Handling Question

Hi! I have only handled my snake one other time before today (I've only had her for two weeks and she was acclimating for the first one) and she responded well. She has eaten both times I've fed her, the last being on Friday mid-day (Sunday now). Today when I removed her hide to try to handle her, she did this instead of balling up. What does this type of behavior indicate, and does anyone have any handling tips for someone totally new to snakes, like me?

http://i65.tinypic.com/2179mw.jpg http://i66.tinypic.com/34zn91i.jpg

She might just be investigating you.

Clearly the snake wants to eat your soul.:P
Without a video, it is difficult to say, but snakes are fairly simple in regards to behavior. if they get very tense with s-shaped necks, then they are in defense, ready to strike out. If I need to take them out when they are defensive for some reason, then I come from behind and scoop them up, and they tend to go back to the balled up defense, or they just chill out and start exploring and slithering along my arms, depending on the snake and how accustomed to handling they are.

The balled up pose typically is just a defense thing. Like he doesn’t know what’s going on so he balled up to protect himself. My snake does this pretty much every time I take his Hide off of him. Usually once I get him out of his enclosure, he’s normal and comfortable enough to come out of his ball and look around and investigate. It’s completely normal


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Originally Posted by ent

Hi! I have only handled my snake one other time before today (I've only had her for two weeks and she was acclimating for the first one) and she responded well. She has eaten both times I've fed her, the last being on Friday mid-day (Sunday now). Today when I removed her hide to try to handle her, she did this instead of balling up. What does this type of behavior indicate, and does anyone have any handling tips for someone totally new to snakes, like me?

http://i65.tinypic.com/2179mw.jpg http://i66.tinypic.com/34zn91i.jpg

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I would say thats a defensive "S'ed up".
For handling you should Hook Train him so that he knows the difference between feed time and normal handling. You gently rub them with the hook (or you can use a Paper Towel holder once the rolls gone). If they "S up" like your picture may be showing then the stroke from the hook will snap them out of being defensive or mistaking your heat as a prey item. You can also use the hook in one hand to keep their neck back if they are striking so that they cant reach your hand/arm as you pick them up with the opposite hand.
This is one of the best things you can do to condition your new snake. Once you do it stick to it and it will make every time your going to handle him easier on the both of you.


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