I too have noticed the territorial urge around their cages. Both of the babies I have now display it (one is a Columbian, the other a Nic). Gwydion has only ever hissed, and will still do so every once in a great while, most especially when he is in shed. But Viviane the Nic went CRAZY the other night, striking at the sides of the tub, bopping herself over and over again. I was going to try to handle her---her week was up---but I stuck the hook in and she struck at it a few times. I kept the hook in there until she stopped hissing and striking like a crazy thing, then withdrew, closed her up, and walked away. The next night, I put the hook in again. She hissed once. I slid the hook under her, held her on the hook until she started doing the curious boa thing---took her neck out of the S-shape, started looking around---and gently let her crawl onto my hand herself. After that, I held her for about thirty minutes, no problems. Tried the hook on her again tonight, no hissing, though she did S herself up and give it a glare.

This is all behavior that occurs in their enclosures. Though they hiss and strike while in the cage, neither of them have ever struck or hissed while outside of it or in my hands.

Maybe your girl's still hungry and/or stressed. I have a feeling this was Viv's issue. I feel that boas work at a slightly higher intellegence level than BPs... and therefore tend to go through more mood swings. Sometimes, they really just want to be left alone, and they're willing to let you know it. Still, when I DO get them out, it's almost like they give me that look: "I'm only coming out because I want to. It has nothing to do with what you want. I am LETTING you handle me. I'm only coming out because I want to check out that lamp..." It's almost like have a cat, LOL.

Give her time, McKinsey... she'll calm down with gentle patience. I promise!

BTW... when Viv was doing her crazy thing, you would've laughed at how high I jumped. She is TINY being a Nic baby, with teeth that could barely be felt, but it still scared the crap out of me. I was sweating and breathing hard over something no bigger around than my index finger Gotta love it!