iHerp Answers: Brazilian Rbw Boa attitude? Strikes at my face while in terrarium and hides away really fast! anyone else have this kind of behaviour? never bit or struck at me when out of tank either.

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Home > iHerp Answers > Brazilian Rbw Boa attitude? Strikes at my face while in terrarium and hides away really fast! anyone else have this kind of behaviour? never bit or struck at me when out of tank either.

Brazilian Rbw Boa attitude? Strikes at my face while in terrarium and hides away really fast! anyone else have this kind of behaviour? never bit or struck at me when out of tank either.

Posted By:

Brimstone

In Relation To:

Arco

Brazilian Rbw Boa attitude?

Strikes at my face while in terrarium and hides away really fast! anyone else have this kind of behaviour? never bit or struck at me when out of tank either. Its the second time this snake has been sticking its head out of the warm hide (sticky heat pad 90*F) and the chair im sitting in is perfecly level with the snake... maybe its my heat signature of my face when im that low to the snake it freaks it out a little... This is one fast snake all around, really explorative and tests all boundries when it can!
Thanks Guys and Girls!


Points:	100
Topics:	General Health
Species:	Boas > Rainbow Boas > Epicrates cenchria cenchria
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Accepted Answer

7/28/2010 2:10:57 PM

Marine

A number of snakes become cage territorial or cage aggressive. Especially with smaller snakes, or snakes that aren't handled often. The best way to help them and you is to hook train your BRB, if you don't have one, look into getting a small hook for use in the cage to be able to get him/her out, or to let then know you are in there for cleaning, adding water etc. Hook training is very simple. Also check the humidity, if you say he is staying in the hide, might want to add more hides, on cool end and in middle section of cage/terrarium. You might want to move his cage away from high traffic areas too, like where you are sitting, from the sounds it is still a baby? And of course babies are always more defensive, how long have you had him/her? If its also getting used to new environment stress could be an issue too. Hope this helps some.

Member Comment

7/28/2010 2:46:56 PM

gfx

First, 90 degrees is way too hot for this species. A good range is 75-83 with ambient cage being 78-80. This species hides during the day and hunts at night. If you're seeing your BRB cruising around its cage during the day, it might be looking for somewhere comfortable to be and can't find it.

As for striking at you, it may be striking at movement, but likely not heat signature. I took at look at your tracking and see you're feeding live. If your snake is used to hunting its food, it may be taking a shot at movement that its seeing. If its conditioned to strike at movement in order to feed, its probably a better idea to feed it freshly killed or fresh thawed prey so the snake doesn't get into the habit of smashing its face against the glass to get to anything in the room that moves. If its not a feeding response, its a stress response and its telling you to piss off. In that case, try more hides so it can find a place that's comfortable. For the time being, you probably want to tape some newspaper to the outside of the cage so the animal can relax.

Member Comment

7/28/2010 3:07:05 PM

natsamjosh

I agree with Marine and Coral. Temps are too high, and make sure the humidity is high enough. What type of enclosure is your BRB in?

Member Comment

7/28/2010 3:13:26 PM

natsamjosh

Sorry, I meant Marine and JULIE (gfx)!

Author Comment

7/28/2010 4:52:38 PM

Brimstone

It is only about 1 year maybe just over a year, around 2.5 feet long, bought it from the first owner...(was living in a very poor built snake home made from old tv stand, with no temp sensors or hygrometers) NOW Has 3 hides one warm with moist moss, another with dry coconut fiber, and a third with cool wet moss that ti usually goes into most of the time to hide. I keep the ambiant temp@ 75*F / the temp of the heat pad is 90*F at the glass... theres alot of moss and coconut sunstrate on it so its not that hot where it lays... the humiditys around 80% but never lower than 70% when it evaporates. Large fresh water dish... i have reasearched this species of snake for a while now so i know what its needs are, and I know it has a good habitat- just wondered if it just doesnt like something...like being looked at in the face!

I think i will try some of your ideas like i have put a blanket over the glass to keep traffic/movement down for it, i will also turn the warm hide so the entrance is not pointing at the glass... i guess young BRB are alittle more testy than say a RTB... i have NO issues grabbing the snake from the hide or the terrarium so i still have confidence in handling.

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