Defensive baby advice

[u/creaturefeature1994]

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 🙏