Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I am so glad that I found this board! I need some help. I have a beautiful red tailed boa that I just can't handle. From the first day that I brought him home, he was a biter. I thought we could get him out of it. No chance of the happening! Now he is a little over 2 ft. and strikes the cage constantly if you get near it. What do you do in a case like this? When he was smaller, it wasn't so bad; now he's larger and I am really beginning to be afraid of him.

Honestly I've never seen an aggressive common boa. Your's is still rather small if still 2 feet so I hope your prepared for a much larger animal in the coming years.
My first impression is that your snake is stressed out. Buy a boa keeping book and make sure your enclosure, care, and feeding regiment is ideal. (I could go into this but don't feel like writing out a care sheet when the research on such a common species is so easy)
Make sure to keep your snake secluded. A high traffic area is not good for his cage. A mesh or glass aquarium is too open so cover most of the sides. Leave enough space open so your snake can get used to you being in the same room without feeling as if it is out in the open.
Don't handle your snake until it's feeding nicely and signs of stress are minimal. Feeding prekilled rodents is safer, but may also reduce aggression in snakes.
Using a snake hook (properly) to remove your snake from it's enclosure may reduce the feeling of encroachment/cornering. Of course begin slowly and not more than once daily until you and your snake are comfortable.
Good luck.

Hello.

Pardon my replying to a very old message, but I'd like to bring the topic up again if that's OK. Hopefully the poster was able to deal with his snake, but what if the remedies suggested don't help him? His snake is going to end up a candidate for rescue - at least if the herp world is anything like dog rescue where behavioral issues are very frequent cause for animals ending up homeless.

I'm trying to deal with an agressive corn snake of my own right now - and I had never heard of an agressive corn snake either. Her enclosure seems ideal as far as I can tell, it's in a quiet place, is quite large, has multiple hides, etc. She's never gotten anything but pre-killed mice, and yet she's so agressive that I'm having major problems dealing with her. Due to an illness there was a lapse in my handling routine, and a flighty hatchling has grown into a bad-tempered adult.

I'm not an expert herper by any means, but I am able to follow a care sheet. When that doesn't work, what to do? For a dog I could hire a trainer or behaviorist, or find training for her (and of course for myself in proper handling techniques as half of animal training is often handler training) through the rescue network or ever a pet store, but what about for an agressive snake? I could use more help than I've been able to find so far.
I don't want to even think about surrendering her to a rescue org. but we seem to be headed in that direction. Like a lot of pet owners I'm not neglectful, but not skilled enough to handle a problem animal well either. Yes, it's my own fault, but now what? Can this really be reversed?

I hope someone can offer some advice.
thanks,
Carolyn