Striking question

[rossko85]

So we've had our critter now for about 4 days now...color is good, vents are clear and mucus free, eyes clear, and the snake is very curious when we first brought it home and handled it in the car on the way home...the snake actually stayed laid over my neck inside my collar of my polo and just set up shop there and was very chill the rest of the ride home:-) I know it's not the best to be handling them right out the gate, but I figured some warmth amd my scent would be much better than that old box with holes!! Lol snake was very active and not balling up and hiding his head at all:-) very tentative and inquisit snake for a juvenile...according to the feed sheets he is approx 5-6 months old. Feed sheets show feelings every week for the past month and a half:-) very pleased with this snake!

I know your supposed to set up the area prior to bringing them home, but I was just so glad to have it and we had a great time setting it up...the snake was acting fine and moving and hanging out with plenty of tongue flicks, so I figured happy warm snake, happy me, ill just hang out with it a while:-) I think no harm here, as I think it's important to let the snake decide by observing its behavior, am I wrong? Then the snake pooped on my girlfriends blanket while she was on the couch and that didnt start things off with them too well lol!! Nice healty BM though...seemed to be a bit large! Lol but everything flowed as appears normal...weird of me to be glad to see that? Lol just another observation of insuring snake is functioning all all cylinders right? Lol plus it was funny to see her reaction:-) there still cool though! Lol

So, got him settled in his new hang...it's a 10 gallon(didnt want to be too big for him so he can feel secure) have a UTH, hide on top of that, used a felt bottom substrate layer and put some of the reptile tropical dirt that comes in a brick in there, it has a large but not too deep water bowl in middle, a branch in middle with some vines, a 40 watt red heat lamp, a fastened top screen cover, and a humid/thermo analog in middle and 2 strip thermos on hot and cool side approx 1" above the substrate. I put paper around the back and sides to help it feel that much more secure. (This was the initial set up prior to doing some more reading)

So, after getting temps up about where they needed to be and playing with a spray bottle to get the humidity where it needed to be, the snake seemed to be very interested in the new pad! Very pleased to see it so active already and not hiding...snake was very interested in what was going on outside of tank and would literally climb to to top and come over to my hand near screen and check it out with his tongue a little...and then back to snake business...I'm thinking at this point this snake is just acclimating super well!

So, second day was actually the snakes original feeding day from place of purchase according to the feed chart. So, I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to offer a meal to the snake since it seemed to be so confident at this point...I know your supposed to leave them alone, but this snake just seemed so eager to check everything out! I got the snake out of it's hide and put it in a separate container with a felt substrate bottom and a water bowl...the snake was taking fuzzy F/T mice from previous keepers but we decided to do a couple of pinkies at first to test the waters a bit and his response...again, kind of finding out what the snake wants or how it wants it.

To no surprise the snake didnt take the meal and looked a little stressed at this point, I know this to be normal. I noticed that the feed sheet I had from store showed the snake actually didnt eat for the first 3 weeks it was there and then started regularly, so I figured another week or 2 with me not handling would be just fine with me and I'm sure the snake:-) so away it went back into the tank where it stayed in hiding to come out a bit later that night to explore some more.

The last couple of days the snake has been hiding and seems to be on a good night/day cycle from what I can see. Ive been changing water daily and watching humidity and temps, actually saw it take a drink a couple of days ago! so thats good news too!!

Yesterday I decided to do some more rearranging to the habitat and put some of my recent read knowledge to use! So, I went and got a higher watt red bulb to help ambient temps, I got another hide for the cool side, I did pick up a digital thermo with probe for the UTH and imbedded it under the warm side hide, I also got a dark backing to wrap around the sides and back of tank, and I put a wet towel on top of the hot side to help humidity. The set up works really well! I actually see the snake move in and out of the different sides and hides regulating his temp. Levels are even and constant! Ambient of tank is about 82-85 in middle, hot side is 85-88 above the hide and UTH, the probe is reporting 85-92 depending on night or day in the house, and the cool side near his hide is 77-81, humidity is stable at 50%-60%, basking spot near branch is 90-93 with plenty of room for the snake to bask without contact with screen and light.

So, I changed all this around...while the snake was in the tank, it stayed in the hide as I was doing it, changed water etc...tried to not disturb him and didnt want to handle him...I know this was stressful for the snake, but it had to be done to get his habitat better:-) so it's changed up on the snake, but no more changes.

heres where I have a question...while I was sifting the substrate and getting it ready for new things, I was near the warm side hide where the snake was. As I was sifting in from of the hole, well, I pulled my hand back a little and good thing! All I saw was this camel brown/sand colored flash that was approximately 6" long emerge from the hide and retrieve...and I mean FAST!!! Like way faster then I would expect...it was lighting...not like a wobbly headed lunge/strike...it was like rattle snake or pit viper!!! No harm no foul...I figured I either got too close and it felt threatened, or since it was acting pretty confident and seemed to be acclimating well that he might of thought it was food time!!! It would make since...so, I decided to attempt to take the snake out and offer another feeding just in case...I know if they refuse your supposed to wait, but Im really just trying to figure out the snake...snake did not eat and was all about getting back into the tank even when it was crawling on me...the snake seemed very nervous and stressed at this point...so too soon I imagine, but I had to know...

i always thought and have been led to believe that BP's wouldn't strike unless they thought it was food, and that they ball up and hide their heads? This is why it surprised me and I thought if was hungry, not defensive? I then read that they will strike when and if they feel threatened enough...so now I'm just leaving the snake be and keeping the habitat good for it....and ill wait until next week to get him out and try again. And my hands were odor free from any food or pets...this is only pet I have:-) So I think he got a little scarred...the way it appears, he might be getting fed in the tank first time out...we will see, still too early to tell...

let me know your thoughts please...tell me any similar experiences or any other advice...I feel like I'm doing everything right for the most part...and trying to get over the OCD wanna make a perfect snake life for the snake lol

[Annarose15]

So, I changed all this around...while the snake was in the tank, it stayed in the hide as I was doing it, changed water etc...tried to not disturb him and didnt want to handle him...I know this was stressful for the snake, but it had to be done to get his habitat better:-) so it's changed up on the snake, but no more changes.

heres where I have a question...while I was sifting the substrate and getting it ready for new things, I was near the warm side hide where the snake was. As I was sifting in from of the hole, well, I pulled my hand back a little and good thing! All I saw was this camel brown/sand colored flash that was approximately 6" long emerge from the hide and retrieve...and I mean FAST!!! Like way faster then I would expect...it was lighting...not like a wobbly headed lunge/strike...it was like rattle snake or pit viper!!! No harm no foul...I figured I either got too close and it felt threatened, or since it was acting pretty confident and seemed to be acclimating well that he might of thought it was food time!!! It would make since...so, I decided to attempt to take the snake out and offer another feeding just in case...I know if they refuse your supposed to wait, but Im really just trying to figure out the snake...snake did not eat and was all about getting back into the tank even when it was crawling on me...the snake seemed very nervous and stressed at this point...so too soon I imagine, but I had to know...

i always thought and have been led to believe that BP's wouldn't strike unless they thought it was food, and that they ball up and hide their heads? This is why it surprised me and I thought if was hungry, not defensive? I then read that they will strike when and if they feel threatened enough...so now I'm just leaving the snake be and keeping the habitat good for it....and ill wait until next week to get him out and try again. And my hands were odor free from any food or pets...this is only pet I have:-) So I think he got a little scarred...the way it appears, he might be getting fed in the tank first time out...we will see, still too early to tell...

The bolded part is the only piece that I see that you are doing "wrong". Yes, the tank should have been set up prior to his arrival so you didn't have to mess with it and stress him out in the process. However, it's too late to worry about that. And yes, babies especially will defensively strike if they are stressed enough. Snakes rarely miss on a feeding strike, and then they latch down if they are trying to feed, so that is how you can usually know the difference between the two (misses or tags you but doesn't wrap). Don't move him anywhere to feed him, just offer every five days in his enclosure. He will settle down and take it soon enough. STOP handling him in the meantime.

[rossko85]

Excellent...I totally agree and was on the same track with what your saying...Thanks for the info and reading through my big post LOL Good guidance here!

[Annarose15]

Excellent...I totally agree and was on the same track with what your saying...Thanks for the info and reading through my big post LOL Good guidance here!

Lol, I'm glad I read all the way through, or I would have wasted both of our time telling you things you'd already figured out! Good luck and congratulations on your new baby!

[FireStorm]

Annarose is right on. I think if you take a break from handling and feed in the enclosure, your baby will start to eat just fine. Offering at night, with the lights off can also be helpful since they are nocturnal.

[Willie76]

A snake is a snake. Period. If someone told you they never bite, they're lieing or haven't been exposed to many BPs. Many pet stores are notorious for bad information (not all, but many). They are still wild animals but 99.9% of the time even the most nippy young BP usually tames out very well with time and patience. BPs and most wild animals strike for one of two reason: 1) Fear or 2) Food. You're doing so many things right. Looks like your over-all husbandry is good (though did I miss a thermostat to regulate the UTH? I read you got a thermometer to read temps, but a thermostat is not optional when it comes to heat mats or any type of heating element).

It is a good idea to let them settle as everyone has pointed out and to try and get him to take a meal or two before you start handling him. It is NOT necessary to take him out of his enclosure to feed. BPs do not become cage aggressive if you feed them in their cage. This is a total myth. Most will attest they feed their BPs in their cages. You're more apt to get bit and stress him out moving him back and forth to feed (my experience early on). As far as prey sizes, 10%-15% of their body weight. So you'll need a scale which reads in grams and can be had at any office supply store or even WalMart...

Prey Size Chart


Handling
I have dealt with plenty of nippy snakes: BPs, Carpet Pythons, Olives, Kings, etc...I actually enjoy the challenge. But you have to remember patience and confidence are the key. Start with 5-10 minute handling sessions every other day (except feeding day). After a week or two, move to 15-20 minute sessions every other day. After another week or two, work up to 30 minutes every other day. When you go to pick him up, remember to pick him up from the middle, not near his head, and not from his tail. Be confident. If he strikes, continue to pick him up. I promise you...the tag of a small BP is nothing. He may draw a drop or two of blood, but the striking action is scarier than the actual bite. If you're truly terrified to get bit, throw on some gloves and a long-sleeved shirt until you can pick him up without him tagging you. And if he tags you while holding him, continue holding him and remain confident and calm. The more he sees his strikes do nothing to you the more he will trust you. In no time at all, you'll have a BP that you can take anywhere...

BPs and snakes in general do not train like cats and dogs. They develop a trust with you that you won't eat them or won't hurt them. My Spider female BP was one of the nippiest BPs I have ever seen. After a few weeks of handling she tamed right out. Today, when I open the glass, she literally crawls into my hands and wraps herself around my arm. She trusts me and if I didn't know any better, she enjoys being held (silly girl!)

I hope this helps. I am not preaching, but sharing my experience. I love the challenge of the nippy ones and to see the fear disappear and that trust develop is priceless!

GOOD LUCK!