MEAN snake to happy snake!

[Merriah]

I've spent the last few years buying baby snakes and working with them daily to encourage gentle and predictable behavior. I bring them to visit children in hospitals and at the library, especially those that are allergic to traditional therapy animals with fur. When I find the right child, I speak with their parents and they get to adopt my snake for no charge. My first two families were thrilled! The third decided to return him to me because they couldn't deal with the feeding process. Of course, I train the families on how to do it. Anyway, Harvey came back, and after only 2 weeks away he was MEAN.
He was always cowering from me in his enclosure and he was striking when I tried to pick him up. I promptly bought a hook and leather gloves so I could feed him properly. I kept thinking "what did they do to you?" The last time I saw him he was a cuddly little guy!
It's taken a lot of patience, but tonight I finally got my little cuddly guy back. I've worked in small doses, holding him briefly (with gloves) until he calmed down. It took about 6 weeks. Tonight I took him out (no gloves) and he acted like my familiar little guy, running around, cuddling my chest, and coming up to my face. I will continue to train him for another month before I will allow him to see other people but I'm so happy he's back.
Again, what the heck happened to him while he was gone?!? He will not be adopted out again because I won't put him through that. He's my happy little Harvey, and he's forever mine!

[cchardwick]

I think it has a lot do to with the enclosure type. The snake needs to feel secure above everything else, and they need people who know and understand snake behavior. Personally if I'd adopt one out I'd also send the enclosure along with it. And I wouldn't adopt out to someone who is afraid of snakes who may pick them up and drop them (for example). I'm always fascinated how fast a mean snake can become puppy dog tame under the right circumstances. I'm actually working on taming down my second mean snake, we are making a lot of progress.

[treaux]

You can't really "train" BPs. Their behavior is a product of their environment and how secure they feel. Things that affect this are their enclosure and hides (ample hiding space is very important), temperatures and humidity, and regular access to food and water. Most BPs that you might classify as "mean" are usually lacking in one of those areas and once corrected, become "puppy dog" tame.

Remember, they may appear to act like puppy dogs and they certainly are cute, but BPs are very simple creatures and do not show affection the way a real puppy dog can.