Feeding schedule change and sudden aggression?

[BCS]

I have an 11 month old male boa. He is huge! 4ft and some odd inches. I've been told by countless people that he is too young to be that large. I got him in August when he was only a foot some long. He was so tiny. I fed him once a week on prey roughly the size of his girth. Two months ago, after some advice from people here, I started feeding him on a two week schedule. Ever since then he has become aggressive. He is fine about a few days after being fed but by the fifth or say day he is snappy. He snaps at us whether the door to his cage is open or not. Reaching for him definitely results in a bite if we are not quick enough. This only started when we changed his feeding schedule.

Will he calm down or should I return him to his usually feeding schedule? He is currently on small rats. Medium rats are too big, small rats are just slightly smaller then his girth. He was an awesome snake before the change.

[PassionFruitReptiles]

Boa's are notorious for having a ridiculous feeding response, now that his feedings have decreased his feeding response increased which is normal. I would suggest moving him up to a 10 day feeding schedule and see if it helps get his demeanor back to where it was before the change. I would also review your husbandry to make sure the humidity/temperature are correct, has there been any changes to his enclosure or an increase in traffic near his area?
He does sound rather large, are you positive he is not a female? As long as he is of an appropriate weight i honestly wouldn't be too concerned.

[bcr229]

I would try a ten day schedule also and see if his attitude improves. Also length isn't nearly as big a factor as his girth - as long as his body shape is good, nice and square rather than round - then he's not fat. Some just grow faster than others.

[BCS]

He is about 1100g (haven't weighed him in a couple months, but he was exactly 1041g March 21). Nothing has changed in his cage. A week ago we changed out his bedding but I do that every month or two anyway but this has been happening for two months so that is not the issue. His humidity ranges from 50%-70%. I use coconut husk and every week I spray. By the seventh day the humidity has gone down to about 50%. He has great sheds and seems to be very healthy. When I bought him, a week I later noticed he had mites. I easily got rid of them and that problem was cleared up almost over night. He is super active at night despite the temperatures dropping to 78F on the hot side at night time. During the day the ambient temps are around 85F on the hot side and about 75F on the cool side. The heat tape is set at 90F and during the day this is where he spends most of his time. He has two hides though he does not use the one on the cool side. He is in a melamine cage with plexiglass (looks like a small cabinet. Two doors that swing open. The doors are wooden with plexiglass in them). It is 5ft x 2ft x 14in. He has been in this enclosure since we bought him.

I got him from a place called serpent rescue group. They had him labeled as a male but I have no clue how to sex a boa. Ball pythons and corns I am okay either popping or probing but not our boa. I will put him on a 10 day cycle and see if there is any change. This Wednesday is his next feeding so I will feed him then and offer another rat 10 days after that.

[BCS]

I would try a ten day schedule also and see if his attitude improves. Also length isn't nearly as big a factor as his girth - as long as his body shape is good, nice and square rather than round - then he's not fat. Some just grow faster than others.

He has that loaf of bread look to him. I am not even sure if he is full bred. He could be half BCC for all I know. I was told he was a BCI but I am not too sure and if he is crossed I was wondering if this could have something to do with his amazing growth? He came from a rescue group so they probably are not 100% sure. They did not have the parents, just the babies.

[anicatgirl]

Loaf of bread, kinda square, is the right shape. Round like a BP is fat. Sounds like he's OK

[bcr229]

You may also want to start hook training him if you haven't already. A light rub with the hook along his neck or side is often all that's needed to break the food response.

[BCS]

You may also want to start hook training him if you haven't already. A light rub with the hook along his neck or side is often all that's needed to break the food response.

Ahhh, what a good idea... I usually use a paper towel roll to block his view of me if he looks like he is going to strike at me (I wont bother with it if he seems friendly at that moment). Once I have him in my hands he is fine, so hook training may be a better I dea. Thanks.

[JoshSloane]

If he is a rescue boa then I would bet that they had his age wrong. Not that it plays into his aggression issue at all, but rescues are notorious for getting the age and sex wrong. Likely he was underfed as a hatchling and was super small for his age, leading the rescue to inappropriately set his age too young. He could have been malnourished, and associated that with mistreatment and reacted aggressively. Once you acquired him and brought his food intake up he likely calmed down and the aggression dissipated. Spreading out his food schedule could likely bring back the association of neglect. If he isn't overweight on the weekly food schedule then why change? Every snake is distinct in its growth and metabolic rate, so weekly feedings might be right for him.

[thehonestpirate]

If he is a rescue boa then I would bet that they had his age wrong. Not that it plays into his aggression issue at all, but rescues are notorious for getting the age and sex wrong. Likely he was underfed as a hatchling and was super small for his age, leading the rescue to inappropriately set his age too young. He could have been malnourished, and associated that with mistreatment and reacted aggressively. Once you acquired him and brought his food intake up he likely calmed down and the aggression dissipated. Spreading out his food schedule could likely bring back the association of neglect. If he isn't overweight on the weekly food schedule then why change? Every snake is distinct in its growth and metabolic rate, so weekly feedings might be right for him.

OP said in the post that it was only around a foot when he got it. I dont think it is a rescue issue