My big disappointment.....

I dont want to defer people away from this site but i would also ask over at

http://www.redtailboas.com

So saying people here are not helpful but there are more "boa people" over there :gj:

Good luck asking over there. As a "newbie", every post or thread you start has to go through moderation which can take a day. But I don't see why you would need to go over there...they have boas and some of us have boas. I am registered there and posted there but don't quite like the atmosphere.

Hi Everyone,

I am still trying to decide on how to proceed. Over last couple of days I've noticed that the main issue is trying to get them out of their cage - they just seem to want to escape from me - but if I use the hook to move them to the front of the cage and then reach in and pick them up it seems to go fine, once they are out and being held they seem to calm down.

Do you guys think that if I hold them more often it would get them used to being held and curb the cage aggression?? My only worry with that is that I would be stressing them out too often and may have a reverse effect on them.

Your thoughts.

Quite often I get mine out of their cage with a hook whether they are acting aggressive or not. With larger snakes it makes it much easier to move them into a better position like you are doing to pull them quickly and safely out of the cage. So it may just be a matter of needing to use the hook to pull them out each time.
But of course I'd say depending on the type of cage it's probably better that way anyways. When mine are all the way against the back of the cage I don't exactly feel comfortable sticking half my body in the cage to get a good hold on them to pull them out.

Hey aleria,

Have yours ever struck at you?? Mine are only two years old and I have only had them a short time and each one has struck at me at least once. The male struck at me because he was in shed so I didn't think too much about that but the female seems like when I open her cage she watches my every move - like she is ready to pounce.

I think alot of the fear is now built up in my head so I expect something bad to happen. I have never felt that way with my bp's.

When I think about giving them up I feel sooo guilty - it goes against everything I believe to just "quit" on your pets but then I start thinking that I have to make the right decision for everyone involved. I am soooo torn right now on what is the right decision.

Both have struck and both have tagged, and each time it was a mistake on my part. Usually reaching in and just grabbing them without making sure they were awake or aware of me, or trying to move them a little too fast and scaring them, etc.
Truthfully, my most recent tag was from my big girl just this past sunday, didn't even notice she got me until I saw the blood. But at not one point did it hurt, even after the fact. And again that time it was just a matter of her being a little too big for me to comfortably handle by myself so when putting her back in her cage she flailed her head backward trying to come back out, I had my hands full with the bulk of her body and her face hit my arm and she just happened to have her mouth open.
I was also so afraid of being bit by any of the snakes, and even now if I am feeling a little nervous because of a look they are giving me, that's when I'm sure to grab the hook to get them out instead :)
Once you've had it happen a time or two, just like everyone else will tell you, it will happen and you'll laugh at how silly it seemed to be so afraid.

I almost wish it would happen and get over with - I've got this idea in my mind that it is going to be so horrible - I've never been tagged so I have no idea and I've built up this fear/anxiety over it.

Another thing I do and I know it is wrong to think this way especially with a pet snake but if they were to bite me or not want me to hold them - I tend to take it personally like my own pet doesn't like me and I know that is sooo silly with a snake because they cant even rationalize feelings like that - but that is just how I am - I get hurt feelings if my own pet hates me - LOL.

I am still talking with the breeder on how to proceed - no final decisions have been made. I think I will spend some more time with them this weekend to see how things go and to see if I can work on getting my comfort level where it needs to be to enjoy them.

Thanks for your help.

Yeah, it definitely sounds like a good idea to see where things are going. And it is a good sign that outside of the cage they are calm enough to allow you to hold them. I know some snakes are flighty and hissy both inside and out. So it does bode well that they just seem a little tense when initially getting them out of the cage.

Thanks again for your help. I am attending a reptile show tomorrow and my breeder friend will be there to discuss my options. Hopefully whatever decision is made - that is best for everyone involved.

yup I agree with you BP is the tamest snake in the world (although I got attacked twice lol)

I just adopt 2 new bci columbian boa. the first one is become so aggresive and hissing trying to attack me. but now if he looks angry I would put my hand away from him. Once he is calm, I grab his belly and he never strike at me anymore. :)