What happened to my boa?!?

Question

ok so I adopted a red-tailed Boa, her name is Autumn. She was previosly owned by my cousin. He moved to a few states away and couldn't take her, so I took her. I've had for about10 months. She has never been aggressive towards me, and has actually been in some ways, quite affectionate. She had never been fed live prey, up until last week. She's 7 1/2 feet, so i know she could handle a rat. I dropped a medium rat into her cage, and it didn't last more than 30 seconds before she had it. Now, about 3 days after this, i went to turn on her light and she struck the glass where my hand was. My friend came into the room, touched the glass and she struck again. and than again when i moved away and was talking. Im very worried. she wont let anyone near the glass without getting angry and striking. I do NOT want to get rid of her. Does anyone know what may have happened to my snake?!?!

Answer 1

My best bet, as a snake owner and dealer, is that you broke the first rule, and fed your snake in its enclosure. She now may believe that every time the cage opens, it's time to feed.

If she makes that connection, she may strike at anything she sees as a possible food source.

Take her out of the cage for feeding, and, then return her to the cage after she has finished.

Answer 2

She Probably Haven't Finished digesting her food. Or She Could Think Your giving her more food.One medium size rat isn't enough for an 7 1/2 boa. try giving her 2 and wait 7 days until next feed.

Answer 3

i agree with anna you need to feed your snake in a separate feeding tub...any plastic box big enough for your snake to move around some in with holes drilled in it for airflow will do.  if you feed your snake in her cage, espically live, whenever you put your hand near the cage it will think its feeding time.

Answer 4

If you can don't feed it live animal,  killing the animals themselves will make them more aggressive.  Also you need to wait for digestion, can take a while for larger animals like rats and rabbits.  May be about to shed its skin also, get very temper mental.  Make sure has a shedding pool and rough rocks to rub against in the tanks.

Answer 5

when you feed snakes you are supposed to take them out of the cage and put them in a seperate feeding box because if you feed them live and justdrop it in there they will associate the cage opening and your hand going in the cage as 'feeding time'

Answer 6

she wants to try human now?

Answer 7

It blows my mind that you would switch her from frozen to live in the first place. Snake's are notorious for not wanting to go back to frozen after, but... I suppose that doesn't answer your question.

Don't know why it suddenly became aggressive aside from it suddenly doesn't feel secure. I'd say just like any aggressive snake you need to start handling her until she acclimates to you again.

http://redtailboafaq.com/miscfaq.php#q6

http://pet-snakes.com/handling-aggressiv...

Answer 8

NEVER FEED A SNAKE IN ITS INCLOSURE. THIS CAN CAUSE THEM TO THINK EVERYTHING (INCLUDING A HAND) THAT COMES INTO ITS CAGE IS FOOD!!

Answer 9

Well I am not a snake profesional but if you get a chance try taking it to a vet