Mrs. Hissy Fit

So I've had my new Hogger for over a week now, and she ate just fine. Everytime I open up the cage, she starts hissing and flaring at me. Once I get her out she calms down and is just fine.
How should I handle this? Should I leave her alone for a while longer, or should I pick her up and try to handle her freaquently?

Any tips?

congratulation to your new addiction :gj:

In my opinion you should handle her once or twice a week.

mine does this often. she goes through moods and hisses when you enter the room but other days she never makes a sound. Im with fast dad on the once a week thing.

Right now I have her in a translucent tub. Do you think it would help to move her into a glass tank so she can see activity in the room?

im gonna go with a no on that one. but let others chime in. the tub is going to be a better bet for hold heat. ive been to a hog breeders place and they were in freedom breeder racks and still would start hissing when they herd us get close. i wouldn't worry about it. just when you grab the snake do it quick.

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Originally Posted by Aeries

So I've had my new Hogger for over a week now, and she ate just fine. Everytime I open up the cage, she starts hissing and flaring at me. Once I get her out she calms down and is just fine.
How should I handle this? Should I leave her alone for a while longer, or should I pick her up and try to handle her freaquently?

Any tips?

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Assuming you did the 3 settling-in days, handle her once every day for 15 minutes (preferably at the same time each day when you can). Hognose snakes are harmless, and will not bite unless it's feeding time. They sure have a good bluff though and mine always startled me at the beginning, but now I'm used to it.

Yup, I defiently gave her some time to settle in, thanks for the help!

The general rule of thumb is minimum of a week before any handling. Since it has been over a week and she has already eaten for you, then I would proceed as normal. Handle when you feel like it. Hoggies can and will be cage defensive. Some only when the moods strike them, others are always like that. I have a male that is several years old the hisses everytime I am even near his tub. Once I get him out he is a sweethart. Some of my females have moodswings. Sometimes they are hissy, othertimes like puppy dogs. No rhyme or reason to it, just part of their personality quirks. Enjoy your new hoggie, and I love the name. Very appropriate! :)

My boy loves to hiss at anything that comes near him mostly at me, all i do is pick him up and he chills out quick fast. thats just hoggie mentality.