Question(s)

[Sidoni]

We just bought an absolutely beautiful 4 foot Central American female. We have had multiple snakes before and have never had a problem with any of them; however, this girl is extremely skittish. I know that the move can be stressful for snakes, but after a week should she still be coiling and striking every time we open her cage to change her water or clean out the feces? We don't even have to reach in, she coils as soon as we walk near her enclosure. She came out of blue the day we got her, shed that night/the next morning, and ate later that day. That was 6 days ago. We have never had a problem handling our animals within days of getting them. So is it normal that she is still so extremely aggressive after a week?

[monkeywrench133]

It's not unheard of for them to still be stressed after a week, or more. Especially if you've been handling her, or going in the cage during that time.

I usually put any new arrivals in their cage, and then leave them alone totally for at least 5-6 days unless they need water.

Also, the location of her cage might be an issue. If she's in a high-traffic part of the house, that's going to stress her out also.

If you can, move her to an empty/extra bedroom, cover her cage so she can't see, and leave her alone for 3-4 days.

Before you do that, though, you might try to feed her. If she was in shed, she may have skipped a couple meals, and she might just be cranky cause she's hungry.

[Sidoni]

Well she ate on Friday and we've been having to give her water every other day. Between her soaking in it and us living in Southern Arizona, it depletes pretty quickly. Unfortunately, she's in a 50 gallon and it's in a pretty permanent spot. Do you really suggest leaving feces in for that amount of time. With all our other snakes, we cleaned them out within a day. If it would be beneficial to her, I will cover her with a black tablecloth and just peek in occasionally to check her water level. How long should I leave her like that?

[SublimeBoa]

Did she come from a breeder, or a shop, or imported? Is there more traffic at this new location, then the old one she came from? (by traffic I mean kids, dogs, cats or yourself always passing by the enclosure) New smells, new movements, new environment...all these CAN cause stress issues with new arrivals, especially new young arrivals.

Plus Central American Boas aren't always as calm as the Colombian Boas are known for. Some are calm, and take everything in stride, others remain on the defensive their whole life. I have a beautiful Honduran female that loves to have a go at me every time I have to clean her cage, or get her out for some reason. Nothing I've tried works with her. Her Honduran boyfriend is calm as it gets.

Have you provided her with plenty of hides? You mentioned her soaking a lot. This is likely a stress issue if they do it excessively. They'll do it because to their skin, they feel covered up, or hidden from view when under water. They'll soak excessively to try and rid themselves of mites also. Have you checked for them little blood suckers in the bottom of the water bowl? They'll look like little black specs of pepper. Excessive heat may cause this too.

Is it a large cage or a small one? Sometimes starting in a small cage offers a sense of security for them. Hides are important if they're stressed. On the cool side as well as the hot side. Anything will work. An upside down bowl with a hole in it, plastic garland wadded up and tossed in a pile, I've even used old towels. On the line of old towels, try putting a T-Shirt, one that you've worn and has your scent, inside the cage for a while. This has worked for me in the past. Your scent around them all the time, coupled with them not getting eaten by it, sometimes equals you being not so much of a threat to them.

I'll have to back Erin though about the handling and feeding thing. Always best to give them an adjustment period. No handling, no feeding, just quiet for a week or so after you get them. I'll actually void my guarantees if a customer doesn't follow this simple rule and the snake does poorly due to that. It's that important.Anyway, there is some food for thought for you.

And welcome to Boaddiction. Glad to see you jump right in with the questions. We have some people around here that have been doing this for a long time. Between the lot of us, I'm sure we'll come up with something that helps.

Make yourself at home.
Rick

[TNK]

There should be WARNING labels on Central American's
They are nasty tempered little sh!ts thats for sure.
Not quite as bad as Longicauda,but pretty close.
But that pretty well applies to every snake regardless of type so . . . . .

If snakes are not handled alot from birth they will not tolerate you in their world.
I say tolerate,because you can not domesticate a snake like you do a dog or other mammal.Which puts "taming" out of the question as well.

Most people "THINK" all snakes should be easy going cuddle toys of leisure,but that is not reality.Snakes with this disposition do not last long with novice keepers,the snake always wins in the battle for peace and coexistence and the animal gets ditched.

Now,trying to understand "snake time" and "human time" is where folks tend to
fall well short.
A single day to a snake could equal a week or a month and even longer in human terms.
We dont eat for a day and we(humans) get to foraging for the nearest fast food joint,snakes dont eat for a month and they dont have the first clue its been a month.

IMO,the best thing for that animal is for you to have your husbandry in order(water source,temp,humidity),completely block off all light going into the cage and then leave that thing alone for two solid weeks.(14 days)

Easy to say and hard to do,I understand but every time you peek in that cage you will be backing up on any progress your attempting to gain.
(I have some that are nearing 5 years here and still like to take blood samples)
BUT,you must start thinking in snake terms if you hold any hope of coexisting with this animal.
If you can pass the first 2 weeks,then the next two will be easy because all you need to do is repeat the previous.(Yes,two more weeks of seclusion,void of interaction)

If you manage to hold out for 3 days and you peek in on the 4th day,you could likely set yourself back a month(30 days),yes in snake terms that is very realistic.
(Even calm snakes want nothing to do with humans,yes some tolerate us better then others.But they do not like anything in human context)

Small "FACTS" such as this are seldom ever discussed on forums by the internet experts,snakes are simple creatures with simple needs.When void of humans its a perfect world to them.

Anyway . . . .
No the snake wont starve or die of thirst,until that animal is secure in its world
eating and drinking will come second at this point to self preservation.
What you are seeing now is defensive behavior because the animal is not secure
on "ITS" terms.

Until enough time has passed and you learn what "ITS" terms are you will basically remain where you are with that animal now.YES,"YOU MUST LEARN",the animal could care less.

I'm sure you went in with good intentions and a bit of confidence but
Now its time to be the care taker of a living animal that now depends on you
to exist everyday,even if it is a monster at this stage.

You up to it ?

[TNK]

Where we at with this critter ?

[Sidoni]

Sorry for not updating sooner! Life gets crazy sometimes.
She was doing wonderfully. We left her totally alone for two weeks with a big heavy tablecloth over her since we couldn't move her entire enclosure. We then let uncovered half of it and left her alone for a bit longer, but gave her the opportunity to hang out where she could look around. When I finally got the nerve to hold her, she was fantastic! Loves being handled and exploring everything she can. Especially loves tangling herself up in my waist length hair. Now I've got other issues with her... sigh. I will start a new thread I think so that it gets seen.

[TNK]

OUTSTANDING!!
The POWER OF PATIENCE

[Sidoni]

Here are a few pics of her, not my greatest photography, but our camera was broken and we are waiting for the new one to arrive.

[TNK]

Looks to be a good size Nic for sure