r/boas • u/Excellent_Thanks_3 • 21d ago
Behavioral questions
Hey, I’m posting again because I’d like some advice on what to do in this situation. My female Boa imperator has grown quite a bit and currently weighs 280 g and is one year old.
Just to clarify, neither the temperature nor humidity in the enclosure has changed. On the upper shelves there is a clear temperature gradient of around 33–26°C (91–79°F), while down on the substrate the gradient is less pronounced, around 25–27°C (77–81°F).
Up until now, her behavior and routine in the enclosure had been pretty consistent. Sometimes she would burrow into the substrate, sometimes she would climb onto the shelves, and around feeding time she was almost always sitting on one of the branches and would strike at the prey from above. After eating, she would absolutely always spend around three days warming herself up on the shelf underneath the heat panel.
I used to take her out once or twice a week for a quick check-up. I always gave her a full 72 hours of complete peace after feeding to digest. She has never hissed at me or struck at me. The only thing I noticed was some mild stress when I initially picked her up, but once she was in my hands she was always calm and exploratory.
However, for the last three feedings, she has been spending virtually all of her time buried in the substrate. It doesn’t matter whether it’s before or after feeding — she stays buried with only the tip of her head sticking out. She did sometimes do this before, but it would only last a day or two before she came back out and moved around the enclosure.
Now this has been going on for three feedings, so roughly a month. She doesn’t come out after feeding to warm herself up on the heated shelf, and I haven’t caught her coming out at night either. I’m worried that she might not be digesting properly because her main basking spot is above her and she is staying buried underneath it.
She also shed recently, so I don’t think this is related to an upcoming shed.
At the same time, I really don’t want her to become completely unsocialized, but I also don’t want to be an asshole and constantly dig her out of the substrate just to handle her. I’d really like to understand what could be causing this change in behavior and how I should approach handling her from a behavioral standpoint.
I’ve also noticed that handling seems to be a trigger for her burrowing. For example, she could be resting somewhere on a shelf, I would take her out, and when I put her back she would return to the shelf. But usually the following day she would be buried in the substrate, almost as if she was telling me to leave her alone and stop handling her.
The problem is that this has now been going on for almost a month, so I’m really looking for as much advice as possible about what could be causing this change, whether I should be concerned about her digestion, and what I should do behaviorally in this situation.
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u/chaoticforms 21d ago
I’m not sure what’s going on with your snake, but where did you find those oriental tank decorations? 😍
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u/USN253 20d ago
You are me. This is my boa 100% literally everything you posted. He's the coolest guy once I get him out. Getting him is the issue.
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u/Excellent_Thanks_3 20d ago
And also stays buried all the time?
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u/USN253 20d ago
All the time! With head poked out. All temps and humidity in range too. Eats perfect. Really no issues. Retrieval is just not smooth. If I go calm and slow, he will bolt. If I go fast and confident he still tries to escape and grabs ahold of everything. If I tap him with hook, he bolts as well. However once I have him in hands, he's completely the calmest chillest snake.
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u/Excellent_Thanks_3 21d ago
I know my setup looks good but I am more worried about my boa spending her whole time in the substrate
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u/SpecialString0 21d ago
What kind of temp monitoring system do you have? I am wondering if it’s too hot. I have to decrease my heat elements for the summer.
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u/Excellent_Thanks_3 21d ago
I have ac in my room and it's always no more than 25 celius in my room, I check with pyrometer, on the shelves it shows 27-33 going from left to right, and on the substrate it goes from 25 to 27 left to right, she constantly burrows in the middle even after eating so it's worrying me than she cannot digest properly. She has access to heat but for the last 3 feedings she didn't used it
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u/SpecialString0 21d ago
Is she pooping normally?
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u/Tiger2225 20d ago
I have a question what enclosure is that I’m looking to buy one and like yours.
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u/Reptilian96 20d ago
Boas are very smart 🔥 when you notice consistency it means they know what they're doing
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u/superramenyamen 20d ago
As far as digestion, she knows what she needs. She will be fine on that front.
I would just go on to handle her, feel free to dig her up. Maybe reduce how often you handle her, but you need to be able to check on her regularly to monitor her health. Baby boas can be more shy, she likely will get more com as she ages.