Boa copping an attitude.

[blackfish707]

Typical situation, I'm sure, but just looking for some reassurance or advice on anything I should be doing. I have a sub adult Hog Island Boa female. She's about 3ft or so. Normally is pretty chill, have only really had her strike around feeding time (in her bin) and once at a camera while getting too close for a glamor shot. She's had a moment before where I believe I startled her while she was in her bin and she announced it with hissing and a couple of strikes at the bin wall. She has recently (within the past week) been fed, shed, and had a sizable poo. A couple of days ago I went to take her out for some stretch time and as soon as the snake hook touched her she was agitated and started hissing. I let her be, as I know they have off days just like the rest of us. Today I was cleaning enclosures and when I went to take her out, the same thing happened. Again, I let her be. She has also been in a dark phase. I don't know if it's proven, but I do feel a correlation between her moods and her color phases. I figured I would wait until she looks a bit lighter and more amicable to try and clean/handle her, but I also feel I might be too superstitious?

Let me know what you guys think or what you would suggest.


The brat in question:

[John1982]

A couple of days ago I went to take her out for some stretch time and as soon as the snake hook touched her she was agitated and started hissing. I let her be, as I know they have off days just like the rest of us. Today I was cleaning enclosures and when I went to take her out, the same thing happened. Again, I let her be.

Sounds to me like she's well on her way to training you with her hissy fits. If you want her to be amicable for handling at any time don't let a little spunk sway you out of a session. At the very least I would take her out next time she shows the cage attitude to see if it transfers. Chances are, once you get hands on her she'll be her usual self. If she isn't though and you do take a bite, don't return her to the enclosure right away. When at all possible, you want to avoid ending a handling session on a negative. Wait until she has calmed back down, even just a little if she's being particularly nasty, before returning her to the enclosure.

[blackfish707]

Thanks John! That was sort of my thinking as well. I aim to clean her cage today because it is straight up funky. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for the input!

[blackfish707]

So I successfully cleaned her enclosure today. When I opened up the bin, I just reached in and picked her up with the hook and placed her on my bed while I cleaned. She still had her nasty face on. While she didn't hiss or strike, she was very quick with her head movements and "tracked" my movement as I moved around the room. Definitely still in stank mode and definitely still in a dark phase. I just put her back in and she sat at the front mean-mugging, but not striking or hissing like yesterday as I checked on the two bins beneath her. I'll take her out for a bit on Saturday to actually handle her, but just didn't have the time today. What a jerk.

[serpenttongues]

My hog gets moody too. Most of the time he's super chill, but then he'll have a week where he does nothing but hiss and be grouchy. I usually just leave him be for a week, then resume normal handling even if he's still hissy.


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[Sonny1318]

Of the two Hogg Islands I've owed. I always was under the assumption they could be a little high strung. Never stopped me from handling though. Just made it a little more interesting. Try and learn to read her mood and enjoy.