Boa temperament/bites

i've had a ball python and boa now for a year and overall both snakes have been great pets. they have never turned down a feeding and have shed well everytime.

after having them for a year, i've gotten a really good sense for each snake's temperament, etc. i feed both snakes in a separate bin like some on this site have suggested. my ball python has never even hinted at wanting to strike me at any point, whether in his normal bin or the feeding bin.

slowly with time, my Boa has definately become slightly more aggressive. to the point now that i have gotten tagged 3 times in about 2 months. the strikes usually occur around feeding time. the 1st time was easily my own fault, because i reached my hand in to the feeding bin to pick him up, which was really careless on my part, which i recognize.

but the other 2 times, have really just come out of nowhere to be honest. like today i had picked him up (after eating 2 adult frozen thawed already) and was transfering him back into his normal cage, and he sunk his teeth into my hand to the point that i had to pry him off. does anyone have any ideas on how to avoid or aid this type of thing? the bites aren't really a big deal to be honest, but at the same time i keep thinking to myself, with age he has become more and more aggressive. the bites are manageable now, but how will he be when he is full grown?

is there anything i can do to help curve his mood to make him become less aggessive? do i feed more often? or should i just expect him to be like this always around feeding and just to watch out? lol

thanks! :D

You could feed in the same cage and not change cages. Some people have their own opinions, I used to put the snakes in a separate cage for feeding but tried feeding in the same cage and never went back. Boas enjoy their food, and I think it shows before and after they feed.

I totally agree with Evan.
I would never consider taking my boas out on feeding day or messing with them in any way. They sure love their feedings!!!
You might really want to re-think your theory on moving the boa (and the ball for that matter) to a separate enclosure for feedings. With boas, this can be a danger!!!! :)

Ditto the above... feeding time puts some herps into the "mood". I have always, with the exception of monitors, feed my herps in the enclosures or tubs. I never have picked them up before a feeding for approx 24 hours as some seem to get scheduled. In addtion, I do not touch for 48 hours after a feed... One to let them settle a bit, and two my Kings and Boa from the past seemed to be "on it" for a bit after a fed. Kinda like Dad after turkey day... :)

Boas have a much stronger feeding response on average. Never saw one curl up in a ball when feeling threatened. boboso has a good aproach.

thanks for the replies!!!

i definately agree with you all there, i never handle either snake until 48 hours after they feed. its actually been really cool to have bought both snakes around the same time, because this past year has been really cool to learn and experience each snake's moods and personalities.

hannibal, my ball python, couldn't be more relaxed and chill. and attilla, the boa, for the most part is very relaxed as well, but come feeding time, all i have to do is walk by the terrarium, and he is at attention, lol.

at some point, i think i am going to go to tubs, seems like a lot of people do that here. i think that is one of the reasons i started feeding in a separate bin to begin with though, is because Hannibal, my ball, would get some of the substrate stuck on the side of his mouth every now and again. there was never any health problems or anything, but that repti-bark sometimes would be stuck at the edge of the mouth, so i would carefully remove for him.

i think i'll be taking the advice, and feeding the boa in the same place from now on though, it seems like the smarter thing to do.

but wow, does he have some sharp teeth, let me tell ya!!! lol :O :D

If you still want to keep the snake in a seperate feeding enclosure, you might consider a hook.

And maybe your hands still smell like food when you go to pick him up????

using a hook could be a possibility as well when he gets older....

i generally use tongs for the food, so i wouldn't think i'm smelling like the food, but that is also very possible.

the strange thing is that for almost an entire year, this is how i would normally do things week to week, and both snakes used to be completely and totally calm to and from their terrarium/feeding bin, which is like a 2 foot difference, its not like i'm handling them for that long. i literally would pick them up, turn around and put them down.

the boa would always would be a little more hesitant and attentive than the ball python, but would never do anything. especially one i actually picked him up, he would realize that.."oh, i'm being put back in my home now, i don't need to worry."

its only been in the last month that almost every time its been time to feed, he has thrown a bit of an attitude, lol.

i think i may just try feeding him on a 5 day schedule instead of the 7 i've been doing for both. maybe that way his stomach won't be making decisions for his teeth. :D hehe

thanks for the response again!

I don't know about the 5 day feedings for a yearling boa...

I feed all of mine every 10 days. I have two 1.5 year old boas and an 8 month old and I just moved them from 7 day feedings to 10 day feedings.

I really think that the issue with the boa lies in the moving of the boa. I would advise leaving the 7 day (or 10 day) feeding schedule alone and feed in the snake's environment.

i'm always looking for any advice people have on keeping their boas, etc. if you have had success feeding them every 7 to 10 days, i will definately stick with that.

like i said, the first year has been great, i have no regrets. and even though i've gotten tagged a few times, its really not something i'm losing sleep over because i was expecting it when i signed up for this.... :)

just out of curiousity, what do you generally feed a yearling boa? i have been going with the f/t adult mice that are just as big as the central part of their bodies, and they have no problems taking those down. is that good to keep going with or do you have any other suggestions?

thanks again!