Do they change personality?

[Razaiel]

I wonder if at a certain age boas (or indeed any other type of snake) can suddenly change their personalities when they hit a "certain age"? Reason I'm asking is our local reptile guy mentioned that he was told by a keeper of multiple boas that many boas can suddenly start going for the face when they reach a certain age without any particular reason. I try and keep mine away from my face but sometimes when I'm sat down with her watching TV I don't notice her face approaching. I'm hoping you guys are going to say it's just an urban myth but I have been down this road before with a supposedly hand-reared parrot turning vicious at 2 years old (I still have him though and he's now 7 but I just watch for his moods).

[recycling goddess]

i wonder if it's part of puberty? i know male rats can turn into brats when they get sexually mature...

i look forward to hearing the answer to this though.

jamie... april... anyone?

[Razaiel]

Yes I'd really like to know too - I know the guy said that his was a really sweet docile boa (just like my Sakura) and then turned ... :eek: ... anyone else?

[snakedude56]

I can't say for sure but maybe its just that some days a snake that is usually sweet and docile might be in a bad mood and since our faces are usually a little warmer then the rest of our body thats just what they go for. Just a guess.

[JimiSnakes]

I have a few male Boas and I'd have to agree with your local pet guy. They will get very snippy around their sexual maturity and then again around breeding time if there is an ovulating female near them. My poss super salmon male is a real PITA altogether. He was fine until he got near the female and now he's launching at everything near him. He's starting to calm down, but it was a project getting him out to feed him when he was in with the female. I had a few face launches to dodge this year. It's amazing how far away they can strike from. When they start to sexually mature they will get a little spazzy for a bit, but it goes away too. Don't let them win is the key. If they startle you, they win and now will connect the hissing and striking with your hand and will remember that it gets you away from them and scares you. You don't want that. Which is also why it's so important to not get startled around baby snakes. They are a completely instinctive creature. Once it's in their head, it's hard to get out. This is all personal experience and shouldn't be taken as fact at all, but it has been proven by me multiple times now. Only with boas though. I have twenty boas now and have raised most of them since they were only a few months old. Six are males and they have all gone though this phase and now are complete babies again. Just keep handling them and letting them know that they are just being brats and it won't work. Good luck!