angolan/general question

so my angolan female hisses at everything in her cage (she until last week hissed at her food) she puts on a huge display trying to get her out of her cage, but no biting, ever. once you get her out she is super squirmy and for lack of better terminology becomes a firehose. empties her bladder in less colloquial terms. is there a way to get her to stop urinating every time you grab her?

My female was pretty vocal for the first couple weeks then settled down: I bet with more handling (and time if she's just a baby) yours will calm down and quit hissing and peeing at every opportunity.

Stop grabbing her.

Seriously. Go slow. Try to gently work your hands underneath her and scoop her up. Allow her to slide through your hands. Sit down and put her in your lap. If she's allowed to move on a stable surface, she'll feel more secure.

Remember, she's scared. She's hissing and emptying herself in defense. Be patient. Go slow. Be gentle. Be understanding. She'll come around with time and consistency.

Does she have a couple of hides in her tub? If she's hissing at everything and anything, she's insecure in her environment. Give her hides to help with that, make sure her enclosure is away from heavy traffic and that she isn't disturbed unnecessarily or threatened in her cage.

My baby Angolans were both big hissers when they first arrived. The female would even occasionally strike out. This is what I did and they both - even the female - settled down within the first month. They are both totally chill now. :gj:

I didn't literally mean grab ;) and yeah she has a hide on each side. She doesn't hiss unless something comes near her. When I got her, if the tub opened she would hiss up a storm, now if u don't go near her she doesn't hiss, but she hisses like crazy when u get near her, so I leave my hands at her side and wait till she gets used to that, I gently pick her up, as soon as she's out it's like a crocodile doing a death roll while holding a fire hose, then she climbs up my arm and doesn't hiss until I try to put her back

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Originally Posted by Joeysham

I didn't literally mean grab ;) and yeah she has a hide on each side. She doesn't hiss unless something comes near her. When I got her, if the tub opened she would hiss up a storm, now if u don't go near her she doesn't hiss, but she hisses like crazy when u get near her, so I leave my hands at her side and wait till she gets used to that, I gently pick her up, as soon as she's out it's like a crocodile doing a death roll while holding a fire hose, then she climbs up my arm and doesn't hiss until I try to put her back

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Ok. That sounds more normal. ;)

I would still go very slow with her. Seems like you're on the right track. Try setting her in your lap though. I've found that REALLY helps with baby boas - they do this wild and crazy twisting we sometimes call a "boa flail". Placing them on our laps really helps them feel more secure. :gj:

All my boa ever did when young was hiss and very occasionally strike. I would rather her bite, less of a mess and hassle