First, out of curiosity do you have photos of the snake full body wise? Not saying it's not (I've bought from LLL before too) but from the photo you posted I'm not seeing any longicauda in that snake, here's my own BCL to compare: http://daybreakerexotics.weebly.com/olive.html
For acting out, it's probably because he's still acclimating and looks pretty young. Some snakes transition better than others, so my personal recommendation would be to wait until the snake has had three successful feedings (this guy every 7-10 days) and once that's established (thankfully boas are rarely picky) then I would start with short handling sessions (every couple days for ~5-15 minutes). These guys can easily pick up on if you're nervous so tell yourself to not feel this way when reaching in to grab him: hesitating around over him will probably induce a strike from him too. Just reach in and scoop him up: if he bites it will hurt less than a paper cut since he's still little. If it makes you feel better you could wear some gloves or start using a snake hook. Only when he's relaxed and not striking at everything is when to put him away: I believe they will know what behavior to pull to get out of being handled so only put him away when he's calm and relaxed. This have worked for my own defensive/striking snakes in the past, including my own Hog Island BCI boa and Sumatran short tail python.
I would cover his whole tank with a towel too while he's adjusting along with the sides you blacked out and keep him in a less-trafficked area. What size tank is he in vs the one he was in at the store? He could be feeling vulnerable also: if you could post a pic of your set up we may be able to offer suggestions. What temp range are you keeping him at? These guys like cooler temps than balls so him being too warm is also a possibility for the temperament change.
Reply With Quote