Hey everyone I need some major help with Bullseye!
He's 4' and mean!
He was given to me as X-mas present in Dec. and nailed me between the eyes on the forhead the first time I handled him. "Hence the name Bullseye"
He was in a 10gal. with an Under Tank Heater that covered the entire bottom of that tank with NO hides with a water dish to small for him. I was also told he was only being fed 1 sm mouse a week (live). He now eats 2 sm rats a week. (live)!
I've tried everything including putting a smelly shirt of minee in it!
It's been in a 40 gal breeder tank with 2 hides 1 on each side warm side is at 85f and the cool side is at 75f water dish id big enough for him as well in the center of the tank.
He's been to my vet and has a clean bill of health!
I'm seriously thinking about finding him another home; I have 5 other snakes!
PLEASE HELP ASAP!

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3.3 ball pythons
1.0 red tail boa
3.0 dogs
55gals. of fish ( red belly pacu's + Oscars)
"The ONLY dumb question is the one NOT yet asked; unless you ask it 3x's"
Thank you---- Dana

What are your other snakes?

Sorry to hear bullseye is nasty, maybe he has to gain your trust and is just taking a while, how often do you handle him since he bit you, don't let it put you off, if you put him back while being difficult he knows that way you will leave him alone and probably do it all the more, I have a mean BP who tries it on, and I use to give in, now I am the boss and just keep hold of him, and the more I handle him the calmer he becomes, hope he settles for you...

Hi Dana, I wrote this a while back when I was having problems. http://www.jaysreptiles.com/snake_care.htm Hope it helps.

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Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

Visit me at www.jaysreptiles.com

Don't give up on the poor guy...he needs to trust you and you need to be able to trust him enough to hold him and take care of his needs. This poor guy is scared and may take a long while to get used to his new home.
My friend will wear his snowmobile helmet and welding gloves to handle his 8 foot red tail boa rescue, ...so don't feel too bad if you only got bit once! My friend has been bit at least 50 times in the last month! LOL Yes, his snake is settling down with more handling every other day.... even if it's only for 5 minutes at a time.
There IS hope! Give your snake time to prove himself to you...

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Some think they can. Some wish they could. Some do.

I have 2 rather unpredictable Rainbow Boas. Talyn has bit me 5 times (including twice on the ears!! ouch) Q likes to strike at (so far not bite) my face.
It is SCARY!! I have also considered using some kind of head/face protection and gloves for them.
The key here is to do whatever you have to so that YOU feel safe and then just try to handle the snake regularly and calmly. (I've found that taking the snakes out in the evening in a darkened room works best.) Keep the radio and people noises down too.
To prevent being bit while you're taking him out, either wear gloves or drop a thin handkerchief over his head before you pick him up. This will keep him from sensing the warmth of your hand (as potential food) until he realizes he's just being picked up.)
Hang in there... after Talyn bit me so many times, I thought of giving her up too. But it has gotten lots lots better!! Now I have to try to get "Q" at least that far!

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Andrea

If I understand correctly your other snake keeping experience is ball pythons. These are two very different tempermented snakes.
The thing that comes to my mind is the description of the way the snake was kept. A 4 ft snake in a ten gallon tank is a very stressful situation similar to you being forced to live in a small cabinet! For a boa that size to have only been fed 1 small mouse a week is bordering on starvation. This snake has been seriously mistreated! You also don't know what else has been done to him that may cause him to view humans as a threat. There are some strange people out there! 3 months isn't very long to overcome what was possibly a lifetime of mistreatment. It may take some serious work to overcome this. You will have to just make a point to grit your teeth and do it. Every day. Do not let the snake dictate whether you handle it or not. Just control the head and keep it away from your face.
Dana you have to decide how much work you are willing to put in on this. You have been given some great advice. I would suggest that you pay particular attention to Jay's article regarding feeding f/t and feeding outside the cage.
I wish you luck.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!