Cranky Hog Island

[foggs5]

I have a male 1.5 year old Hog Island Boa. When we first brought him home, he was as gentle as can be! After about a week he became very aggressive. I posted a thread about him a couple weeks ago, (at first I thought it might be connected to feeding) and received some great advice/recommendations. We have tried them all but to no avail. So far we have:

Covered his tank and left him alone for the better part of a week.

Dropped the temps from 92 basking/85 ambient to 85 basking/75 ambient.

The guy I got him from had him in a 20 Gallon Tank and I had put him into a 40 long, so it was suggested to me that he may be feeling insecure in that large of a tank. So I transferred him to a smaller rubbermaid tub. It has enough room for his water dish and two hides. I moved him to a different room. He has been in it about 5 days and is worse than ever!
After we left him alone in the bigger cage, I began picking him up with a hook and gloves. He was aggressive in his cage but once he had been out for about 5 minutes, he calmed down and was docile. I would then take off the gloves and hold him like usual.
Now he is staying agitated and readily hisses and strikes even when he has been out of the cage for 10 minutes or more. He hisses and is ready to strike as soon as he hears the lid move on his cage. He stays mad in his cage for long periods of time.

I'm not sure what else to try. I feel bad for him, because obviously he is not happy.
Also, I have noticed that the pupils in his eyes are different sizes. They both enlarge and contract but are never the same size. Is this normal?
Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

[CloudtheBoa]

It's not the size of the enclosure, but how open the enclosure is. I had my 3.5ft bp in a 6ft enclosure. He went in with feeding troubles, but he eventually started eating great again. It's how much open space you leave them.

I am not sure about anything else, though, I'm sorry. I've never had to deal with an aggressive snake, but that advice sounds like everything I've ever read on helping lower aggression. -Also almost forgot, have you tried hook training?- That may help you with your little troublemaker. Whenever you reach in to get him, just rub/tap him with the end of the hook to let him know you're there and hopefully he'll calm down by the time you reach in. Only thing, never do this when you're getting ready to feed or it will be pointless; you want him to associate the hook with handling. No hook means food. It may take a bit of work, but this may eventually help get him to turn around!

[artgecko]

Hmm.. I can't be of much help here... I've also never dealt with an aggressive snake... The odd pupil sizes makes me think neurological problems though. Maybe try posting in the "general herp" section and describe his pupils / behavior change and see if folks that don't own boas will respond... I'm sure someone has dealt with this before.

As cloudtheboa noted, from what I've seen with my snakes, it's not the enclosure size, but how much they can see out that effects their mood / skittishness. When I moved my snake into an old 20gl long that I had already "blacked out" the sides and back in (using black construction paper), she seemed calmer. That said, I don't have a boa yet, so I can't comment on them. I know usually people recommend more space for boas, not less (BPs on the other hand, like close, tight spaces).

I'd say, black out the tank sides / back and keep trying the handling with gloves / hook. If it isn't a neurological issue, you may be able to eventually get him used to handling. I'd also not put him back in his cage until he's calm... However long that takes.

I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

[foggs5]

Thank you for your replies. I have been using a hook to tap him before picking him up but he still gets very aggressive. I got him out today, and although he was still very aggressive in his tank, he did calm down and he was very docile. He refused to eat which is concerning as well. So I have scheduled an appointment for him with the vet in the morning. At least she can look at his eyes and do a check up to see if there is something wrong that I am missing.

[foggs5]

Well I took my HIB to the vet today. He is very slight swelling on the left side of his head and she felt he either had hurt himself somehow, or it was the beginning of a bacterial infection. So she put him on antibiotics. He has been very docile today. I will continue to handle him each day and hope he gets over his cage grouchiness. Thanks so much to everyone that has offered help and suggestions! I would post a pic of him but can figure out how? Is there another way besides the insert image button?

Thanks

[CloudtheBoa]

Glad you got it figured out, but that poor boa. Hope he's feeling better soon, and I'm sure his attitude will clear up once he's back in tip-top shape.

[artgecko]

If he has been in pain, that could explain the grouchiness too. Good luck with him!

[DooLittle]

Glad you got him checked out. I would leave him be for a while, while he is on antibiotics. He could be stressed too. All the different cage moving could have stressed him as well. Leave him be to get to feeling better. Then start handling him, and I would continue to hook train, and don't put him back until he settles down. Also, I have never heard anybody recommend a smaller space for a boa. Good luck and keep us posted how he does. Also, you can post pictures with the tapatalk app.

[foggs5]

I am happy to say that my Boa is much happier now! He is back in his larger tank. He is on antibiotics and is much less cranky.
Thanks again for everyone's help!

[artgecko]

So glad to hear that he is doing better. I hope he continues to do well for you.