I'm scared of my snake

[HollywoodSnake]

Hi all,
I agreed to take in a red-tailed boa constrictor for a friend who was moving to Israel for 5 months. (We're in Los Angeles.) The snake is about 4 years old, and at least 5 feet long or longer. It might be underfed, because I can see the skin sort of loose on its body, instead of nice and taut like my ball python's. She said she wasn't feeding it more than once a week, "a large mouse or a small rat," because she didn't want it to get too big. The snake is very active.

But the reason I am a little scared of it is because of what happened tonight when I handled it.

I opened the lid and stroked the boa (OK, his name is Frank) on the biggest part of his body for a while. Then when he leaned up and out of the enclosure, I gently and slowly put my hands under him to let him move through my hands but not get into the nearby bookcase. I did this all over the open cage top. I can't really take him out of the cage if he doesn't want to let go of his branch...He kept his tail firmly wrapped around his tree branch the whole time. He's very strong!

At one point, instead of "reaching" or stretching out toward the bookcase, he draped part of his body over the side of the tank, effectively pinning my wrist to the top edge of the tank. He squeezed against me. Then he moved his head down back into the tank and pressed it as hard as he could against the inner glass. His nose was pointed down into the tank, not out or towards the bookcase. This seemed really odd. In fact, it seemed like he was trying to strangle my wrist! I quickly grabbed his body with the other hand and put him back in the tank and closed the locking screen top.

He is in a long 40-gallon tank with hide boxes, cypress substrate, a water bowl big enough to soak in, and the branch which is weighted down with weights to keep him from toppling it over. (It's one of those sandblasted grapevine things.)

Could it be that he was deliberately trying to constrict me?
I hope not, but I'm scared now. I do not want to keep a snake that I cannot handle.

Thanks for your feedback,

Julie

[crucified]

first off at the age he is... he should be eating bigger than small rats... more like large rats. ... he's totally underfed....

and for trying to constrict you.... boas only constrict for food purposes... and they'd bite you first...
they just like a firm grasp on their surroundings... if your wrist wasnt there... the edge of the tank would feel the same thing...

[Reticsrule]

i totally agree with crucified. you need to get that boa on at least large rats. there is no excuse for underfeeding a snake. if you cant handle their potential adult size, dont get that species...period. you really need to explain this to your friend.

as for the constricting thing, he was simply trying to hold on. my friends and family always think my boas are trying to constrict them, when they are really just trying to get a good grip on things. there is no need to be scared of your boa, he meant you no harm whatsoever. good luck getting him to put some weight back on!

[Todd Peddle]

I agree with the boyz.Feed that boy large rats.
Also by the sounds of things he's in a very small cage.I suggest for a male boa a
4x2 or 5x2 cage.Id use paper towel as substrate.Their are lots of very good cage makers in the states such as boaphile,animal plastics,etc etc.Have a look and buy a cage.
Also what you explained to us was a regular ocurence with boa's and snakes.They use their head to grip or grab so they can climb,move,etc.In no way was he being aggressive to you.He was trying to get away from you and into the cage.If he was acting aggressive he would hiss or turn around and strike at you.
Good luck with that boa.

[Scott21]

Reptiledepot.com they are in Chatsworth and you can go there and pick up rats that meet his needs. He wasn't trying to strangle your hand, boas inflict pain purposely by biting. It's a snake so he doesn't know his own strength and doesn't know if he's hurting you. Just muster all the guts you can and pick him, you will probably find him alot more friendlier than expected. Or use a clothes hanger like a snake hook and pick him up. Put him down on a flat surface outside his cage then pick him up with your hands. Youll be alright!

[snake 101]

definately feed him medium-large rats trust me Ive been through this situation the mice dont even really fill him up its like having a couple of chips the mice go right through him and he poops them out. the rats are a perfect meal for him If you dont start feeding him larger pray eventually hell start biting you! trust me Ive had this happen.

[Snakey Zeppelin]

I agree with all of them.