Florence hissed at me

[Florence_Bones]

Florence hissed at me. I backed off right away, as she was obviously trying to send a message. That's fine. Much respect.

What I'm worried about now, though, is that my relationship with her is going to change permanently. I don't want to be scared of my snake, or to be nervous around her, but I'm definitely wary now.

Also, how long should I leave her alone until I try and hold her again? Two weeks? Three weeks?

We had a really nice visit last night. I had her out for almost a full hour. She curled up next to me on the couch. We shared the same blanket. I guess she just needed more time to decompress after that.

I feel bad for stressing her out so much that she hissed at me. Poor girl.

[Sunnieskys]

Se might be going into shed or you just scared her. I usually tap hoops hide and move a plant so she knows I'm coming. She only hisses when she is in shed.

[Florence_Bones]

She just had a shed but HAS had two feedings, 7 days apart. Her eyes looked black / very dark blue...sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between the two colors..

I'll give the viv a good mist.

[Bogertophis]

Your relationship with her has suffered no lasting damage, not to worry. As already mentioned ^^^ she may be going into shed, or just wanted some alone
time. Snakes aren't terribly social anyway...it's likely your approach was just too abrupt this time, expecting her to be in the same mood as when you last
held her. You haven't had her that long, & even if you had, it's always better to re-introduce yourself slowly to a snake each time that you approach.

The BCI I had for many years was like that...loved to be out, chilling with me ("watching" a movie for a couple hours, & not wanting to go back in her cage),
but every once in a while (& NOT related to being in shed) she would hiss up a storm when I approached her. I never rushed her...I touched her (not near
her face...just on her body) gently while she "remembered" that she knew me...she never turned to bite either, she just gradually stopped hissing and then I'd
pick her up & take her out...& she was fine. She never bit me even once, but she was a feisty biter when she was given to me as a yearling (she had changed
hands several times because of that before coming to me). I knew she was just terrified...snakes are shy, & they mostly bite out of fear and self-defense, that
or honest feeding mistakes.

I also don't think that if a snake hisses at you & you decide to leave them alone & NOT push it, that they somehow learn to manipulate you this way. If you take
your time & really empathize, snakes seem to know. If you say "never mind" & try another day, all is forgotten & their mood will likely be back to "normal"....so
don't stress over it. Remember that snakes do NOT recognize us visually...use your scent & touch to jog their memory of who you are, trust me on this. This is
why many keepers use "hook training" (touch recognition)...so their hands aren't within reach by the snake, but it's the same idea.

[Florence_Bones]

The BCI I had for many years was like that...loved to be out, chilling with me ("watching" a movie for a couple hours, & not wanting to go back in her cage),
but every once in a while (& NOT related to being in shed) she would hiss up a storm when I approached her. I never rushed her...I touched her (not near
her face...just on her body) gently while she "remembered" that she knew me...she never turned to bite either, she just gradually stopped hissing and then I'd
pick her up & take her out...& she was fine. She never bit me even once, but she was a feisty biter when she was given to me as a yearling (she had changed
hands several times because of that before coming to me). I knew she was just terrified...snakes are shy, & they mostly bite out of fear and self-defense, that
or honest feeding mistakes.

I also don't think that if a snake hisses at you & you decide to leave them alone & NOT push it, that they somehow learn to manipulate you this way. If you take
your time & really empathize, snakes seem to know. If you say "never mind" & try another day, all is forgotten & their mood will likely be back to "normal"....so
don't stress over it. Remember that snakes do NOT recognize us visually...use your scent & touch to jog their memory of who you are, trust me on this. This is
why many keepers use "hook training" (touch recognition)...so their hands aren't within reach by the snake, but it's the same idea.

Forgive me if this is a silly question, but is it possible that she already recognizes me by scent and touch, and has decided she doesn't like me?

I suppose if that was indeed the case, that she would have done a lot more than his at me....

It has been cold here as of late. Perhaps she just didn't want to be out of her warm enclosure tonight.

And you're right, I haven't had her very long. Three weeks tomorrow, and she's only been in her new, larger home for two weeks.

[Florence_Bones]

She's all stretched out across her viv now. She does this every night. I'm not sure how to post a picture from my phone and I'm too lazy to get my laptop...

[Bogertophis]

Why would she not like you? I can't imagine you being mean to her... Snakes aren't cranky because it's chilly either.

Three weeks is the problem, & a cage change after the first week: honestly, the usual advice for ALL new snake owners is NO handling until the snake has
had time to feed easily for at least 3 meals at normal intervals (so that's 3 weeks at least); re-homing is very stressful to snakes, they don't understand why
their world has totally changed. It's best to give them time to settle in (& feel SAFE) in their new environment. I understand you being eager to interact with
your new pet, believe me...but just understand that this is a lot of change for her. That's why she reminded you...

[Florence_Bones]

Why would she not like you? I can't imagine you being mean to her... Snakes aren't cranky because it's chilly either.

Three weeks is the problem, & a cage change after the first week: honestly, the usual advice for ALL new snake owners is NO handling until the snake has
had time to feed easily for at least 3 meals at normal intervals (so that's 3 weeks at least); re-homing is very stressful to snakes, they don't understand why
their world has totally changed. It's best to give them time to settle in (& feel SAFE) in their new environment. I understand you being eager to interact with
your new pet, believe me...but just understand that this is a lot of change for her. That's why she reminded you...

So, going forward, how long should I wait before I try and hold her again?

[Sonny1318]

Maybe this will help also, I use moss to help assist shedding. Anyway during that time I like to remoisten the moss. Every now and then I am greeted with good hiss or two. Almost as soon as I lift the hide, I’ve never been bit as a result. A couple have appeared to just realize it’s just no big deal. But like I said every once in a while, a hiss.

[Craiga 01453]

I think she's just stressed and simply wasn't in the mood to be bothered. Snakes are very solitary animals and don't crave attention.

My two cents: new animal, new enclosure, needs time to settle in. An hour out of her enclosure is too long. Having had her only 3 weeks, handling should still be at a bare minimum until she's acclimated and eating consistently without refusal.

As for her hissing and it affecting your relationship: it won't...unless you let it. I can understand you being a little nervous now, but snakes hiss. They alao bite.
At least she hissed and gave you a vocal warning rather than just striking. It was just her way of saying "I don't want to be bothered right now.".

What I would do moving forward would depend on of she's eating for you. If she is, then I would start start handling again right away. Limit handling to 3-4 times a week for about 15 minutes TOPS.
If she's not eating consistently yet, I would not handle at all until she is.

As for being worried that she doesn't like you, I wouldn't worry about that. You're over thinking and giving human emotions to a snake not capable of feeling those emotions. It's a matter of trust and comfort. Right now, your handling is what is causing her stress, so you're being associated with stress. Shorten the handling sessions and let her settle in to her new home.

Start from scratch with short and sweet handling sessions. VERY few snakes will tolerate handling sessions of an hour. They're just not wired that way. If that's what you're looking for in a pet, a snake isn't the best choice. They tolerate handling, to a degree, but they don't "like" it and would prefer to be left alone and hiding.