change of personality

BryanB · 08-19-12, 08:41 PM

As some of you know I am new too snakes and got a long tail given to me 3 weeks ago. For the first 2 weeks and a half he didn't seam to mind being out with people but the last couple days he has struck at me every time i went to take him out. He has eaten 3 times last night being the last however he looks to be getting ready to shed. I think to date he has bean maintenance fed and is now growing. would the shedding be reason for him to strike and should he go back to his mellow self after the shed?

Kaetlinv · 08-19-12, 08:50 PM

I got a ball python that was fed just enough to survive... She was one of the sweetest snakes I knew, never bit and rarely ever struck. I bought her a few months ago - about a month and a half, maybe two months of having her, suddenly she was striking at the inside of the tank when I went to handle her. I'd been feeding her when she wanted it. After handling her a few times without having any food prepped for after holding her, she tamed down and went back to normal and hasn't been nippy since.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but i think the reason both of these happened is because they're getting territorial and expecting food now that they're being fed regularly. I would give her some time - try handling her in between feedings so she doesn't assume that anytime you're around, there will be food involved. This is what calmed my snake down. After holding her twice she stopped striking at the inside of her enclosure.

i'm sure someone else could offer a good way to safely pick her up without getting bit - I remember someone mentioned avoiding grabbing the snake from above, because you could scare him.

JimmyB7 · 08-19-12, 09:07 PM

I have a female hypo jungle / 100% het albino boa that is doing the same thing. She eats a small/medium rat once a week, and for the last 2 months she has been striking out when we r by the tank. I feed her in a seperate container and use a hook a first instead just of reaching in to get her. She is alittle over four feet. She has gotten me twice on the side of the hand nothing bad just quick strike then she is fine, and can hold her and do what ever. So not sure what is going on. Never had this happen with my sunglow male but he is younger and smaller.

Lankyrob · 08-20-12, 05:00 AM

I would guess that the snake was underfed previously and had less energy so was more "manageable" - now that it has more food and energy it is able to be a proper snake

Wildside · 08-20-12, 07:01 AM

Shedding very well may be his problem. Let's see what happens when he's done

Wildside · 08-20-12, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyB7

I have a female hypo jungle / 100% het albino boa that is doing the same thing. She eats a small/medium rat once a week, and for the last 2 months she has been striking out when we r by the tank. I feed her in a seperate container and use a hook a first instead just of reaching in to get her. She is alittle over four feet. She has gotten me twice on the side of the hand nothing bad just quick strike then she is fine, and can hold her and do what ever. So not sure what is going on. Never had this happen with my sunglow male but he is younger and smaller.

She sounds stressed. Feeding outside the tank could be one of the contributing factors. Also if she's over 4 ft. she should probably be eating a large rat (assuming you're doing f/t) Is she in a high traffic area?

JimmyB7 · 09-03-12, 03:16 PM

She is not in a high traffic area, going to try and feed her every 4 to five days, a large rat seems alittle to big for her. Thought the rat was suppose to be a little smaller than the snake is round. Sorry for not getting back have been at camp.

rmfsnakes32 · 09-03-12, 08:30 PM

I had a snake with this problem it was a bp she had a crappy home before she came to me ( I fostered her for a few months ) she would strike every chance she got she was very underfed only being given a small mouse and she was almost 5 ft once she got regular feeds and handling she stopped doing that in a short time just be patient

Wildside · 09-12-12, 08:23 PM

JSYK Bryan I am totally in love with the BCL's so I've been researching them. The general consensus seems to be that they have pretty nasty attitudes.

Wildside · 09-12-12, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyB7

She is not in a high traffic area, going to try and feed her every 4 to five days, a large rat seems alittle to big for her. Thought the rat was suppose to be a little smaller than the snake is round. Sorry for not getting back have been at camp.

The rat needs to be a little bigger than the snake is round. You should be able to see a lump after she eats. Not a massive one but a noticeable one and I'd feed every 7 - 10 days. I also advocate in house feeding. You're less likely to get bit and she's less likely to get stressed that way.

Also remember boas can get temperamental if the environment you're providing is not up to their standards. Be sure to check your temps, humidity and other basic husbandry often.