How to handle baby boas...
are boas in general just not like ball pythons at all... i have a baby columbian rainbow and she keeps nipping me for the silliest reasons... like once i touched her tail from behind by accident... i guess i need to understand there not the same as ballys :)
best get the biting done now and not when shes big lolol
Re: How to handle baby boas...
i'm new to boa's also i've had a red tail on layway for months now and he was the same way at first.i go for mice every week and hold him when im there and hes getting alot better.he dosnt try to bit anymore.ive asked around and most people i talk to say there just like that and need to get use to being held.so dont give up:)
Re: How to handle baby boas...
Heres what u do
If its in a really pissy mood when you go in to get it. Take the hand u do not use to handle her and quickly cover her head with a open palm. If she strikes its only gonna be a flat palm so nothing big. Grab the other hand pull her out.
Now hold her with just that one hand until she starts to loosen up and become more active (tongue flickering, moving around) Then u can "introduce" the second hand.
If she is still tagging u... Then let her tag you. I have a little female she tags me 4-5 times everytime i take her out. One taking her out and normally around 4 times just tagging my hand im holding her with. Eventually she will learn its no use....
Me what i say do is hold her maybe 30 mins every other day and maybe a 10 min on the non 30 min days. I do not like holding everyday for so long. except for feeding day and 2 days after.
Eventually she will figure out ur not a threat and stop tagging u. But keep on the CONSTANT handling sessions before her bites start to really hurt ;)
Re: How to handle baby boas...
I don't have experience with rainbows, but I do have one BCI. As a baby it was exceptionally nasty, the descriptions surprised a lot of people. I was very worried it would never calm down.
During that time I made it a point not to let it intimidate me, no matter if it hissed or fake-struck or for-real-struck. The idea was to avoid it getting the idea that doing any of those things would make me go away. That would be a bad thing as an adult.
I had to persist for about five months, but it paid off and he suddenly calmed down, and is very calm now at about 1.5 years old.
Always move with confidence and try not to be afraid. The snake will pick up on any fear and just upset it more. When you reach for them if you stutter or stop, same thing. Just go for it and take nips and bites and try to act like they don't bother you, it should get the idea that it can't do those things to make you go away.
Handle it every few days and stick to that pattern. Eventually it should calm down, and at some point beyond that, it's time for what I call face training trust: Get it used to being close to your face. And gradually closer, pushing both your comfort limit and that of the snake. Eventually both of you should not be afraid of this.
Persist!
Re: How to handle baby boas...
I either use a glove or hook to get them out, then transfer to my hand. Keep their head away from your body, and they will calm down pretty quickly. Do this daily until they are comfortable with you.
Re: How to handle baby boas...
What kind of a BCI do you have? Columbians have a rep of being docile, while CA and Mexica boas in particular are known for being nippy.