My Bp doesnt like me :(

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Good news is that he does not hate you but it will not love you either, they are not capable of that kind of emotions, they do however sense whether someone is comfortable with the or someone that is apprehensive, uncomfortable or fearful.

Those are wild animals and owning a BP will mean you will get bit sooner or later, they don't enjoy being handled they tolerate it, so if you are looking for an animal to bond with a snake is just not it.

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I used to feel this way until my wife got her BEL. They are BFFs and in love lol.

Her BEL comes out of her hide when my wife comes around and goes to the door of her enclosure. She also pushes her head into her fingers for her massage ....they cuddle.

I know, I know....not the norm....but they bonded :D

One other thing to add. Spend time watching her, just watching - no touching or even opening the cage. Learn her patterns and her body language. This will help you to be more confident and get surprised less.

For instance, I know Mashadar will come out between 9:30 and 11 pm every night to explore. If I want to handle him I wait for him to come out. Then I just open the door and let him climb over my arms and I can lift him out. If he resists at all (ie curling his tail around a branch or retreating from my hand), I leave him be.
I know what his body language is when he is in feed mode or "hunting". When he has the slight 'S' curve to his neck and his tongue is going a million flicks an hour - this would not be a good time to reach in and mess with him or try and clean or what not. I've had him for two years and he's not struck / bitten yet.

Just give yourself time to learn her and for her to learn you. It may be that your Uncle is more confident. I know my guy won't strike when my fiance tries to feed him. He's a little flinchy and has jerked when the Mashadar struck one of the first times he fed him and my snake bumped his snoot on the glass pretty hard. Now Mashadar is hesitant to strike if I'm not the one feeding.

They may not have the ability to have higher emotions, but they can remember things. It may take time for her to come to realize that you are not a predator that is going to hurt her. Be patient, she should come around :)

*also, make sure she is getting properly sized meals often enough, they can get snarky if they are hungry

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

One other thing to add. Spend time watching her, just watching - no touching or even opening the cage. Learn her patterns and her body language. This will help you to be more confident and get surprised less.

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Also great advice. Great advice for any keeper new to snakes, or any animal really.

Snakes can definitely sense fear, and they know and respond to uncertainty. This is most likely what is happening with your interactions, perhaps compounding other possible issues mentioned such as approach and chemical odor etc.

Who normally interacts with the snake? Like feeding, water changes, spot cleaning, all that jazz. If it is your uncle who usually does these things, it may just be that his scent and presence have become recognizable to the snake, and she has learned through repeated exposure that he is not a threat to her. She may just be uncertain of you and fearful of the unknown, especially when you're afraid and uncertain of her too. In this case leaving a small article of clothing or object that has your scent on it inside the cage with her and/or building up small interactions (such as water changes and spot cleanings) should help aclimate her to you.

Im curious though, how did the leg bite occur? Like what do you think prompted it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

One other thing to add. Spend time watching her, just watching - no touching or even opening the cage. Learn her patterns and her body language. This will help you to be more confident and get surprised less.

For instance, I know Mashadar will come out between 9:30 and 11 pm every night to explore. If I want to handle him I wait for him to come out. Then I just open the door and let him climb over my arms and I can lift him out. If he resists at all (ie curling his tail around a branch or retreating from my hand), I leave him be.
I know what his body language is when he is in feed mode or "hunting". When he has the slight 'S' curve to his neck and his tongue is going a million flicks an hour - this would not be a good time to reach in and mess with him or try and clean or what not. I've had him for two years and he's not struck / bitten yet.

Just give yourself time to learn her and for her to learn you. It may be that your Uncle is more confident. I know my guy won't strike when my fiance tries to feed him. He's a little flinchy and has jerked when the Mashadar struck one of the first times he fed him and my snake bumped his snoot on the glass pretty hard. Now Mashadar is hesitant to strike if I'm not the one feeding.

They may not have the ability to have higher emotions, but they can remember things. It may take time for her to come to realize that you are not a predator that is going to hurt her. Be patient, she should come around :)

*also, make sure she is getting properly sized meals often enough, they can get snarky if they are hungry

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This....this is great....wish my hubby would understand this lol hes so scared of our two BPs and RTB