Quote Originally Posted by crusher View Post
ok ive had my boa for about a month and a half and ive noticed hissing when attempting to get her out but once shes out its gravy. is this a normal phase she will go through or should i just expect to get tagged by her and get it over with. she is about 2.5 mos old

It is very common for young snakes to do this and it usually has nothing to do with aggression or defending the enclosure.

It has everything to do with the fact that the act of reaching in and picking them up is very similar to being predated on. Predators will dig to get at them, or reach into burrows - your arm reaching in to pick them up is very similar and will provoke a defensive reaction.

The good news is that most animals get acclimated and soon learn that your hand is not the same thing as a predator. The other bit of good news is that as you have noticed, most snakes will immediately cease this behavior once they have been picked up. Using a hook is a great way to insure that you don't get bit in the process.

It is important that if he hisses or strikes, that you do not let this behavior stop the handling session. He needs to learn that being handled is part of the routine and that his aggressive behavior will not be rewarded