Unusual Behavior

[ckuhn003]

I posted this at the end of one of my previous posts but didn’t get a response so sorry for creating a new thread.

Phantom is usually clockwork when it comes to his location in his enclosure at different times of the day.

Morning: Half out of his cool side hide with a food response look on his face. Ready to pounce.

Daytime: curled up in his cool side hide

Early evening: starts to retreat out of his hide and onto the large piece of grapevine to bask under the RHP.

Evening (after 8 when the lights go out): Major food response mode.

Within the last week or two, he’s been out of his hide hanging out on the hot side. The side which I’ve never seen him hang out on.



I’m not sure if I should be worried or is this something normal. I’ve only had a boa for a little over a year.

Could it be the change in seasons?

I checked the temps and they don’t seem to have changed. 88-Hot and 78 cool.

The only things which have been different are that he’s been converted from mice to rats and I’ve started to spray the enclosure with water to up the humidity for an anticipated shed.

Any ideas??




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[Bogertophis]

Snakes aren't robots...they're entitled to change things up without sharing their reasons for doing so ...I wouldn't lose sleep over it.
That's why snakes should always have choices in their enclosures...they know better than we do what they need or want.

[dakski]

If he's eating well and otherwise acting normal, I wouldn't sweat it.

I am assuming the hides are the same and still fit him well and are in the same locations. I am also assuming the weather outside hasn't changed dramatically where you are. If it has, they can sense it, even if cage temps are the same and that can alter behavior.

Also, if you fed him a larger meal, he might need more time on the hot side to digest properly.

Whenever I up Behira or prey size, she will spend a longer time on the warm/hot side. As the meals get smaller for her, as she grows, she spends less time on the hot side to digest.

Finally, he may just have decided he likes that spot.

I wouldn't look into it too much unless there are other warning signs such as defensiveness, not eating, lethargy, etc.

[ckuhn003]

Wow, you guys are fast responders. Appreciate the feedback. Totally with you on snakes choosing their own locations and making choices but when you see the same pattern every day for a year, it's quite alarming when you see him laying on the opposite side during the daytime.

Feeding is going well and he's acting normal (meaning docile and tame during handling). Nothing in his cage has structurally changed BUT it will change soon as I'm moving him to his new enclosure.

You might be on to something Daski about the larger prey and spending more time on the hot side. I'll go with that and keep an eye on things.

[AbsoluteApril]

Just boa being a boa, everything seems fine to me.
I see some of my girls hanging out on the cool side right after eating. Does it make sense? nope. Are they fine? yup.

[Bogertophis]

...I see some of my girls hanging out on the cool side right after eating. Does it make sense? nope. Are they fine? yup.

That's something that used to concern me...but I've concluded that they deliberately slow down their digestion sometimes, especially after a large meal, and I presume
it's so as not to overwhelm their digestive tract with too much all at once. Also, I'm pretty sure that slower digestion allows better absorption of nutrients.

[Gio]

Just boa being a boa, everything seems fine to me.
I see some of my girls hanging out on the cool side right after eating. Does it make sense? nope. Are they fine? yup.

LOL!
Yep, over thinking things is common for newer snake owners. I did it, and I'm sure everybody on this board has questioned their tactics.

There are basic needs and requirements for reptiles, but once you have them dialed in, the animal does what it does.

And YES, seasonal changes, no matter what you have set up, seem to play a roll in their behavior. My boa will have his last meal until March or April in a few days.

Don't sweat it!

[EL-Ziggy]

Sounds pretty normal to me too brother. You've got him set up with everything he needs to thrive. Now he'll enjoy that environment as it pleases him . I think it's at least partly seasonal though. I love watching the different snake behaviors during the colder months.

[CloudtheBoa]

My boas go through periods where they never leave their hides, and periods where they never go in their hides. Hot vs cold is pretty random as well. They'll do them. haha

[bns]

When boas are young they need hides. As a boa gets older/larger and if it is being kept in a manner that allows it to become confident (very important -with many factors involved but indirect lighting will usually allow a boa to gain confidence while younger sooner) they will often give up hiding.

Most every boa in my care has had the hide removed by age 2 or 3. I have a male bcc that hung on to his until about age 6 and his 'attitude' has always been a little more timid than most but he is coming around.

Not 'everything' applies to every boa but I have always taken lack of hide usage as a good sign...in fact, I have always given more space (left them alone) to boas that seem to hide more..