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VXRossi
New Member

United Kingdom
86 Posts

Posted - 07/08/2012 :  20:33:53  Show Profile  Click to see VXRossi's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
I have two brazilian rainbow boa's one male and one female, the male is approximately 2 months old and the female is roughly a year older, 1-2 months give or take. Not once, have I heard either of them hiss. is this normal or is this a problem? do they only hiss when they are unhappy or are in fear? I cannot actually find much information on the subject so I'm just curious as to how you guys feel...

VXRossi
1.1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
0.0.1 Argentine Rainbow Boa
0.1.0 Common BCI

CDN_Blood
Rainbow oddball

Canada
489 Posts

Posted - 07/08/2012 :  22:13:48  Show Profile  Visit CDN_Blood's Homepage  Send CDN_Blood a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
You're not likely to ever hear a Rainbow boa hiss.

TODD
25 Years of Commitment and Responsibility in Private Herpetoculture
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CDN_Blood
Rainbow oddball

Canada
489 Posts

Posted - 08/08/2012 :  02:18:16  Show Profile  Visit CDN_Blood's Homepage  Send CDN_Blood a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
I suppose I should elaborate, hunh? lol

A hiss is a warning - a defensive behaviour which is unmistakable and quiet effective. You'll likely only see it on horribly unhappy captive snakes, and even then it's rare. In the wild is where it would really come into use, but in captivity it's really not something you're likely to experience. It's shockingly loud, it comes with all kinds of visual warning and it's always best to back away when it happens, but trust me, if you ever see it, you won't mistake it for anything else. It's serious :)

TODD
25 Years of Commitment and Responsibility in Private Herpetoculture
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master

USA
2718 Posts

Posted - 08/08/2012 :  21:29:54  Show Profile  Visit Snakesitter's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Hissing seems to vary by species. When I was keeping a friend's African Rock Python, I heard hisses all the time (which will surprise no one, Rocks being the warm cuddly animals they are). I've only heard two of three hisses from Brazilians, however -- and how that I think about it, all were from animals I acquired as older stock rather than raised up myself. They just don't seem to do it much, possibly preferring to warn with their teeth. ;-)

Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles

Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook
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Bob
Snake mite

United Kingdom
34 Posts

Posted - 09/08/2012 :  16:22:37  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Flash hisses when he's in blue. I think he just gets grumpy when he can't see propperly. The only time he's ever had a nip at me was in blue too, when he was about 2 months old. Didn't even break the skin lol.

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IncurableFlirt
Yearling

USA
516 Posts

Posted - 10/08/2012 :  06:44:19  Show Profile  Send IncurableFlirt an AOL message  Reply with Quote
I currently have two sub-adult BCI boas, a sub-adult Rainbow boa, two adult and one sub-adult Royal pythons, a Milk snake and a huge assortment of Corn snakes. Out of all of these snakes, I have only ever heard one type hiss and it was at a very specific age and I really don't even know if you could call it a hiss. That would be baby Corns. Some of those suckers think they are little Cobras when they're first hatched and they will hiss and strike up a storm at you (it really is adorable, I kid you not). I have had some of my older Corns rattle their tails at me. But as far as the other snakes hissing...haven't ever witnessed it. Been bit a few times by my male BCI when he was very young and my male Royal because he was being moody, but neither one hissed...they just struck like lightening. :D

Jenn.
11.8 Ball pythons
1.0 BCI boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa
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Blackcat
Hatchling

United Kingdom
341 Posts

Posted - 10/08/2012 :  15:21:01  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I have never heard any of my snakes hiss, my Brb and Crb's are the most placid snakes I have come across, have never nipped or shown any sign of agression, I will say that my male BRB is very different come feeding day - wouldn't want to get in the way.



1.1.0 BRB's 0.0.2 CRB's
0.1.2 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 House snake
0.1.0 Crested Gecko
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IncurableFlirt
Yearling

USA
516 Posts

Posted - 10/08/2012 :  16:40:04  Show Profile  Send IncurableFlirt an AOL message  Reply with Quote
LOL! That is how Diablo is (my male BCI). He is the biggest teddy bear when not in feeding mode. Once he gets a smell of that rat....well...let's just say that it would NOT be smart to put your hand anywhere near him. :D Marius is enthusiastic about his food, too, but not nearly that bad. He smells it, contemplates attacking...gives it a tongue flicker or two and then WHAM! Makes me jump every single time. lol.

Jenn.
11.8 Ball pythons
1.0 BCI boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa
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VXRossi
New Member

United Kingdom
86 Posts

Posted - 19/09/2012 :  23:54:08  Show Profile  Click to see VXRossi's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
ah right sound, forgot about this topic to be honest until now. Happy days then if it's normal, I just thought it would be best to raise it up on this forum as the majority of you would know best :). I have recently in the past month or two bought a BCI female, now she is a baby, think she was 5 weeks when I bought her, maybe not even that. I brought her home and set up here vivarium and everything and now she is in there fine. But for the first week or maybe week and a half, of putting my hand in the tank to get her, she hissed at me, pretty loud as well. It was definitely a hiss because I know what they're like. She looked scared and was definitely giving me a warning haha. But now she is fine and lets me pick her up no fuss at all so is obviously used to me now and knows that I'm not here to hurt her :) Beautiful Diamond!!! Thanks people :)

VXRossi
1.1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
0.0.1 Argentine Rainbow Boa
0.1.0 Common BCI
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master

USA
2718 Posts

Posted - 21/09/2012 :  21:08:35  Show Profile  Visit Snakesitter's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Glad to hear all is well with the new arrival!

Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles

Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook
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Nathair2012
Hatchling

United Kingdom
158 Posts

Posted - 23/09/2012 :  21:13:05  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Our BRB hissed once at us but only because we were having problems with the humidity when we initially got her so I presume it's because she was trying to tell us that she was unhappy :)

Dee
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