What to do about head shy

[Lferg]

I used search but it only returned results for "head". My new little guy is probably a year old give or take and is very very head shy. I've only had him a few days but I was wondering if this is something I can work with him on or will it just resolve itself with time? i know it has to cause him stress. But it's not even if I'm going to touch his head, it's even if he is crawling around and there is something near him he didn't notice, like a corner or a table leg...

[Redneck_Crow]

All of mine are head shy when I first pick them up. After I handle them a while, I can touch their heads, but they do best when I touch their heads from the back.

I think that head shy is a survival technique. A snake's head is it's most vulnerable spot. None of my snakes have really liked having their heads touched from the front. But I do have a piebald who will sit motionless while I stroke the soft parts of her head on the sides of the midline when I do it from the back. I think that she actually likes the sensation. I also think that coming at them from the front is something that they perceive as a threat.

[karb0n13]

I've had Monty for nearly 3 months now and in that time he's gone from stupidly head shy to being able to tolerate a touch on the top of the head or neck in that time.
I handle him ~1 hr every day except when IB shed or just fed. Maybe this is something they grow out of or handling just causes them to get used to. (btw he's appx 600g for a size ref)

[kitedemon]

It is natural instinct, It will never go away totally some are more than others some less than others. Just try not to pass over the head and handle it gently. The snake may come to trust you and not be bothered by contact on the head or may never tolerate it but to some extent all Royals are a little head shy.

[angllady2]

Being headshy is actually the norm for snakes.

After all, that's where a predator will aim for to quickly disable and kill a snake. Some snakes will slowly overcome being headshy, if you are extremely patient and work very hard at it.

Plenty will never outgrow it, so just try and accept that fact. It doesn't have any bearing on your relationship with your animal.

To begin trying to overcome it, only approach the snakes head from the back. Move very slowly, and don't allow your hand to come in front of the snakes eyes, that will startle it and you will undo your work. Softly touch the back of the neck and base of the skull, if the snake will allow it.

Move very, very slowly. Take your time and only touch it once each time you handle him.

Gale

[Lferg]

Thanks all. I was concerned that my guy was getting over stressed. Glad to hear it's pretty much normal. My only other reptile experience is with the Burm we are currently fostering. I am beginning to understand that these are two totally different species. But I guess also age plays a huge factor as well.

[kitedemon]

berms aren't really head shy in my experience they are closer to the top of the food chain than the bottom same for Retics. The behaviour is totally different in small snakes that are both prey and predator.

[FrankieCarbone]

im having a similar issue, but i believe it will get better with time, for me and you. I have had my male pastel for about a month, and in the first 2 weeks when i would handle him he would just stay in a ball, then eventually he kind of moved around, and now he is to the point where when i handle him he is never in a ball but just moving around alot but still head shy and still gets spooked, but hes definetley gotten more comfortable with me since a month ago, the way its going i believe maybe in a another 3 more months he will get to the point where he just wont care being handled.

then again i got my pastel from a damn good breeder (jonathan holtz at breederscircle) so i guess it depends on the snake, my BP actually ate a meal 2 days after i received him from the tumbels and stree of a overnight ship!

karb0n13

an hour a day hu? thats why im trying to do, but i just started a new job and its like im always tired and i always say to myself "lets get him out" but i just end up just checking husbandry and misting and thats it, only on my days off i definetley handle him, and then again alot of time my days off land on the day or the day after he feeds (i have a strict rule of never handling my snake within 2 days of feeding)

[Dirulurv]

I have to agree that is is quite normal for this snake to be head shy, protecting the most vulnerable part of itself is something that is ingrained into their survival genetics. Also agree that it may improve over time and may have to do with his current size, a yearling isn't very large and we are quite large to them, so i say yes it may improve as he grows but I wouldn't bet on it going away completely. My Buddha is very relaxed while handled and is always checking things out but he occasionally spooks himself and will flinch back his head as reflex and he only tolerates head petting if he doesn't see me coming. to help with 'getting use to it' i usually start from the tail and stroke his back as i move up to the neck. Seems to help him.

[vangarret2000]

Being head shy is normal. The simple thing to do about it is don't touch him on the head. Still easy to handle him without doing that. I find it weird people wanna force their snakes to get used to being touched on the head when it's not necessary to do so. Sure if you keep touching their head they can get used to it but there is no need and why would you wanna stress them out every time you do it until they realize it's ok?