my bp seams to be hissing

[lovendurms77]

i went to pick up my bp today and is seamed to be hissing. humidity is at 53% and the tempature seams to be right. he only hisses when i touch him. and this is the 1st time this has happend. feeding time is around 2 more days. not sure if thats a factor.

[MDB]

does he have any burn marks or scale rot? If he does you may be irritating it and if he does have it time to go to the vet. Another possibiltiy is a ri infection (respatory). He may actualy be breathing heavy and not hissing. Does he blow bubbles? Or slobber all around his enclosure, that to requires a vet check. But if he is not showing any of these signs try feeding him, and if it doesnt go away, make a vet appointment

[lovendurms77]

i had a heat light on it for a while and saw some brown on top of him. i have the light off for a while and just kept the UTH. it was like that for about a week and he was fine than. should i try to pick him up? i dont want it to cause a bite.

[starmom]

A couple of my snakes will hiss (kind of blow up and hiss) to let me know that just don't want to be messed with. Sometimes I respect that and leave them alone, but other times (like when I have to clean their environment) I have to just pick them up anyway.

This serves 2 functions: They get their space cleaned of feces, etc., and they learn that they will not create a conditioned response from me (ie. they puff and hiss and I leave them alone.)

[lovendurms77]

im thinking now one of the rats that i fed it kinda sat their and didnt move much. im hoping the rat wasnt bad.

[starmom]

im thinking now one of the rats that i fed it kinda sat their and didnt move much. im hoping the rat wasnt bad.

I don't understand...

[hawaiianice99]

a hiss is usually a last warning before a strike.

[starmom]

a hiss is usually a last warning before a strike.

Not always!
As stated, a couple of mine hiss and I still pick them up and have yet to be bitten by them.
Now, boas on the other hand.....

[lovendurms77]

one of my friend got a rat from the same guy i get mine from. and his snake got sick. but that was over 3 years ago. this is the only place that i can find rat pups. and it just sat in the tank, and the snake had to hunt it. the 1st rat was really active and was attacked instantly. but 2nd one wasnt to active.

[Bruce Whitehead]

I have several that are very hissy.

The ones that have bit me have never hissed first... half the time it (the hissing) is just the snake communicating within its VERY limited range, other two options are to bite or to flee.

You are a large heat emitting predator coming from above... think like a snake, that is very intimidating.

As Starmom stated, sometimes I respect the hiss, other times I just tell them to "suck it up Princess"... but this comes with knowing which snake will attempt to eat my face when messing with them.

Always give your snake some warning you are coming in to pick them up. Get a routine, stick with it, and be consistent, these guys are creatures of habit and routines are a good thing.

As you get to know your snake you will be better equipped to interpret and then decide what to do.

Bruce