Hissy Little Baby...

[herpivore]

So, last Thursday I received my first boa - a Columbian x Hogg - and wow, what a difference from my corns 'n pythons!!

The evening I got her, I was holding her on my lap while watching tv. She was twining around my fingers (tiny little thing!) and all of a sudden, she looked at me, opened her mouth wide, and started hissing!!

It was so loud! It really was as loud or louder than my 12' granite, Ptigeon has ever hissed!

Anyway, a day or two later, she went into shed, and has yet to crawl out of her skin (as of this morning - I haven't checked her yet tonight).

Will she settle down, or do boas stay that way - more so than burms, for instance?
Do they always hiss so loudly? It's really incredible to hear the amount of noise coming from this tiny baby!

I hope to get some pics up soon, but for now, here's the breeder's pic...
http://www.reptileshed.com/Images/For%20Sale%20Pics/SalmonHogg/DSC_0007.jpg

[Lorelei]

They do have quite the loud little hiss. But, it is common with babies. They do grow out of it, and they will grow out of more quickly with frequent, gentle handling.

[boa23]

mine only hissed once when she was in shed

[herpivore]

Thanks, Lori - she's getting plenty of that!!

Ross, yeah, she's shedding now, and I'm thinking her hissing is mainly due to that.

She's getting better every time I handle her (with a few exceptions). Is there such a thing as too much handling? I purchased her with the intention of having a real "pet snake" - one I could chill out with 'n such on the couch or whatever.
Should I limit handling her to just a few minutes, every day or two, or something? I don't want to stress her out, you know.

[boa23]

like this one
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc278/boa23/snakes003.jpg

[boa23]

i pick her up every other day

[boa23]

and this one
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc278/boa23/102_2729.jpg

[The Snake Guru]

Congrats on the pickup!

Yeah babies can be a little cranky, but Lori is right most grow out of it.

~B~

[TonyS]

I think you got the wrong pics ross lol she never hissed the male you picked up is the hissy one that girl in those 2 last pics is the tamest snake ive ever been around I know ppl think wow how can he let his little kid alone with a snake bigger than her but that girl is perfect

But I got an albino burm that is very very hissy had him since he was a baby and to this day still hisses I can only handle him for a lot less than I handle others a week some snakes are just that way lol

[danthony428]

ive never heard my boa hiss, nor has he snapped or struck at anything he wasnt supposed to, ive heard from everyone that they are snappy when they're young, but mine never did, and he just keeps getting more and more laid back with age, hes a bad ass

[The Snake Guru]

They're not all like that, but there are some babies that really like to talk.

Try some baby Argentines....Wooooooo they got a set of lungs on them! LOL

~B~

[Basil]

She'll settle down. My boas are calm as can be. I don't think handling her every other day is a problem, just leave her alone on the week she's in shed.

[The Snake Guru]

And wait 24 to 48 hours after they eat a big meal....you don't want to see that in reverse..truuuust me! LOL

~B~

[mattciupak]

so u finally bought one from the site i gave you...good job. oh and i'm not sure, but it's a cross so he could get a lil hissy at times

[Lorelei]

being a cross doesn't have anything to do with it - it is defense

[Deedle]

Boas can hiss loud. Very loud

[herpivore]

so u finally bought one from the site i gave you...good job.

Yes, yes I did. So did you get your commission check yet what??? :) :)

[reptilenut4sure]

Yea mine never has hissed or struck at me. Now my baby burm has lol. But i have a bigger red tail and she hasn't really struck at me or hissed. She did bite me once, but it was my fault.. Reaching into her "feeding" container lol.

[WHISTLE69]

mine do the hissing like a cat purring.......4 do of my 7 anyways

[n5zow]

Boas can hiss loud. Very loud

I found my small boa once by its hiss..... I thought it was a cat....

[WHISTLE69]

IF YA JUST GOT IT.....I'D LEAVE IT ALONE FOR ATLEAST A WEEK AND LET IT GET SETTLED IN WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT SUROUNDINGS AND SCENTS....I HAD THAT PROBLEM....AND AFTER A WEEK IT WA A BIG OLE BABY

[dr_d_us2000]

seems to be mostly bluffs but babys will bite funny how these guys come right out like this lol. holding it more often after its situated will help more often or feeding f/t food in another tote.gl