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My collection so far :)
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they should calm down, good looking collection. Just try and handle them a little more often for short periods. I have a few that aren't just nippy but like to bite also : ) gotta love a snake with attitude:D
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Re: My collection so far :)
Nice looking snakes! I'm loving the albino!
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Awesome collection. :) Constant handling will definitely calm them down. When in doubt, try handling them using a snake hook first.
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Beautiful collection !!!
I have a trick I use with the "huffy" babies that tend to get defensive. I always let them know its not feeding time first. Usually they are in a hide, so I lift the hide off of them.
They are still curled up by then and might start to breathe fast and "huff" a little. Take one of your hand put it on the snake. Make sure your palm is flat and come from right above. Do this in one quick fluent motion. (don't smack down, though, obviously).
The point is that your flat hand coming from above their head doesn't present a "target".
And you don't give them time to figure it out.
With your hand on them, slightly cup it and hold the animal down. Don't use lot of pressure, just enough to make them feel enclosed, as if they were in a small hide. Now they might "huff" and stiffen up, but ignore that. With your other hand you scoop them up from underneath them, again, in a quick and fluent motion, without rushing or acting nervous. You might hear another huff and/or the snake tenses up. Ignore that. Now pick them up , cupped in between your hands, and sit down somewhere quiet, put your cupped hands and snake in your lap and RELAX.
The snake will relax as well in its "hand hide" and slowly start to peek out and slither out between your fingers and hands and explore a bit. Loosen up your hands to where you just lightly cover the snake. Usually they will explore a bit in one direction with half of their body, then return to the "safe hands" and come back out another side, and so on...
The hands become the "safe area". After the snake is relaxed and curious, usually about 10 minutes or so, return it to the tub, you might not have to cover the snake with the hand again, it should be calm by now. When returning, don't just nervously drop it in the tub and pull your hand back quickly. Lay your hand in the tub slowly, with the snake still on it, and let it slither off your hands, then remove your hand slowly. You want the whole experience to be calm without spooking the snake.
When you carry the snake, always try to support its body in more then just one spot. Don't just hold it like a hook, letting it dangle.
You're teaching it that the hands are safe, and by you staying calm and relaxed and moving confidently, you don't freak it out.
Usually it takes about 3 times of this before the snake will stop huffing and tensing, and from then on it just gets easier, eventually you don't cover them anymore, or just lightly above their head (the bigger snakes you cover their head and most of the body, not all of it). You also eventually only cover them lightly when you remove them from the tub, then remove your hand from on top of them.
Handle daily , for short periods. Don't handle after eating, of course, or during shed. Most are ok to be handled during shed, but thats something I wouldn't do until the snake has relaxed with handling and is completely fine with it.
Now I haven't had an outright fire breathing highly aggressive snake yet, but this method works well with the defensive ones, that get nervous and strike or bite because of it.
I know this is long winded, I tried to explain it best I could. Might not work for everyone or every snake, but always worked for mine. Never been bit by a BP yet.
And yes, I know I probably jinxed myself now, haha. I did knock on wood ;)
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Re: My collection so far :)
Thanks so much for the handling tips. The bumblebee is the only one who flat out shoots for my hand (sometimes sideways because of his wobble). On the other hand, he has the best feeding response out of the bunch! I'm working with them for a few minutes a day and everyone was well behaved for the photo shoot last night!
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Re: My collection so far :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by tsealock
Thanks so much for the handling tips. The bumblebee is the only one who flat out shoots for my hand (sometimes sideways because of his wobble). On the other hand, he has the best feeding response out of the bunch! I'm working with them for a few minutes a day and everyone was well behaved for the photo shoot last night!
Sounds almost like he is one of those that are always ready for food !! I have a couple of those, LOL.
Best is to get a ritual that shows him, nope, not feeding time right now. Slight tap on the head from above or covering him with the hand should do it. You can use a snake hook to tap him slightly. And I can't over emphasize to do it gently. Don't want people bonking their BP's over the head based on my advice, LOL.
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Re: My collection so far :)
With my bumblebee, it doesn't matter if I held him everyday, he is always looking for food. I have a make shift snake hook, I don't pick the snake up with it, but I do give them a light tap on the nose and this will usually snap them out of the feeding response and I reach in and grab the snake.
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Quote:
(yes, I'm wearing gloves! They are nippy and I'm a wuss)
That's a new one for me :rofl:
Nice collection. The bites are nothing. If you handle kittens without gloves you can handle bps without them ;)
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