Handling issue-not moving?

[edf]

Heya's again!

First- I did read the other handling issue thread here- mine is kind of the opisite. I am not concerned ( don't worry, thi sisn't a paraniod post, LOL) but since this is my first boa I just got a few questions.

My boa doesn't seem to want to do anything when I take her out. I either have her on my lap sitting on the couch, or I place her on the ground. She flicks her tounge and does minor looking around. By minor i mean her head may move, but never her body. I don't know if she is just larthargic or scared, or maybe a mix of both. She may be minorly scared b/c if I touch her ( like to pet her, not poking) she jumps a little at first, but after a bit, I can touch her w/o her jumping.

I generally hold her at least once a week, more like 2-3 times a week, but I get discouraged when she doesn't want to do anything, so I think she is terrified, so I don't keep her out very long, 20-30 min. so I don't stress her if she is scared.

My conclusion to this is she is not used tobeing outside her cage. I did buy her full-grown. The petshop did accuire her from someone who could no longer have her, and the pet store had her for 2 years. ( pet shop said she is 2 1/2- 3 years old) So, during her time in th epet store, her handling was at a minimum, only when they fed her and when they fed her outside her cage. ( they did feed her in her cage towards the end of their care)

The only thing that kinda concerns me is I know she can move and fast- as soon as I put her in her cage she slithers fast into a hide.

How can I help her understand its safe for her to explore when I take her out? Or is this they way she'll always be since she has not been handled, or more like given the opertunity to explore outside her cage, when she was young? I know I can privide her with a hide- I kinda tried that with a towel, but she just stays inside it.

I am just curious to any suggestions from other boa owners ( heck, even other snake owners, not just peeps who have boas) as to what steps I can take ( if any since she is not a baby anymore) to make her have a bit more fun when she is outside her cage.

Either way, I love her dearly, I just don't want her to be scared of being out, because it's kinda hard to resist holding her.



thanx in advance!

edf

[John Pilling]

TBH this sounds pretty normal, both my zeus (female) and Dave don't move around a lot when out. Zeus will occasionally have a mad do tho and a good old explore, but i'm talking once a month or less often, she'd rather leave her back half coiled round me and just use her top half of her body for exploring.

Dave was a rehome from a friend who rescued him and he generally is very insecure when out, and at first was deffinatley scared and very defensive. Now tho, he's quite happy just to come out and sit (well coil, lol) on my lap. He hates big open spaces because of when he was little (before my friend got him) he used to get left on a coffee table, or on the floor because he hissed, with young kids running around and was stud on at least twice that i know of. So for him it's a major security thing that he has to be close or in contact with me (he's still not good with other people, but saying that i spent 4 monthers 5 out of 7 days handleing him to calm him down, and yes i've been bit about 200 times by him in the first 5-6 weeks alone). He is now an excellant snake with me, and is great to handle (for me anyway) but he doesn't explore at all.

Even my Sand boa doesn't explore that much, usually trying to find a sleave or hole (if wearing work clothes) so she can burrow onto my body and will then stay their for hours if i let her.

Don't worry, just try and handle 3-4 times a week for about 20-30 mins at a time and if she wants to explore, let her, but i bet that 99 out of 100 times she'd rather stay close.

[edf]

I am sad to hear about dave's past! I'd hate when kids stomp around me and I am not a snake that has to be worried about being stepped on! I am so glad you got him and take better care of him. Isn't it very rewarding to gain your snake's trust? that must be an awesome feeling seeing him feeling more comfortable with you.

Thanx for sharing your experiences with me. My BP's are always exploring when out, Damien, the full grown one, is always trying to get himself into trouble with sneakiing under door gaps or finding ways off the bed. I was just curious about the boa since my bp's love to go looking everywhere.

I prolly need to handle her ona more regular scedule, right now its more spontantious since th eholidays and such passed. I'll write up a handling scedule for her and make sure I follow it. Yeah, she still may not explore, but just so she's not so jumpy.

thanx again for your advise!



edf

[MacAdder]

A boa is an ambush hunter so does not move great distances. If the animal was exposed to some stress in the past this will not affect it later in life. These animals work from instinct and cannot suffer from post traumatic stress.

If the animal is left somewhere in the open the animal feels vulnerable due to exposure and will either remain still or move to a more camouflaged environment.
If the animal is being over fed this can also cause the animal to be a bit sluggish?