Taming help...

Some snakes calm down, some don't. That can be true from carpets to boas to balls. But with regular handling, you'll minimize it at least. The best piece of advice I can offer is get over being scared. Once you start handling the snake with confidence it will help you and the animal.

well a lot of options are out there, a hook, some gloves, where are you going for first. having dealt with some nasty bloods and very defensive water pythons. i found the going for the back third of the body first was less likely to get me tagged. using salad tongs is probably going to freak the out more. carpets are great animals but are nippy little cusses as babies, (at least the ones i have bred and dealt with in the past), but once settled are great. not sure on the set up you have for it, if it is a tub i would remove the whole tub and place on the floor or a counter. let the snake relax and start exploring then try to pick up. if a tank open the top and allow the same thing. once out read the snake from there. if it seems to be getting irritated then place it back in its cage, and repeat for longer periods of time until it is relaxed with you. you may only get about 5 mins at first, but the more frequent you do this the longer you can hold the snake down the road.

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Originally Posted by van_garret2000

Is dont know if this works for most snakes but like spmeome else mentioned before I too have a pissy snake and when I walk around holding him and moving him a lot he doesn't get as bitey as when I just stand still holding him.

Also when handling just try to keep the head away from you as best as possible. The best tip is to get used to being bit. Then it won't be as big a deal when it happens while you tame him. I know that might sound crazy but even a carpet that size bits aren't too big a deal unless you get it in the eye or something. It could take months and months for him to tame down depending in how bad he is right now. If you hold him for say 20-30 minutes how many times does he bite you?

Also you have to make sure that you don't put him back in the cage until he is calm. If he is biting you and you aren't waiting long enough and then put him back that will just teach him that if I bite enough they will put me down.

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She literally bites me every chance she gets. So if I'm holding her with my bare hands, my hands would be dripping in blood by the end of 20 - 30 min. With a tool, up to 5 times, depending on how active she is and how close she gets.

I haven't done any socialization/taming handling yet because I want to wait until I have a hook and possibly gloves. There's an impenetrable mental barrier that's keeping me from sticking my bare hands in that tank. If I've got a little more protection, I'll be more confident with her. I only took her out that one time to clean her cage and weigh her. The hook should be here in a week or two so I'll start then.

As for the bites not being "too bad", that's what I'm worried about. I can take a hit anywhere on the arms. But she's as long as I am tall and she can EASILY land one on my face. Do. Not. Want. Even with the ~3 ft kitchen grabber thing she came pretty close.

I know eventually I'm just gonna have to suck it up and dive in. I've never been afraid of a snake before, but for some reason, this gal makes me really nervous. And I don't even know why because her bites are practically nothing, lol. Oh well.

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using salad tongs is probably going to freak the out more.

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Lol, they weren't salad tongs. They were the tongs on the end of a pole that you use to reach things on high shelves. Like this: https://mobilityshopdirect.com/image...PR60220_30.jpg
Basically snake tongs without the strength, lol.

Snake hook came in the mail today. Tried touching her and picking her up with it in the tank but didn't take her out. Got a sunburn on my arms and shoulders today so I was not looking forward to taking a bite there, lol.

If you are worried about your face you could wear something for protection there. I have one snake that isn't always bitey but when he is he like to try and strike my face so I just slip on some goggles if he is getting defensive to keep them protected.

You will probably find that if you wear gloves he is just gonna try to strike your arms more instead of your hands but arm bites are always better then fingers anyways

I was in the same boat as you when I got my DiamondxJungle girl Jimma. She was about a year old and four foot long when I got her back in October.

When anything would touch her she would strike. Didn't matter if she struck her self, me, or the side of the tub, she was hitting something. I started off with gloves and using the hook. First she would tense up from touching her with the hook and lash out towards me and I would just wait for her to try to "escape", and when she would start to head toward the back of the tub I would lift her with the hook and slide my hand under. At first she would still whip around and try and tag me but she has slowly gotten use to my touch. Once I noticed she wasn't real jumpy when I would go to pick her up, I stopped using the gloves. I now handle her at least twice a week and haven't had even a strike in about three months. A lot of action going on around her though, and she will still get pretty worked up and hiss.

Keep working with her and I'm sure she will come around. Hope she calms down for you at least as quick as my girl did. Oh, and don't forget we all love lots of pics. Good luck with her. :D