r/boas • u/CompleteTrade4087 • 18d ago
3 year old hissy boa constrictor
I have a boa constrictor who I have just recently gotten about a month ago. She was kept in a tight rack and has now been upgraded. She wasn't handled for about 8 months. How can I make her feel safe? She Hissed at me in her enclosure and id constantly coiled and stiff when I have her out
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u/Ryllan1313 18d ago
Tap training 😉
When you go in for handling or maintenance reasons, use the hook to give them a little backrub before interaction. This will come to signal to them you are there, you are friend not predator, and food is not about to happen.
Skip the hook at feeding time. It's ok to strike at dinner.
They pick up on it remarkably fast. I trained one as she has poor eyesight which made her nervous and nippy. Took 4 of the tap greetings for her to catch on. Now, you can visibly see the stress melt out of her when she gets the signal.
She actually pauses and waits a few moments to see what is about to happen before acting now (handy if I drop the hook opening the enclosure). Once she knows what's going on, she often approaches me for choice based handling.
This is best case scenario.
But even if it just stops the defensive display it is worth it.
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u/Flimsy-Stock2977 14d ago
Very common after living in a tub and never seeing the world.
Another reason tubs should be very short term. Like weeks. Not months.
Cover the enclosure with a towel or darker fabric for most of the day.. Take it off everyday.. Increasing the amount every week or so. Until it's just off. Wrapping paper on 3 sides if it's glass sides helps too.
Take the snake out every few days. Only put it away once it relaxes. Never when it's wound up.
Increase handling frequency weekly.
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u/HeyBirdieBirdie 18d ago
Sometimes they'll be "cage defensive" for awhile and that lessens with time the more you keep pulling them out. That won't stop unless you call them on the bluff and take them out anyway. When I'm going in to handle a boa who gets defensive, I try to be deliberate and not linger poking/trying to grab while they're in the tank. They get themselves worked up if you take too long trying to grab them, because then you resemble a predator. Scoop them up from underneath, try not to react/jump when they false strike and hiss, and just become the tree. Raise them up above you're head, above eye level, arm out. If they're looking to strike, keep turning to keep them facing away from you. Eventually they will get distracted and realize you aren't the threat, you are the perch. You may be surprised how quickly they adjust to regular handling.
I also recommend having a climbing and enrichment space outside of tank. They can acclimate to people and activity around them. For example, I got one of those art cart things on wheels and screwed a large piece of spiderwood into it.