that just wants to be out with you. Or, you can have a fear agressive snake that is just plain scared and will bite out of fear.
Read you boas body language. If you own other snakes that are tame. Watch them when you are holding them. REALLY WATCH them. Body language is HUGE when dealing with snakes. Once you are in "tune" with their natures and movements you are golden. Then, watch your "agressive" boa when you hold it. Learn the small differences in breathing, body position, etc.
Also it is my belief that you need to be in control of you own emotions while taming an animal. I feel that humans and animals alike can "smell" fear. Generally, when I am taming an animal, I will have a gentle and loving heart with a smidge of control mixed in. It is another belief of mine that I am the owner of my animals. I am the one in control. Or, the one with a "false sense of control". LOL!
Also, if you do not own them yet. Buy some snake tongs for feeding. While they are necessary to train babies......They are imperative when dealing with a large constrictor.
I am sure I have missed some other points. It's early here.
Be safe.
John
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"To be the best..........You must lose your mind."

Hope this helps....

Years ago back around 1999 I had a Colombian/Hog island cross...she was gorgeous...and so light pastel coloration. She was ferocious..LOL...at least I thought so....every time I would walk passed her glass tank she would strike! She struck so hard her mouth would get all bent up...I was worried about her getting hurt.
I tried the put the t-shirt in cage trick and handled her with gloves and just tried to get her to settle as much as I could...

I later sold her and still regret it today....what I think happens is common in some animals....

I have had a few since then that showed this same agressive behavior...and although I could be wrong here....I think they go through growth spurts and just need to eat more at this time.

So just try and feed her a little more or larger prey...a 4 foot snake should easily take a medium rat...but maybe try a large....then about 10 days later feed her again....

Temps are also critical and if in glass tank with a light on top she may just be too hot...

Make sure the cage is at least a 55 gallon tank for her size...and also if pets are around that could also be a factor....

Hope this helps....let us know...Andy

thanks guys i have her in a 250 gallon tank and decided to feed her today a small live guinea pig he struck a few times at my hand while i was rearanging the tank i had gloves on luckily which it tore one off my hand. I figure ill give him a couple days now

If worse comes to worse.............send him to me .
Kiddin', good luck with him.

Quig