Rosy Boa Pic

This is my Rosy Boa. I've had him for about sixteen years. For about fifteen and a half years, he was the mellowest snake I had ever encountered. I don't know what happened, but he has now developed a very "aggressive feeding response". Strikes at anything entering his tank (and sometimes at things just passing by). After he's had a little nibble on me, he realizes his mistake, and then he's ok. He had just shed a couple of days before this pic.

whow old snake looks nice though could it be something medically wrong with him causeing him to act the way he is?

Originally Posted by Bubbles

whow old snake looks nice though could it be something medically wrong with him causeing him to act the way he is?

Yeah, I think he looks nice too. To be honest with you, he seems healthier now than ever. His behavioral problems seemed to coincide with my moving to a new apartment. His viv is in a much better location now, one that provides him with a good amount of natural light (but not direct sunlight). He cruises the tank now like he never did before. I also thought he was looking a little skinny for a rosy, so I increased his feedings.

He's eaten live prey for nearly his whole life, but one of my theories on his behavior is that he may have been bitten by a mouse a few months back, and now he's not taking any chances. If anything near him moves, he attempts to immediately subdue it. I've got him on F/T now, and he appears to be mellowing, but I don't know if things will ever be the same again between us (ha ha).

maybe he's just getting old and senile.

are rosy boas hard to take care of? i think they're beautiful snakes, and have thought about getting one, but i've heard that they're prone to respiratory infections, and things of that nature.

Originally Posted by wikkedkornman

maybe he's just getting old and senile.

are rosy boas hard to take care of? i think they're beautiful snakes, and have thought about getting one, but i've heard that they're prone to respiratory infections, and things of that nature.

I guess we both may be growing old and senile together.

He has been very easy to keep. He's never had a respiratory infection or any other health problem in sixteen years. I think it's very important to keep their viv's humidity as low as possible. I hate humidity myself, so he has probably benefited from my efforts to reduce it in my vivs -er- apartments. He's been a great garbage disposal snake too. I've given him hamsters, gerbils, young rats, and his usual mice. He never refuses a rodent, and he's never regurged. However, if you do some research, you may find that the rosys' gentleness may be somewhat overstated. I seriously considered buying a breeding pair this year, but I've gone a little corn crazy in '05, so I think I'm going to hold off on that.

One more pic of the old boy (he was easy to sex; he has spurs):