agression inside enclosure when young?

[crusher]

ok ive had my boa for about a month and a half and ive noticed hissing when attempting to get her out but once shes out its gravy. is this a normal phase she will go through or should i just expect to get tagged by her and get it over with. she is about 2.5 mos old

[Chandler reptiles]

I had a small litter born this year and there are 2 that are just pistols, the perfect open mouth in strike position every time I go in there with them but once they are out they are just fine. Getting them back in is another story but I believe they take after mom in that respect. She has always been one that doesn't like to be put away and will fight you the whole way.

Some of the behavior I believe they grow out of but some is just there crazy habits. The biting should go away over time working with her.

[crusher]

well i wasnt too worried about it as ive only seen her that pissed off at me once where she opened her mouth and struck at me so i left her alone that day pfft... women. anyways she just has a lil hissy fit when i go in and shes in the corner all huddled up i just try to nudge her head away from my fingers then scoop her.

[Mike Schultz]

Take the tag when its a young snake and handle it frequently anyways. It will soon "learn" or at least get used to the activity and shouldnt be an evil snake at 6+ feet

[ncbloods]

A lot of young snakes are cage protective. It's instinctual and they probably think they are getting eaten. I have a pair of those crappy wooden tongs you get from the pet store (my roommate quickly realized after buying them how difficult it was to maintain 100+ scorpions with them), and I use it to let them know I'm there.

Works well.

[AndrewGeibel]

Some snakes stay that way. My boa is a year and a half old and somewhere around 4 feet. She is still very cage protective even though I handle her about every other day. I just have to cover her head or something like that with a pillow case and then pick her up from the back end. Once out of the cage she is good to go though.

[blackcrystal22]

I think I'm just lucky.
So far, my RTB hasn't done so much as to look at me funny let alone hiss or bite.

Just frequent handling is the only thing to do to help that. Get them used to a routine before they get too big. Good luck!

[Skiploder]

ok ive had my boa for about a month and a half and ive noticed hissing when attempting to get her out but once shes out its gravy. is this a normal phase she will go through or should i just expect to get tagged by her and get it over with. she is about 2.5 mos old

It is very common for young snakes to do this and it usually has nothing to do with aggression or defending the enclosure.

It has everything to do with the fact that the act of reaching in and picking them up is very similar to being predated on. Predators will dig to get at them, or reach into burrows - your arm reaching in to pick them up is very similar and will provoke a defensive reaction.

The good news is that most animals get acclimated and soon learn that your hand is not the same thing as a predator. The other bit of good news is that as you have noticed, most snakes will immediately cease this behavior once they have been picked up. Using a hook is a great way to insure that you don't get bit in the process.

It is important that if he hisses or strikes, that you do not let this behavior stop the handling session. He needs to learn that being handled is part of the routine and that his aggressive behavior will not be rewarded

[gasser]

It is very common for young snakes to do this and it usually has nothing to do with aggression or defending the enclosure.

It has everything to do with the fact that the act of reaching in and picking them up is very similar to being predated on. Predators will dig to get at them, or reach into burrows - your arm reaching in to pick them up is very similar and will provoke a defensive reaction.

The good news is that most animals get acclimated and soon learn that your hand is not the same thing as a predator. The other bit of good news is that as you have noticed, most snakes will immediately cease this behavior once they have been picked up. Using a hook is a great way to insure that you don't get bit in the process.

It is important that if he hisses or strikes, that you do not let this behavior stop the handling session. He needs to learn that being handled is part of the routine and that his aggressive behavior will not be rewarded

I use a hook for mine, not because its agressive at all but just because its so darn easy to scoop him out with it. The hook also makes putting him back even easier. No muss no fuss. I love my hook.

Jeff

[bradabolics]

I have a smaller red tail as well (about 24"ish) and she has hissed a couple times when i have picked her up too, i generally ignore it and pick her up. Once she is outside though she is a sweetheart...