I Am Scared Of My Boa

[bcr229]

Is this the same male that bit you last year and you've had problems with for a while? If so I don't think the proximity to your female is the problem, I think this is just how he is. I have some adult female ball pythons that are the same way, they are just super defensive, and I keep them well away from my face or I risk getting an unwanted nose piercing.

So... what to do about it? You can continue to try to tame him down, and if he's flighty when being handled then he may not only be scared of you, but also he may be worried initially about falling. Then, because he's a decent-sized snake, when he gets squirrelly and you have to take hold to prevent a fall, your grip is probably firm enough that he feels trapped, so he strikes out.

Assuming you have the space available, try sitting on the floor, put him on your lap, and guide his movements instead of holding and controlling him. When you pick him up, slip a hook under him or even let him crawl over it on his own, and then slide a hand under and lift him off the floor rather than grabbing him from above, so he avoids that trapped feeling and doesn't panic.

Finally, he's a common male BCI. If you give it your best efforts, this guy isn't coming around for you, he's a pet, and you just aren't enjoying him as a pet, there's nothing wrong keeping him as a display animal and handling him minimally for the rest of his life, or with finding a new home for him if you prefer to get a more tolerant snake.