Nippy boa

Slithery · 09-20-05, 04:37 PM

Hello,
My bci now has a biting habit. When I take her out of the cage, she bites me. However, once out of the cage, she is fine. For now, it's not a major problem. I wear gloves when I take her out. However, I would like to stop this problem for when she gets bigger. Asides from handling her more often, any other suggestions?

BOAS_N_PYTHONS · 09-20-05, 08:40 PM

I answered this in a different post in 2 different scenarios.
Just read them and combine a formula for your BCI.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73763

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73915

The T-shirt method works in most cases, it would take an agressive boa, say WC and adult to not become 100% tame with this method but it has worked in those cases as well.

Goodluck

pollywog · 09-21-05, 09:08 AM

Most of my snakes are rather territorial, ie they might bite or at least strike with their mouths closed when I open the door and suddenly reach in, therefore I don't do this. If you open the enclosure door in the day, the snake will be sleeping and suddenly waking it up might cause it to lunge at you. I generally wait until dusk and then open the door and let the snake come out on its own, gently put my flattened palm under its head so it can smell that I'm not a rat and it will continue to crawl out onto my arm where I can safely pull back slowly and draw the rest out of the enclosure. Younger snakes bite far more readily than older ones, at least mine. My 8 month old jungle carpets have just calmed down enough for me to handle them any time I wish, but my 3 month old coastal carpets still like to nip at me, and as such I generally leave them alone except for feedings and cage cleanings.

hope this helps, POLLYWOG.

Cady · 10-16-05, 07:14 PM

Are you feeding inside the cage? Sometimes snakes that are fed in the cage strike at anything that enters the cage thinking it is food. Do you have any other pets in your house such as cats or dogs? Make sure you dont smell like them, smell is very important. Good Luck.

Lrptls · 10-16-05, 08:33 PM

i got a male bci free from a pet store because he was so agresive no one would buy him. he did nothing but hiss and strike at every thing. that night and ever sence then he has never bit me due to how i handle him. i'll use a stick or pair of tongs to gently stroke his sides to make sure he is awake, get him ready to be handled, make sure he isnt in a really grumpy mood. he use to bite whatever touched him but hes gotten use to it. i then use the tool to scoop him up out of his cage and place my hands underneath him. i stay completly still for a moment and so does he. once he calms down, he'll start moving around a little and smelling me. once he gets use to me i just let him climb on my arms but dont move my hands, the movement still scares him but he will eventually get use to it and soon i will be able to handle him like any regular snake. recently i have been able to pick him up using my hands but movement still scares him. im not sure what happend to the poor little guy to make him so scared of every thing but being very slow and calm with him he has completly changed and iv never seen him hiss or even open his mouth sence the first few days i had him.