getting a little nasty... PLEASE HELP.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I have a female red tail boa that I got about a year ago (she was a couple months old). She is getting big quick, and is already eating a Medium rat once a week. She has been very laid back up until about a week ago.

During the last week she has been sitting on top of her hide in constant "strike mode." I just fed her a nice fat rat a couple days ago, and she is still thick from that rat so I know she is not being underfed. Just now I walked past her tank and she struck and nailed the glass with her face!

What do you think is causing this sudden change? I am worried because she is going to be my one BIG snake and I don't want her to be nasty!!!!

Please help.

[Fallguy]

Do you handle her much, or do you just throw the food in and leave till next week? My big boa had the same issues. I just told her that I was in charge, and started to take her out of the cage a couple times a week. She calmed down after a few weeks. She even lets my OL handle her now.

[wilomn]

Feed her more.

[OuijaBoid]

Mike, is your rat breeding anywhere near her enclosure? If yes, that may be an issue with her...If not, I have one in my collection that if I walk by, he may strike out due to the movement past his cage...If when you open her enclosure and give her a little tickle with the hook (to let her know youre there) and shes fine with you taking her out or picking her up; then I would suggest maybe blocking her view with paper or something so that she wont hit the glass if someone walks by...Sounds to me as if its just a strong feed response....nothing to worry about...


Good luck!

[grim reaper in NY]

I have also noticed with the warm weather and climate change that all of my snakes are much more active, my Red Tail especially. Merlin does take a defensive posture when I open his tank but I let him investigate what's going on first and 99% of the time when he realizes it's me, he lowers his defenses and will climb out onto my outstretched hand and wrap around my arm so I can take him out. I don't even have to reach in to pick him up. You might try that tactic with yours as well and see how your snake reacts. It might take a couple more minutes to get your pet out, but it sure beats having him strike at you or the glass everytime you try to work with him.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Feed her more.

She struck at glass again this morning.

Wes, starting to think you might be right.... Is it possible to overfeed this species?

Please review husbandry basics with me to make sure I'm not screwing that up. What should the cool / warm side temperatures be again? Right now she is in a 30 gallon breeder tank. Heated with a UTH, the warm side is 88 -90 and the cool side is about 76 - 78 degrees (measured with RBI temp gun.) I have foam insulation on three sides of the tank and the top is 75% covered with foil and tape. The humidity stays right about 50%. I have two identical large tuperware containers for hides. She spends most of her time in them. Large dog bown is the water bowl, and using newspaper for the substrate.

Now that it is in the 90's outside the house air conditioner is running a lot more. I know the warm side temps are constant so I don't know if maybe that has something to do with all this. I do have a CHE that I can put on a thermostat on the cold side to keep the cold side closer to 80 degrees. Do you think that would help?

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Feeding... I normally feed her 1 f / t Medium rat per week. This last week she ate one, then I fed her another 3 days later becuase I thought hunger might be the reason in strike mode.... but still, the next day she was back in strike mode again.

I am still definitely a newbee to this species. Her growth rate is off the charts compared to a BP. Should I start feeding more often or bigger meals? she always nails the rat as soon as I put it in.... should I offer until she refuses?

Please help!

[2kdime]

I had a troubled Blood once that all of a sudden went into psycho mode. It was scary.

I just double checked my temperatures, lowered them a couple degrees as I found they were just a fuzz high. I kept feeding her and just left her alone, and she quit after a couple weeks.

[Jason Bowden]

You definately don't want to over feed your boa----They will regurgitate if over fed. I feed my boas every monday---so, once a week like you do. New borns and youngsters can eat every 4 to 5 days. I haven't had the striking out of control crisis, but they sure are ready for a meal on mondays.
My boa caging is in a corner of the room with practically no traffic. Is your cage in a high traffic area? My hatchling racks are in a high traffic area and I sometimes hear them striking the tubs when I pass.
I hope the situation is resolved with a quickness for you. I agree with the other posters and think the snake just needs to be handled more. Hopefully if handled more, the snake won't expect a meal every time it sees movement.

[Jason Bowden]

You may try a bigger meal, but I'd stick to only one rat per week. Just up the size of the rat.
Unless the snake is a huge one. A LARGE boa may take 2 or 3 XL rats on feed day.
I think your temps look good. 76 to 78 on the cool side sounds good. If the temps are an issue to you --try covering up to 90% of your cover.