Once bitten twice shy

[cjingram]

Hello! My first post on here, so I want to start by saying THANK YOU for all of the wonderful information!

I got my first BP (a normal, from a pet store, bad I know!) about 1.5 weeks ago and this site has definitely been a great resource for helping getting things setup. I've got the tank to 92 hot side (thanks to a herpstat nd - yes, I spent $130 for a thermostat for an $80 snake...my girlfriend thinks I'm nuts. ) and 80-85 on the cool side (two UTH's - hot side UTH direct into herpstat, coolside UTH -> dimmer -> herpstat) and humidity around 50-60%! This weekend, he ate a F/T mouse after about 10 minutes of the zombie dancing. Seems like we're doing alright so far!

Anyway, now that the important details are out of the way, I was hoping someone can help me get over this anxiety I've got! The first day we got him I handled him quite a bit, my first time really handling a snake, and felt pretty confident and comfortable. Then, based on reading on here, I realized I should let him be for a week before handling him, wait for him to feed first, etc. so I didn't hold him for the rest of the week. By Saturday, I couldn't stand it and tried to handle him and got bit. Obviously it didn't hurt at all, but it scared the CRAP out of me! Since then I've been very anxious to hold him. I handled him tonight, didn't get bit, but couldn't help being wary of the guy the whole time. He NEVER goes into a ball, and always has his head coiled in an S like he's ready to strike out. He's very curious, always on the go in the evenings in his tank (stays in his hide all day) or sits in his tank with his head poking out the hide at night.

Sorry for such a long post - I'm trying to cover all of the details for everyone - Am I freaking out over nothing? Is he probably still just getting used to things and being nervous, and I should give him more time? Should I continue trying to hold him every day (Except before feeding/during shed) so that we BOTH get used to each other? Or am I just being a big baby about the whole thing....(I'm going to go with this).

[littleindiangirl]

Hello! My first post on here, so I want to start by saying THANK YOU for all of the wonderful information!

I got my first BP (a normal, from a pet store, bad I know!) about 1.5 weeks ago and this site has definitely been a great resource for helping getting things setup. I've got the tank to 92 hot side (thanks to a herpstat nd - yes, I spent $130 for a thermostat for an $80 snake...my girlfriend thinks I'm nuts. ) and 80-85 on the cool side (two UTH's - hot side UTH direct into herpstat, coolside UTH -> dimmer -> herpstat) and humidity around 50-60%! This weekend, he ate a F/T mouse after about 10 minutes of the zombie dancing. Seems like we're doing alright so far!

Anyway, now that the important details are out of the way, I was hoping someone can help me get over this anxiety I've got! The first day we got him I handled him quite a bit, my first time really handling a snake, and felt pretty confident and comfortable. Then, based on reading on here, I realized I should let him be for a week before handling him, wait for him to feed first, etc. so I didn't hold him for the rest of the week. By Saturday, I couldn't stand it and tried to handle him and got bit. Obviously it didn't hurt at all, but it scared the CRAP out of me! Since then I've been very anxious to hold him. I handled him tonight, didn't get bit, but couldn't help being wary of the guy the whole time. He NEVER goes into a ball, and always has his head coiled in an S like he's ready to strike out. He's very curious, always on the go in the evenings in his tank (stays in his hide all day) or sits in his tank with his head poking out the hide at night.

Sorry for such a long post - I'm trying to cover all of the details for everyone - Am I freaking out over nothing? Is he probably still just getting used to things and being nervous, and I should give him more time? Should I continue trying to hold him every day (Except before feeding/during shed) so that we BOTH get used to each other? Or am I just being a big baby about the whole thing....(I'm going to go with this).

I want to give you a huge pat on the back for choosing one of the BEST thermostats you can buy!!! Not many people understand how important a quality thermostat is, not to mention you can use that one thermostat to heat many tubs!!


Congrats on getting your first bite! My thoughts are that the snake is very young, probably very small. When they are babies, everything is a large heat emitting predator. Babies are very strikey for that reason because they are preyed upon, but they do grow out of it with regular short handling sessions as you two learn to trust each other.

For now, make sure he is eating consistently every 5 or 7 days a prey item as large around as the widest part of his body, and handle him after at least 24-48 hours has passed. If he is eating well, then you can begin to work on building that trust with him.


Welcome to bp.net!!

[python.princess]

First, welcome! Sounds like you're off to a good start!

When he bit you, did you handle him before or after eating? After eating, they need a day or two to digest before handling. If you do handle them while they're digesting, they tend to be defensive. The don't want their meal to come back up anymore than you do!

Otherwise, yeah, it's normal for them to be pretty nervous at first. I think he should be fine after regular handling. Don't overdo it, though. I'd say only a few minutes at a time until you're more comfortable with eachother.

[waltah!]

Welcome aboard! It's awesome that you realize the importance of a good setup and thermostat. Sounds like you are on the right track and i'm sure he will settle in and be comfortable being handled.

[Mindibun]

When I first got mine, I put one of my shirts in the tub with her so that she could get used to my scent. It really helped, and I've recommended it to a few members here, also. You might try that for a little while.

Also, when I got mine I didn't really handle her for quite a while. I let her get used to me watching her first, and then me messing around in the tank for cleaning and stuff. I would quickly pick her up and just put her on the bed, clean, then put her back and be done with it. She got used to interacting with me that way before I ever started handling her just for fun. I've never been bitten by her, and I've had her for over a year.

But I know some people just CANT wait to handle their snakes. -lol-

[Sonya610]

I have never been worried about it (much, except when I see that look). But if I were worried I would probably buy a pair of thin leather type gloves and use those until we both calmed down.

[frankykeno]

You're not being a "big baby". You're a bit nervous with your first snake. You should have seen me with my first child, I was a nutcase - 4 kids later I'm a pro at it. It's basically the same with snakes really. With experience comes confidence and experience simply comes with time.

I'd suggest you do focus more on letting the snake settle in, establish a solid feeding routine and keep handling to maybe a couple of short sessons a week for now. Mind if I ask what you are feeding the little snake as far as what type of prey, what size of prey and whether it's live, frozen/thawed or pre-killed prey?

Also try to think like a little snake. It's unable to process who you are and if your intention is to turn it into your dinner. You are basically, to your snake at this time, an unknown big heat emitting possible predator. Young snakes are as much prey as they are predators so they are very protective and a bit more defensive/reactive to just about anything. As you and your snake slowly get to know each other in a basic way through the simple routines of cage cleaning, feeding, handling both of you will gain experience and confidence.

We have just under 50 snakes here from a big, almost 9 foot constrictor down to 18 hatchling ball pythons. Want to hazard a guess who nips me the most LOL.

[cjingram]

Wow! Lots of great, quick responses! Clearly I'm not the only one spending a lot of time around here

I haven't invested in a digital scale yet, but I'd say he's about 20-24" long, and judging by pictures around here maybe 5-7 months old?

The bite came the day before my big first time trying to feed. I wiped off the two smallest drops of blood ever (I can be so dramatic) and went back and picked him up. He was fine, I was still a bit nervous, and we only bonded for a couple of minutes before he went back in. It was definitely just a defensive "tag and release" kind of bite. Him yawning tonight while I was holding him definitely didn't help the confidence situation...

The t-shirt suggestion is definitely something I'll try. I'll try just picking him up and putting him down outside the cage for a bit too. Great suggestions!

Thank you all! Definitely helping me feel better about it

[Mindibun]

LOL I too used to be nervous about their yawns, but I've learned to "read" them much better now. I don't get worried when they yawn or readjust their jaw anymore. I usually coo at them and go, "AWWWWW!!! " My boyfriend thinks I'm nuts.

[frankykeno]

Well it could have been timing too. The day before a feed some of them can be getting hungry and getting keyed up to look for food. One of the hints may be them laying with their body in their hide and only their head peeking out. This is called "lurking" and a common hunting position for these ambush predators.

You'll find once you get a feeding pattern set down that your snake will come to basically know what day it's to be fed by the routine of it and will be ready and waiting for you, even up to 24 hours or so before the feeding. Around here we try to not do much handling at all during the buildup to feeding (other than basic husbandry/cage checks to make sure everyone's tidied up before feeding and the digestion period following it).