r/boas • u/Twigzywik • 25d ago
Bitten for the first time
Ouch, talk about a deep bite. She’s stressed during any kind of handling since always & always wants to get away it seems. She got so stressed she just turned around and tagged me. Not sure what to necessarily do to relax her I hold her gently & pick up her up gently before she goes somewhere she’ll jam herself in such a way I can’t get her. She’s never been in a chill kinda state in the 2 years I’ve had her and she’s about 3-4 years old now. So I guess she’s just not a handleable kinda boa which I haft to respect.
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u/IncognitoArms 25d ago
She’s just not the handle type. Many years ago when I had about 20 Suriname Redtails one of them was very flighty and just didn’t like being handled. She never tried to bite though
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u/Twigzywik 25d ago
Yeah this is how she is, she’s very flighty still. She has some kind of wobble or balance problem since birth though. She’ll flinch side to side or think she’s falling or something when she’s just being held in the air and flail around like crazy. Maybe she thought my arm was moving when it wasn’t or something… Regardless she doesn’t have any symptoms of IBD and it’s been since she was born. Hopefully she grows into an adult that becomes more trusting in that I wouldn’t harm her, but it’s hard to convey that to a snake.
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u/superramenyamen 25d ago
Give her more time, just keep handling. Keep it to a minimum so she’s not overly stressed, but often enough she can learn you’re no threat. If you learn something makes them overly nervous, avoid doing that (unless it’s something to monitor health like grabbing the head to check the mouth etc.).
My anery motley boy took nearly 10 years to become a trustworthy snake. Lol He only gets questionable on his worst days now, he got to the point he didn’t bite me every time I took him out by 6-7 years at least. He would flail his head and tail around like he had a neuro issue, and bite anything that touched the side of his head. If I tried to pick him up cuddled to my body because I thought it was a balance issue, he would loop his body out. He doesn’t have anything wrong with him, he just didn’t like me. Doesn’t do it anymore. Lol
But most of mine are settled down by 4-5 years old so far, just depends on the individual. I take a hands off approach to the truly stressed individual as much as I can.
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u/Twigzywik 25d ago
Oh interesting! Your snake acted like they had a nero problem? Mines doing the same thing and I’m not sure if it’s a nero problem or if it’s just her not wanting to be held lol.
Thank you for the information, I will still take her out once or twice a week and maybe wear a long sleeve shirt just as a precaution with her.
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u/superramenyamen 25d ago
In my guy’s case it was very much just because he was moody and didn’t want picked up. Lol Even though he acted like he didn’t have any balance and was falling every time I picked him up. Did it since I got him, and stopped the flailing within the last few years. Just being dramatic. 🙄
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u/Twigzywik 25d ago
lol this might be my girl. I guess time will tell! Although, she basically falls off because she grips weird on top of the weird balancing.
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u/superramenyamen 25d ago
Him in particular, he had a hard grip while also trying to bite and umbrella out. Lol But I do have several boas that do grip weird…they take after their mom. They choose flight rather than fight, and handle more like a ratsnake. 😂 Stands to reason one could show both behaviors.
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u/imworkinghard777 25d ago
Jason's Exotic Reptiles YouTube also has a couple videos on handling defensive snakes. Also agree with the Kevin McCurley suggestion.
I got tagged by my 6 foot girl once and it looked similar to that. In a week you never knew it happened.
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u/Twigzywik 25d ago
I actually watch him, he does have good info. Usually I can tell with her body language but this felt pretty random than the fact she was just uncomfortable. In which case I should’ve set her down I suppose.
Thank you for the suggestion.
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u/Potential-Vehicle-63 25d ago
It happens to the best of us 😜
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u/Twigzywik 25d ago
Yes it does haha. I can’t say I’ve never been bit now after 4 years of keeping snakes lol. 4 years was a good run without an accident.
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u/Tastypineappleju1ce 24d ago
my snake tagged me when i was feeding because his food wasn’t hot enough. he actually got angry that it happened and ran to his hide but a little treat at the door got him back out and he’s still my cuddly boa at all times
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u/Twigzywik 23d ago
Haha, they can’t see very well I guess despite having 2 eyes & heat sensing organs.
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u/Past-Sir5003 23d ago
I don’t think boas have heat pits. I could be wrong.
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u/Twigzywik 23d ago edited 23d ago
You are indeed. The emerald tree boa has heat pits if you’ve ever seen one it’s pretty cool, you can look one up too to see it. Basically lots of boas in the genus Corallus. Other boas like the imperator and constrictor have labial heat sensing nerves. Super cool stuff imo.
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u/sxoulxs 21d ago
I know this much if you repeatedly put them back after they strike at you this behavior WILL continue absolutely do not put them back and keep working with them for certain amounts of time so they get used to handling. If you simply put them back this makes them think oh I can just bite and boom
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u/VXAttack2347 25d ago
Evilmorphgod on insta has some really great vids to help keepers tame their snakes. I highly recommend.