Jerky Movements

Hi guys. Sorry I keep asking questions, but I'm still new to this, and learning as I go.

Anyways, my husbandry is spot on. He's eating like a pig. He sleeps during the day, comes out at night, and explores on a pretty consistent schedule. My only concern is when I hold him. He makes really jerky movements when I hold him. Obviously its stressed out, but when he does this, just out of instinct I feel like he's going to bite me, and I get nervous, and I put him back. I do my best not to wave my hand in front of his face, or make any sudden movements, but he still does it.

Will he calm down, and eventually let me hold him, without freaking out. I don't know if it has to do with his age. All I know is that he was born sometime last year, and is about 2 feet long.

Thanks guys

thats normal with certain balls while holding. Keep in mind snakes DO NOT like being held they Tolerate it to an extent. They cant tell you okay put me back, so they use body language to show they had enough.

Keep handing him every once and awhile and eventually he will learn you are not a threat to him. Just try to avoid sudden movements as much as possible.

And if he is eating like a pig then he isn't very stressed out so don't worry.

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Originally Posted by Keyboard Warrior

Hi guys. Sorry I keep asking questions, but I'm still new to this, and learning as I go.

Anyways, my husbandry is spot on. He's eating like a pig. He sleeps during the day, comes out at night, and explores on a pretty consistent schedule. My only concern is when I hold him. He makes really jerky movements when I hold him. Obviously its stressed out, but when he does this, just out of instinct I feel like he's going to bite me, and I get nervous, and I put him back. I do my best not to wave my hand in front of his face, or make any sudden movements, but he still does it.

Will he calm down, and eventually let me hold him, without freaking out. I don't know if it has to do with his age. All I know is that he was born sometime last year, and is about 2 feet long.

Thanks guys

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Obviously you should not hold your snake for longer than recommended periods because they will get agitated(and I doubt that is the issue) but if you get nervous while holding your snake it will be able to sense that nervousness just like pretty much any other animal and in turn it will make your snake more nervous of you as well.

My best advice it to try and relax and not worry about being bitten and maybe your snake will relax a little more in return.

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Originally Posted by Superpop

Obviously you should not hold your snake for longer than recommended periods because they will get agitated(and I doubt that is the issue) but if you get nervous while holding your snake it will be able to sense that nervousness just like pretty much any other animal and in turn it will make your snake more nervous of you as well.

My best advice it to try and relax and not worry about being bitten and maybe your snake will relax a little more in return.

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No, I know, my handling of him is usually no more than 15 minutes a day. And Yeah I know if I'm nervous, he gets nervous, its sorta cyclical. I'm guessing he's just not use to me.

i agree with the above. He will become more relaxed in time, just keep doing what your doing with him.

When i got my first one, he would make these fast jerky movements which used to make me nervous, i even threw him once (big embaressment and shame but n o harm done). After a few months he calmed down, and now he is super chilled. When i open his tub he comes out if his roaming and his so relaxed when i hold him. I do still only take him out 2 or 3 times a week and only for 10 or 15 mins at a time.

I do know how you feel, i have just got a new one from aug 2010 clutch, she has not been handled much by the breeder and she is realy scared when i hold her. So i am going through the same process again.

I think its a process we should enjoy!

Good luck and have fun with him or her :D

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Originally Posted by ms381

i even threw him once (big embaressment and shame but n o harm done).

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Well at least you are embarrassed about that!

I'd sooner suffer a bite than "throw" my snake!

Jeez!

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Originally Posted by ms381

i agree with the above. He will become more relaxed in time, just keep doing what your doing with him.

When i got my first one, he would make these fast jerky movements which used to make me nervous, i even threw him once (big embaressment and shame but n o harm done). After a few months he calmed down, and now he is super chilled. When i open his tub he comes out if his roaming and his so relaxed when i hold him. I do still only take him out 2 or 3 times a week and only for 10 or 15 mins at a time.

I do know how you feel, i have just got a new one from aug 2010 clutch, she has not been handled much by the breeder and she is realy scared when i hold her. So i am going through the same process again.

I think its a process we should enjoy!

Good luck and have fun with him or her :D

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See thats what I'm afraid of doing. I've done martial arts my whole life, so real fast jerky movements, provoke a bad response from me (ask a few gf's that have snuck up on me :p) Anyways, my hand jerks away everytime he makes those jerky movements. If he strikes or bites me, I'm afraid I will inadvertently hurt him by jerking him or throwing him.

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Originally Posted by ms381

He will become more relaxed in time, just keep doing what your doing with him.

I think its a process we should enjoy!

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this is true ;)

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Originally Posted by Superpop

Well at least you are embarrassed about that!

I'd sooner suffer a bite than "throw" my snake!

Jeez!

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"Jeez" I'm sure it wasn't intentional.....sometimes people need to understand not everyone has the God given gift of loving snakes instinctivly. It took me 2 years to work myself up from my (visual love but) terrible fear of them to proudly owning, loving and handlng them. I applaud them for admitting they have trouble sometimes like others of us do! :gj: