Guyana Red Tail Problems

[Abelville]

Hi Everyone, im new to the Forum and in My collection I have:
1. Hog Island Boa
2. Constrictor Imperators
3. Macklots Python
4. Sumatran Blood Python
5. Blue Beauty (VIetnam RAt Snake)
6. Bull and Corn snakes

My Problem is as follows I purchased yesterday a Guuyana Red Tail, the specimen is about 4 ft. long, and It is very aggressive, all my other snakes I picked up as babies and I handled frequently and so they are very calm and not aggressive, yet this snake bit me yesterday and this is no big deal, but today I went to feed it uotside its enclosure and became extremely startled, hissing and curled up in striking position to the point that I took her and put her back in her enclosure, now it continue to act this way for a good 30 min.
Im I going to be able to calm this snake by frequent handling?
Because of the age and size of the snake in this problem fixable?
Please help, I dont want to get rid of the snake it is going to make a good mama in about a year or so!

[HumphreyBoagart]

Send it over here, I'll calm it down ;)

Craig

[tonyj]

You say that you bought the snake yesterday, then chose to feed it today, and not only that you chose to feed it 'outside' it's regular enclosure. Two moves in one day for an already confused and frightened snake?

It would seem to me that we have all the ingredients for a potential disaster here.

Normally a newly purchased snake being moved to a new environment should be given at least a settling in period of perhaps 7-14 days before attempting to feed it.

You must have your own reasons why you remove the snake from it's enclosure to feed it, but is it really necessary?

I would suggest that we have one very frightened and stressed out Bcc here and the fact that it is striking and unfortunately for you, biting, should hardly come as a suprise.

Give your new snake enough time to readjust and feel secure, then assuming you have everything else in place, fresh water, a place to hide, correct temperatures etc., it should settle down within a week or so and become a far more manageable and enjoyable snake.

Try not to 'startle it' and be patient with your new snake.

Good Luck....

[iLLwiLL]

alot of people (myself included) move boas to a feeding tub for feeding. the theory is that your boa will associate its tub with feeding instead of your hand dropping in a prey item for obvious reasons.

to calm her down, you could leave a worn t-shirt in his cage to get used to your scent. aside from that, the only other advice i have is hold her often carefully but with confidence. handle more frequently but for less time, that is after about a week goes by and your boa has settled into his new home.

just leave it alone for a week, and in that time try the t-shirt thing. after that see how he reacts to your hand in the cage, and go from there.

~Will.

[Bluzmn59]

Assuming other husbandry issues are correct, it certainly sounds to me like you just have a stressed-out snake that needs a little peace and quiet for awhile. You should probably leave her alone for a couple of days or even a week before handling her, then take her out for short periods of time to get her used to you. Yes, I believe that while snakes get used to being handled in general, they also get used to specific people. I agree that I would not even try to feed her again until she has been in her new home for at least a week or two.

As for the separate enclosure, it has never made a lot of sense to me. I handle my snakes at least 3-4 times per week each and I am in their cages every day to change water, clean up, etc. I am only in there once a week (or less for some) to feed them so a feeding response should not be triggered just because the cage door is opened. On the flip side, if feeding a large boid, you are handling a large, hungry snake whose feeding response is certainly going to be triggered if it is being put in a special enclosure. Just one man's opinion.