Aggressive Boa, please help

Question
Hello, I bought a Beautiful 2-2.5 year old common boa from a pet store. She was Very gentle and I was able to hold her in the store for a good 45 mins with no sings of stress, We got her home and bought the cage she was in. They told us she was on live mice, and they were starving her in hopes she would eat the thawed feeder mice instead. Its been about a month now.. and I was able to hold her once (since she has been with me) she was very clam and let me pick her up and she wrapped herself around my arm and She stayed with me while I played on the computer for a good 4 hours or so she did not seem to want to go back in her cage because she was comfortable. Since then even if we walk by the cage she will strike at the glass and hiss at us if we attempt to pick her up, and she has NO interest in food, live or thawed we have tried everything and have contacted the pet store we brought her from and unfortunately they said "just try again in week" They were no help at all, She was on a 2 mice a month cycle and the store we got her from just told us "she was due to eat" and would not give us a date at all since her last feeding. Another pet store told us she looks very healthy and is not sure why she is acting this way (I brought in pics of her) and then only vet that will take snakes is about 2-3 hours away and thats a long drive for her to go. She has bit my boyfriend pretty bad on his nose, she unexpectedly lunged at him when he opened her glass door. We have been misting her cage, her temperature is 80 in the cold side and 90+ in the warm, she has lots of plants and 2 hiding rocks, fresh water and a good Housing set up.. But we cannot figure out why she will not eat, and if we even get close to look in at her she will repeatedly strike the glass. She was so gentle when we first brought her home.. Please help! We have no idea what we are doing wrong! Sorry for the long post!

Answer
Hello Melanie,

Boas tend to be a aggressive. When I first bought my redtail she would do the same things your snake was in the beginning. Now she will strile at me if I just reach my hand into her tank.

The striking at the glass when you get close makes me wonder if she is not hungry. Put a rat or mouse in her tank, if one does not spark her interest try the other. Snakes are picky when it comes to smells and prey. The prey item should be equall to the girth of your snakes mid body.

A good way to get her out to hold is to hover your hand over her head and slowly go down on top of her head. Once your down then you can reach in and grab her with yoyr other free hand.

Hope this helps.
Eric Rovegno