Hog Island Boa: Handling after eating question

We recently purchased a Hog Island Boa male, that is 1.5 years old. He has been very docile and friendly and after letting him get used to his new cage, we have had handled him and had him out of the cage several times. We fed him a rat F/T and he took it and ate immediately. I have always been told to wait at least 2 days to handle them after eating to reduce stress and the chance of regurgitation. So... after two days, my son (13) went to pick him up and he bit him.
So my questions are:

Do you think its because he ate two days ago and is in feeding mode?
Is it typical for them to be aggressive after they have eaten, even after a couple days?
What should our reaction be? This is the first larger snake we have had, so do I leave him alone for a few more days or do I handle him now to get him over it?
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!

None of my boas appear aggressive/defensive a few days after eating, including my own Hog (though they always are inquisitive and aware of their surroundings). Was your son handling any f/t feeders or live mammals before your he got bit? It could have been a strictly defensive strike if the snake was surprised when your son went in to pick him up. What are the temps you're keeping him at and how are you measuring them?

For striking and bite-y snakes: I never put them away right away after they act out (I really believe they will pick up on bad behavior = getting out of being handled). If I get bit or struck at I handle the snake until it's relaxed and settled down. Here's an example of my own Hog when she went through her "phase", she was a huge bluffer but she was only put away once she settled down and she's perfectly laid back now:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...psc72093ff.jpg

I don't have a hog. However, as day breaker has said, any chance of a rodent smell? I have BCI's, and my hypo, is always "looking" when a door opens. I have hook trained him, and he is now fine. Boas have amazing feed response, as well as are always very curious.

Thanks for the input. My son had not been around, or handled any rodents/animals. He also tapped the snake to make sure it was awake and knew he was there. When I went in to see him, he was acting defensive again. I have a humidity gauge and temp gauge. We having been trying to keep the humidity at 60. The ambient temp is 83F and the basking spot is just over 90F.

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Originally Posted by foggs5

Thanks for the input. My son had not been around, or handled any rodents/animals. He also tapped the snake to make sure it was awake and knew he was there. When I went in to see him, he was acting defensive again. I have a humidity gauge and temp gauge. We having been trying to keep the humidity at 60. The ambient temp is 83F and the basking spot is just over 90F.

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I would bump the temps down and see if that helps any: my boas like temps cooler than my pythons. I do 77-79 cool side/ambient and 88 hot side. You could try blocking out three sides of the tank/throwing a towel over the tub to give the snake more privacy and see if that helps at all too: if he's really new he could just be settling in and still getting used to things. Some of my snakes just have their "pissy" days as well.

Thank you all for the help! I will drop the temps a little and see if that helps! Daybreaker, That is a great picture of your Hog by the way, she is very pretty. Ours is smaller than that but similar colored. I went in and picked him up and held him till he calmed down and was docile. Part of the problem is that I can not read his body language as well as I would like. He didn't hiss but was coiled and had his neck arched when I went to pick him up. Its hard for me to tell aggression from being inquisitive, when he puts his neck in a s shape. Obviously he was irritated earlier because he did bite. But other times he puts his head in an "S" shape and is just checking things out. It startled my son who has been very excited about him. He did hold him again after he calmed down. I would share a picture if I could get one posted. Lol

Once they have been fed and are in feeding mode, it is hard to get them to snap out of it. I would advise to hook train him so he knows when it is feeding time and when its not. I just leave mine alone after being fed because they are a little snappy.

Last night when I took him out he was acting defensive until I got him out and then he relaxed. But today he is VERY aggressive. He was hissing and striking at the tank. I picked him up carefully and he coiled around my wrist as hard as he could and tried to bite me a few times. Its now been 3 days since feeding. I am really shocked to see such a change in him from the very gentle snake he was at first. How do you hook train them?
If he is hissing, is that more of a defense thing than a feeding response?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by foggs5

Last night when I took him out he was acting defensive until I got him out and then he relaxed. But today he is VERY aggressive. He was hissing and striking at the tank. I picked him up carefully and he coiled around my wrist as hard as he could and tried to bite me a few times. Its now been 3 days since feeding. I am really shocked to see such a change in him from the very gentle snake he was at first. How do you hook train them?
If he is hissing, is that more of a defense thing than a feeding response?

Thanks in advance for the help.

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With my boas the hissing has always been a defensive reaction, so it sounds like it's that over a feeding response. Also when my boas grip really hard is when they are feeling a little insecure: some of mine that I've had for awhile never really wrap around things anymore when handling (they'll just kinda be there and let me support them). I would drop the temps, leave him alone for ~5 days with his tank covered, then try again and see how he responds. When did you bring him home/how many days ago?

We brought him home last monday. He was fed on Friday. We left him alone until Sunday. That was when he began his grumpiness. I have been keeping a towel over the top of the cage. He is in a glass 40Gallon long tank, so should I put a blanket over it that is big enough to cover the sides so it is dark? He has hides that he has been using. The guy we got him from had him in a 20 Gallon. Do you think the tank is too big? We put the same substrate in and actually brought along his old hides and his climbing limb and heat source so his cage is very similar to what he was in.

Also, the last owner was feeding him a med rat (Live) every 2 weeks. He said he is 1.5 years old. He is only about 2' 3". He seems really healthy and at a good weight but I was wondering if maybe I should feed him more? We fed him F/T and he took it and ate it right away..
I will leave him alone as you suggested and see if that helps.

Thanks again for all your help! I really appreciate being able to ask someone that is knowledgable and willing to share info!