nic boa hissing?

[john.w.lawson]

started hissing with its mouth open last night? never did it before, anyone have some reasons for this type of behavior?

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

First questions would be: is it male or female?  Has the temps/humidity changed any?  Anything changed around his/her enclosure/etc?  Feeding schedule on par?  Shedding schedule on par?  Even the littlest details could make a difference

[john.w.lawson]

everything is as was! my wife hit its cage last night with the dog carrier, after that it started hissing with its mouth open. caulked it up to the cage bump, but its still doing it today! maybe it is still stress from the bump? they are alittle nippy any ways its a juvy about 14 inchs!

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

Yeah I'd say maybe just still jumpy.  Maybe if you have something that could cover the cage like a thin blanket or something so that he/she would have total privacy for a day or so?  That's what I would do. 

[john.w.lawson]

yea, thought that might be it! I am thinking of trading him for something smaller[for the kiddies] I have pretty much went through the constrictor phase myself years ago! thought that since these are small they would like him and they do, but as an adult they could probably give a good bite....

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

Yeah nics are beautiful for sure and do tend to stay smaller than most boids but I wouldn't suggest them for smaller children.  Have any ideas of what you would get them in place of the nic??

[john.w.lawson]

scarlet king would go well with the s-milk! really any kinda king is a good starter snake, the scarlet can be troubled eaters, or not!

[snakebite33308]

well here is my experience with nics, i have 2 of them at the moment, a full grown female het type 2 anery that will bite at any moment she sees an opening when u aren't paying attention and i have a smaller type 2 anery female.  when i first got the small female she would bite at movement but doesn't hiss.  the big one will hiss when she is bothered.  nics are ok with older children i would just make sure to supervise them closely.  how old is your nic?  because with time they do tame down if handled often enough but u have to be patient with them.  the dwarf boa subspecies tend to have a little bit more attitude then their bigger cousins the columbians, personally i think it comes with their smaller size so easier predation in the wild.

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

scarlet king would go well with the s-milk! really any kinda king is a good starter snake, the scarlet can be troubled eaters, or not!

Touche!!! 

People say ball pythons are good starter snakes, but they can be very very picky eaters too!!

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

personally i think it comes with their smaller size so easier predation in the wild.

Lmao, little off topic, but this reminds me of pretty much any smaller species in the world.  Like the little Chihuahua's and how fierce they are compared to like my 95 lb Labrador!!!  So funny but true!!!