Tips and tricks to nippy BP's

[Sheets12]

I made this thread b/c I have been in many other thread's that user's talk about how to get their snakes from striking so here is what I do....

I always wear a hat, I just wear 1, all the time! Whenever I get a new snake and I find out it wants to be aggressive or feel a pinch and see blood dripping down from my hand I place my hat inside of the tank overnight. I do it over night b/c thats when BP's are most active and they will be all over that thing ( who knows they might even think it is a hide place).

If any1 has any other tips on the subject please post them here for the "new BP owners" out there

thanx

[srozell]

How does the hat help?

[daniel1983]

I give them a nice mist from the mist bottle....that will generally get them out of the striking position so that they can be picked up without getting tagged.....that works for some but not for all...I have one girl that I could spray all day and she would still tag me...another one is nice until i pick her up

[jknudson]

How does the hat help?

It would have the scent from the person whom was wearing it, leaving it in the cage for a day or longer would get the snake accustomed to the scent so when the owner, who should smell like the cap picks up the snake its just old hat. LOL

I've heard a similar idea, but with a ratty old shirt...not sure about you, but all of my hats are too important to me to take the chance of a snake soiling it.

All of the people that I know with snakes wait until there is a strong feeding response with those extra nippy babies, purchase some leather work gloves and handle the BP even if its hissy or snappy for about 15 minutes a session, normally the baby will learn that you aren't a predator and will stop striking...normally!

Jason

[Razaiel]

I've heard of this idea too, regarding monitor lizards - they especially seem to fear humans (I have a baby one at the moment) and they get used to the smell. Good reminder for me to pop one in the Savvy viv ...

[frankykeno]

Routine...routine...routine. I believe strongly in routine with the snakes (nippy ones or not). If you stay consistent, handle the same way, in the same manner, refusing to let the snake dictate your actions and make sure you are very calm yet firm, the snakes seem to eventually get it to some degree or other. Some won't ever take to much handling, that's just being a snake.


When we were calming Brannagh down we had to find her unique "line in the sand". In other words, where was the point where we could gently push her into acceptance of us yet not go so far, so fast we made the whole biting situation worse. I think that line is unique to each snake and owner and you just have to be very observant and adjust as you go along.


~~Jo~~

[Sheets12]

another good idea i heard is feed your snakes in a seperate tank and when it is done return it to the original tank this help the snake relize whenever someone sticks their hand in there the snake won't snap atcha, but this is jus one I have heard I haven't tried it yet in fear it might regurgitate

[rabernet]

another good idea i heard is feed your snakes in a seperate tank and when it is done return it to the original tank this help the snake relize whenever someone sticks their hand in there the snake won't snap atcha, but this is jus one I have heard I haven't tried it yet in fear it might regurgitate

This is a myth. If you are going into your snake's enclosure to do your daily water changes, routine maintenance, etc, your snake is not automatically assuming that it's feeding day. I've never fed in a separate enclosure, and I've never had a snake mistake it for feeding day when I've gone into their enclosure for the above mentioned reasons.

Adam's given me the best advice - routine. Feed on the same day, feed at the same time, do the same routine on the feeding day and they will know that day is different from the rest of the days of the week.

[cassandra]

...normally the baby will learn that you aren't a predator and will stop striking...normally!

Kevin McCurley had a really interesting analogy for this in his book, The Complete Ball Python. To paraphrase (since I don't have the book with me), snakes view us as Godzilla. Godzilla comes along and takes us (snakes) out of our perfect, happy home and holds us, but doesn't eat us. This is scary and we don't like Godzilla. But, Godzilla doesn't hurt us or eat us, so we begin to think Godzilla is okay, but we're wary of him. Then Godzilla brings his other monster friends over to play with us, which is also scary. But, they don't eat us either, so we eventually think it's okay.

I'm doing a terrible job paraphrasing, but I was in hysterics reading this and it does makes sense.

("Raaaawwwwr! Come play with me, snakey! RAwwwwrrrr!")

[Mouse]

Kevin McCurley had a really interesting analogy for this in his book, The Complete Ball Python. To paraphrase (since I don't have the book with me), snakes view us as Godzilla. Godzilla comes along and takes us (snakes) out of our perfect, happy home and holds us, but doesn't eat us. This is scary and we don't like Godzilla. But, Godzilla doesn't hurt us or eat us, so we begin to think Godzilla is okay, but we're wary of him. Then Godzilla brings his other monster friends over to play with us, which is also scary. But, they don't eat us either, so we eventually think it's okay.

I'm doing a terrible job paraphrasing, but I was in hysterics reading this and it does makes sense.

("Raaaawwwwr! Come play with me, snakey! RAwwwwrrrr!")

That is awesome! I love it! lol very true too I think.....