Tail wagging corallus

[Paleosuchus]

I am new to owning any species of corallus, so not sure if anyone has seen this before. But while misting my emerald treeboa he started wagging his "tail". Very briskly, slapping everything. He does this everytime. I laugh like all hell,but wandering if this is normal. Anyone else see this in theres? Thanks, jason

[Bartman]

Ive seen lots of rat snakes, blue beuties, and some corns do that before. The reason they do it is to mimic a rattlesnake to scare you off. Not sure if its the same reason as the emmy but most likely.

[sneaky_boa]

I had a corn that would do the same thing anytime his enclosure lid was removed and someone was in his space. I also assumed it was a defensive/threatening behaviour.

[Katt]

Snakes don't rattle their tail to imitate a rattlesnake. Tell me how would a blue beauty ever encounter a rattlesnake?

Tail wagging is just a basic behavior, that's why you see it in boids too. It's a way to divert attention from the head.

Rattlesnakes just took the tail wagging to the next level, by developing sound.

[CraigC]

They don't particularly like being sprayed. Make sure you aren't getting spray directly into their heat pits, they REALLY don't like that. Try and spray from above, not from below or sideways.

Karen

[coolhl7]

if he is wagging his tail he is pissed from the spraying....spray harder and it will get more violent and he may fall from his perch...
ETBs dont like to be annoyed....

[Manitoban Herps]

And when they move there tail like that it hits twigs and leaves and makes it sound like there big and tuff, so don't mess with me.

[Paleosuchus]

Thanks for the help, i never spray the snake directly and even misting away from her, she still does it.
This kind of tail wagging is not what i have seen in colubrids where it is a low vibrating to scare away predators etc.. More of a slapping that when hitting the leafs in the cage it doesnt make much of a sound. Totally different from what i have seen between the two species. But i will try to mist not as heavly to get to the level i want instead of briskly, sure that will be much better. Thanks again, jason

[Katt]

I have seen the tail wagging you describe from other boids, like BCI and white lips. It's kind of a curling slapping around, compared to the colubrid buzzing. I think the difference is that boids can't vibrate their tails as fast as colubrids and settle for a curling slapping waggling type of deal.