UGH! Agressiveness is still a porblem!

For a normally docile ball to become suddenly aggressive I'd be thinking back hard to what was going on when this all started. If it's possible it's a male snake/breeding season activity...did the seasons change about then or was there a drop in his tank temps for any reason. If it's something else like maybe you startled him, he struck and you reacted strongly enough to reinforce the action? Any major changes in his environment in the tank and in the room the tank is in? Change of prey?

Remember though Link isn't being "mean". He'd have to form an intent to be mean. He's just reacting instinctively to some sort of stimuli and it's your job as his keeper to figure out what that is and if it's possible to make adjustments to lower the reaction.

I believe strongly that snakes (and most animals) react to signals we aren't even aware we are broadcasting. When humans get nervous, stressed, frustrated, etc. we smell different, we breath different and often our hand movements are fast and jerky. I know from handling Brannagh our big aggressive female that the only time she did manage to tag me I was nervous of her and I was also trying to clean her tank when I was overly busy that day anyway. I know Brannagh reacts more calmly if Mike and I are firm, fast and sure in our handling of her. Now that I've experienced Brannagh's bite I lost my fear and anxiety of it. My handling of her is so much easier now that I'm not broadcasting that to the snake on a level I can't pick up but I'm pretty sure she can.


~~Jo~~

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Originally Posted by Lady Python

Does he bite you and let go immediately? Or does he bite you and not let go?

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He bites and lets go immediately.

The temps may be the problem. So as I said I'm getitng some Flexwatt to see if it helps any.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

For a normally docile ball to become suddenly aggressive I'd be thinking back hard to what was going on when this all started. If it's possible it's a male snake/breeding season activity...did the seasons change about then or was there a drop in his tank temps for any reason. If it's something else like maybe you startled him, he struck and you reacted strongly enough to reinforce the action? Any major changes in his environment in the tank and in the room the tank is in? Change of prey?

Remember though Link isn't being "mean". He'd have to form an intent to be mean. He's just reacting instinctively to some sort of stimuli and it's your job as his keeper to figure out what that is and if it's possible to make adjustments to lower the reaction.

I believe strongly that snakes (and most animals) react to signals we aren't even aware we are broadcasting. When humans get nervous, stressed, frustrated, etc. we smell different, we breath different and often our hand movements are fast and jerky. I know from handling Brannagh our big aggressive female that the only time she did manage to tag me I was nervous of her and I was also trying to clean her tank when I was overly busy that day anyway. I know Brannagh reacts more calmly if Mike and I are firm, fast and sure in our handling of her. Now that I've experienced Brannagh's bite I lost my fear and anxiety of it. My handling of her is so much easier now that I'm not broadcasting that to the snake on a level I can't pick up but I'm pretty sure she can.


~~Jo~~

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Well the first time I had been bit it had been a while sinse I had handled him. And I have been nervous ever sinse. So maybe it is that.

can someone explain what temps have to do with snappiness??

Well I'll take a stab at this....hmmm.

Ok here's my take on it. Low temps cause sluggishness and such, so on the other end of the spectrum high temps would cause an increase in activity. I would think it's kinda like putting them on a lot of caffiene. If you're body is in super overdrive it's hard to have normal reactions. Well that's kinda how I think of it, but I could be wrong.

I just know that a lot of people complain of strikes and abnormal behavior when the temps are higher than the recommended range. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by tigerlily

Well I'll take a stab at this....hmmm.

Ok here's my take on it. Low temps cause sluggishness and such, so on the other end of the spectrum high temps would cause an increase in activity. I would think it's kinda like putting them on a lot of caffiene. If you're body is in super overdrive it's hard to have normal reactions. Well that's kinda how I think of it, but I could be wrong.

I just know that a lot of people complain of strikes and abnormal behavior when the temps are higher than the recommended range. :rolleyes:

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My temps are acually a little low. Not very much, but sinse it's winter in Minnesota the temps have dropped a bit. But the Flexwatt should clear that up.

Also, at least for me and Mike, if we see any abrupt change in behaviour the first thing we look at is husbandry of that snake (temp, etc), then at changes in how we've handled or fed that snake, any change in the room environment the snake's tub is in and obviously any issues with health with that snake.

If everything is bang on and nothing has changed and the snake is healthy then we just chaulk it up to a bad day with that snake and just become more aware of any permanent change in that snake's patterns.

I do think after a strike/bite from a snake that is normally docile both the handler and the snake need to get re-acquainted sort of. If you've cut back handling due to a bite or are now nervous of it happening again, I'll bet the snake senses the change and it's making it even more jumpy which of course then sets you both up for a poor time of it.

I'm no snake expert mind you. I'm still such a newb myself but my instincts tell me that in that situation, just take small steps to get your interaction with your snake back on an even keel again. Be very patient, everything with these lovely creatures takes time, patience and absolute dedication to their unique needs.

Funny since we've gotten snakes I'm remembering so much the wisdom of the words "as you sow, so shall you reap".


~~Jo~~

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Also, at least for me and Mike, if we see any abrupt change in behaviour the first thing we look at is husbandry of that snake (temp, etc), then at changes in how we've handled or fed that snake, any change in the room environment the snake's tub is in and obviously any issues with health with that snake.

If everything is bang on and nothing has changed and the snake is healthy then we just chaulk it up to a bad day with that snake and just become more aware of any permanent change in that snake's patterns.

I do think after a strike/bite from a snake that is normally docile both the handler and the snake need to get re-acquainted sort of. If you've cut back handling due to a bite or are now nervous of it happening again, I'll bet the snake senses the change and it's making it even more jumpy which of course then sets you both up for a poor time of it.

I'm no snake expert mind you. I'm still such a newb myself but my instincts tell me that in that situation, just take small steps to get your interaction with your snake back on an even keel again. Be very patient, everything with these lovely creatures takes time, patience and absolute dedication to their unique needs.

Funny since we've gotten snakes I'm remembering so much the wisdom of the words "as you sow, so shall you reap".


~~Jo~~

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So do you think handling him on an increasing schedual(sp?) will help?

Well like anything I do stuff in small, slow steps personally. Things like just reaching in to stroke your snake and see how that goes as far as any hissing, balling up or attempt to strike. Then maybe a nice quiet short handling session with a good start and good end to it. Handling doesn't have to be long, it just needs to be low stress and easy on both you and the snake. If you are at all nervous of a nip then pop on a pair of work gloves. Heck I wouldn't dream of handling our Brannagh without my pair on LOL but she's an extreme case and certainly not the norm.

If you take it really slow and it goes well then both you and your snake can rebuild the good interactions and you can feel a lot more confident which will in turn I firmly believe help your snake feel safer in your hands. If you set up your handling sessions for times when you are relaxed, the snake is up and about in the evening, it's not hungry and looking for prey or whatever, you are setting an good environment for success.

Some snakes though are more nippy than others and any snake can bite. That's just the nature of the creature and something we have to accept. All you can do is work slowly to find the ways to make your own snake feel safe and secure so you lessen it's need to feel defensive and strike at you. Remember it's not a mean snake, it's just doing what mother nature designed it to do under a certain set of circumstances.


~~Jo~~

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Well like anything I do stuff in small, slow steps personally. Things like just reaching in to stroke your snake and see how that goes as far as any hissing, balling up or attempt to strike. Then maybe a nice quiet short handling session with a good start and good end to it. Handling doesn't have to be long, it just needs to be low stress and easy on both you and the snake. If you are at all nervous of a nip then pop on a pair of work gloves. Heck I wouldn't dream of handling our Brannagh without my pair on LOL but she's an extreme case and certainly not the norm.

If you take it really slow and it goes well then both you and your snake can rebuild the good interactions and you can feel a lot more confident which will in turn I firmly believe help your snake feel safer in your hands. If you set up your handling sessions for times when you are relaxed, the snake is up and about in the evening, it's not hungry and looking for prey or whatever, you are setting an good environment for success.

Some snakes though are more nippy than others and any snake can bite. That's just the nature of the creature and something we have to accept. All you can do is work slowly to find the ways to make your own snake feel safe and secure so you lessen it's need to feel defensive and strike at you. Remember it's not a mean snake, it's just doing what mother nature designed it to do under a certain set of circumstances.


~~Jo~~

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You know. I thin kthis may be food related. He doesn'y seem at all scared me my hands. I think he may be associating them with food. Then agai nhe does strike when I try to pick him up.