| T O P I C R E V I E W |
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Posted - 23/11/2010 : 18:02:25
Good evening,
i am a first time snake owner,my wife bought me a 6 month old corn for my birthday, it has been something i have wanted for years, now i have handles snakes before but they were always 4ft + this little guy ( bob) is only 2 foot now i must admit i'm a little nervous about handling him as he spends all day hiding under the aspen, i am a little worried about being bitten but i am more worried about harming him when i try to lift him from his viv, my problem is whenever i go to his viv to see if i can handle him he rattles and prepares to strike, when i do manage to cup his middle he flicks his tail and with that hes gone, i have had many pets including rats and i have indeed been bitten by them but i was never nervous about this, is there any tips you can give me a first time snake owner to make my snake calmer and easier to chase round his viv? |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| n/a |
Posted - 24/11/2010 : 09:34:03
on a quick side note, i was told that leaving my hand in the viv would confuse the snake into thinking i was potential food, i am to disregard this advice? i feel better asking you guys as obviously you all have snakes or a love of and have tried and tested various ways of snake handling so any advice is greatly appreciated. ^^ |
| n/a |
Posted - 24/11/2010 : 09:05:36
yea i left him for 2 weeks with only changing his water etc, and a 3ft viv is too big for a 2 ft snake?? im not sure i understand, i have no intention of grabbing him by the back of his head i know thats a bad move, ive put something of mine in his viv on the idea my scent in there might also help him think i am no threat, i will try leaving my hand in and seeing how he reacts thank you for the advice this will have to wait 2 days now as feeding day is today ^^, im also thinking of maybe picking up a cloth glove if he is still quite defensive to help on the initial pick up is this a good idea? |
| lotabob |
Posted - 24/11/2010 : 00:34:14
You have him in a 3 foot vivarium. Its too big! Think about sectioning off part of the viv, too much space makes them nervous and then you get all you've just described. Another thing is did you allow him a week of quiet to settle in without handling, only changing water and smoothing out his substrate. I'm not a big believer in the just grab him method, why stress them any more than you need to, get him used to you without picking him up, after 7 days just have your hand near him, if he does go defensive just lay your hand flat to the viv floor and hold still. He might run away but he'll not associate you with been grabbed, do this several times allow him to come check you out, (took my Spot 2 days to pluck up the courage) once he isn't instantly defensive at the sight of you try touching him,just lightly put a finger at his side but again don't pick him up, once he is OK with that, then hook a finger under his body and lift up an inch, play on the snakes love to climb hold still and he may possibly turn to climb up on you, if not just do the same thing with a few fingers and lift up until your taking most of his weight. Don't attempt to lift him out of the viv until you can see he is happy using you as a climbing frame. I did this, and as frustrating as it was I wanted my snake to know I was no threat without scaring him, it took a week to have him not respond to my presence other than to just smell me. I can now open the door and he comes out onto my hand or I can just scoop him up, he knows I'm just something warm to play on. |
| Mort13 |
Posted - 23/11/2010 : 22:08:07
quote:
Originally posted by tinamiles
to be honest, as far as im aware, grabbing them behind the back of the head will stres them more than grabbing them (gently) by the mid section! If you're having to chase him to pick him up he obviously doesnt wana be handled, but d persevere....just not by grabbing him behind the head
Lol,amonkanzaki didn't say he was going to grab his snake by the back of its head. He basically meant he knows at the back of his mind what he needs to do |
| Kehhlyr |
Posted - 23/11/2010 : 21:44:35
Or just open his viv/faun up and let him make his way out, once he's nearly out put your hand just under him so he goes onto and over that. That way it's his choice then so the perception of threat has gone as well. |
| tinamiles |
Posted - 23/11/2010 : 21:39:02
to be honest, as far as im aware, grabbing them behind the back of the head will stres them more than grabbing them (gently) by the mid section! If you're having to chase him to pick him up he obviously doesnt wana be handled, but d persevere....just not by grabbing him behind the head |
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Posted - 23/11/2010 : 18:42:32
in the back of my head i know to just ( grab him) but im more worried about getting him stressed as that can lead to problems with feeding etc, that is my biggest worry as he does start doing laps around his 3 ft viv to get away |
| tinamiles |
Posted - 23/11/2010 : 18:25:15
confidence is the key! Ive never been bitten by a snake but would much rather get bitten by a 2ft corn than a rat - they hurt!!! if everytime he rattles his tail when you go to get him+escapes he'll think this works+that could be a problem when he's bigger! Im not saying be rough with him at all, but you'de be surprised at how hardy these little things are, so maybe next time just go in steadily and 'grab him' (for want of a better phrase) before he gets chance to slither away! Once you've held him a few times+he realises he wont get hurt, it'll be alot less stressful for you and the snake!! |
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