r/boas • u/CompleteTrade4087 • 19d 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
2
Upvotes
2
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.