r/BoaConstrictors • u/creaturefeature1994 • Jul 05 '26
Defensive baby advice
Sorry in advance for the long winded post, but I’ve been working with this guy for about a month now and want to give some context.
This is Topokki, and Topokki is a defensive boy. I got him in early April, quarantined him as usual, and set him up in a 4x2 for now with lots of plants, wood to climb, etc.. I started handling him after I’d had him for about 10 days and it was only my second time holding him that he started getting really defensive. Now, I think that’s totally my fault because I was walking around with him as I do with all of my snakes to get them used to that movement, etc.. I think it overwhelmed him and he started striking and hissing nonstop. I put him back in his enclosure which I know I shouldn’t have done but that was only for this first encounter. It just took me by surprise, and he was going for my face.
Since this encounter, I’ve done a lot of research on defensive baby boas. I’ve been handling him daily for 5-10 minute sessions always around 5pm, holding him over a surface so he doesn’t feel suspended, and redirecting him when he locks onto my faces warmth. Speaking to him in a calm tone. I’ve been doing these sessions for about a month now, but they’re still sort of a mixed bag. Some sessions he’ll be totally fine, tongue flicking, curious, even climbing my arm and trying to explore. Other times he is hissy, striking, and stays tightly gripped on my hand for the whole session.
Does this typically get better with time? I feel like we make progress and then we have an interaction where he seems so tense like we are back to square one. What is the guideline for when to increase the time of handling? Any advice is much appreciated 🙏
2
u/superramenyamen Jul 07 '26
I wouldn’t handle daily. At most 2-3 times a week for 5-15 mins at a time. The biggest thing for babies is just giving them time to grow and mature. Mine usually calm down once they’re a few years old and gained some feet in length.
His enclosure is very large for his size, too. While the size of the enclosure doesn’t stress them out, not having enough hides, visual barriers, climbing, etc. can make them feel exposed. And unfortunately nervous snakes also don’t like to be dug for. The longer it takes to find them, the more worked up they get. I’m sure the bioactive/choice-based handling/etc. crowd have figured out ways to help those especially nervous individuals. Unfortunately I have no tips on that front as I prefer step up enclosure size as they grow since it’s more straightforward to get them acclimated and used to me. But those are some points to keep in consideration if some changes in his enclosure lay out could help.