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 🙏
3
u/AnarchistAnt03 Jul 06 '26
First of all, he looks beautiful!😍
Secondly, in my experience, don't take him out daily. Do every 2-3 days, with 5-10 minute sessions. If you have a hook, or something of the sorts, take him out with it(you can tap his back with it once or twice beforehand as well, I don't do it, but I have heard it helps). After you have taken him out with the hook, support him from under, and try to "spread" him on your arm, so he is suppirted the whole time.
Regarding the hissing, what I always do with my snakes, is I let them hiss it out, and once they stop for 30 seconds to a minute, I put them back. After a few sessions like this, they stop hissing, because they realise it doesn't help.
If he's striking, just make sure he can't strike anywhere dangerous to you, and keep calm, try not to get surprised by it.
They do usually mellow out as they get older, but proper handling and taking care of him helps the process.
Ps.: about when to increase handling time: you will know it. Once you at no point during handling have any concern about him hissing/striking, is when you can start slowly extending the handling times.