What's the best way to get over fear of snakes!

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Originally Posted by Purrrfect9

If you just reach in and grab them, it gives off the impression that you're a predator attacking them from above. that.

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not true at all. I dont need to let mine know they are about to be handled, I just reach in and pick em up and they all do fine, mine just really dont seem to care. If I put my hand down they'll slither over and climb up my arm.

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Originally Posted by Kennyxemerson

not true at all. I dont need to let mine know they are about to be handled, I just reach in and pick em up and they all do fine, mine just really dont seem to care. If I put my hand down they'll slither over and climb up my arm.

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true dat :rockon:

My daughter will be away - off and on - for 4 years. At some point, she may have the ability to take Dakota to live with her, but then she has to worry about vacation times, etc. So...could be for another year or 4.

Unfortunately, Lydia is our one and only daughter and, frankly, my husband is sick if hearing me talk about ball pythons - but he doesn't touch Dakota either. So that's no help. :)

The pet shop idea is a good one.

But, thanks to your help, everyone, I'm starting a more positive thought process and am actually looking forward to Sunday - sort of.

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Originally Posted by Kennyxemerson

not true at all. I dont need to let mine know they are about to be handled, I just reach in and pick em up and they all do fine, mine just really dont seem to care. If I put my hand down they'll slither over and climb up my arm.

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To each his own. I'm just sharing what has worked for me and all of my snakes.

I think you'll be surprised once you really start handling Dakota how much you enjoy it. :) I know a number of people who were once afraid, and the more they got to know the snakes the more they fell in love. A positive mindset helps a lot! You're well on your way! :gj:

I was actually scared of picking up my BP when I 1st got her. I got over that fear by sticking my hand into the cage after talking to her. I know that snakes can't hear, but they do feel the vibration. I then reached down and rubbed her on the back until she raised up letting me know she was alright with me holding her. I then picked her up. I agree with everyone though, I don't mess with her head.

If you are not picking her/him up, I am assuming that you feed her/him in the cage that she/he is in. I do not do that. I feed in a seperate container, actually a card board box with a lid on top. This way, they do not mistake your hand for food. I have had my bp for about 2 1/2 months now, and she has never attempted to bite me. EVEN when she was shedding, she let me handle her and rubbed her head into my palm trying to start the shed! That tickled me to death (LOL)!

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Originally Posted by brelea79

If you are not picking her/him up, I am assuming that you feed her/him in the cage that she/he is in. I do not do that. I feed in a seperate container, actually a card board box with a lid on top. This way, they do not mistake your hand for food.

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I used to do that too with my snakes, before I learned it was a myth. Now I feed them where they're comfortable, in their enclosure. :) So long as you don't smell like food they shouldn't mistake you for food.

Funny! I talk to Dakota all the time and just assumed he could hear me. He always seems so attentive! I think we're gradually getting to know each other. He gobbled up a mouse tonight and allowed me the privilege of putting my hand in his enclosure while I changed the water and made some space for the big hunt - all while waiting patiently on his branch. Of course, I realize that I'm just projecting my own thoughts onto Dakota. Clearly he only had a meal in mind, especially once he caught the scent. I think the more he hangs out (literally - he doesn't ball up or hide) when I'm arranging his furniture, feeding or watering, it means he's comfortable to an extent with my intrusions? Am I right? or...just hoping for the best? :oops:

Snakes may have a limited ability to bond with us Cheryl or to understand certain concepts but they are an incredibly astute creature when it comes to their instincts and knowing what is dangerous to them and what isn't. If you establish certain regular habits about how you handle, how you offer food, how to do cage maintenance Dakota will fairly quickly become used to what is happening. Once his instincts assure him that this activity by the big heat signature human person isn't of any particular danger to him, he'll just watch or basically ignore you. I have some big adults that I can move them while I'm cleaning and if they are snoozing they barely bother to acknowledge I'm there (scuse me lady, sleeping over here...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz) :D .

Just try to think a bit like your Dakota. If he's hungry and a warm hand is moving rapidly near him, this could trigger a strike...not his fault...not a bad natured animal...just instincts....hunger + heat signature moving = opportunity for a chance for dinner in his mind. Same with a snake deep in shed. They aren't terribly comfortable I would think, they just want to hide away and get that old nasty shed off....so as keepers we need to remember this isn't the time to mess about with them more than we have to. As you get used to Dakota you will learn to read his cues to you. Body posture, tenseness of his muscles (that's where stroking them lightly down the end of their body really helps to judge), rate of tongue flicking, intense gaze, defensive posturing.....you'll quickly learn just what he's telling you about his current mood.

Stick with routines, simple routines done over and over again. It will help you feel more confident as you perform them and help Dakota learn to recognize that this means that sort of thing. We stroke each snake a certain way only when they are about to be removed for handling....eventually they get to know in their simple snake way that there's nothing to fear or get nervy about. If they react poorly to the stroking then we know they really just don't want to be handled by us bothersome humans at that particular moment. :)

As far as your early exposure to wild caught snakes...again think like that snake. Taken from it's natural home, suddenly confined in an environment it cannot possibly understand....I'd likely bite anything that came near me too hon. It's not meanness, it's simply a wild creature trying to survive and adapt to a very sudden change in it's circumstance. Even a captive born snake can have trouble adapting to a lot of sudden changes so as keepers of snakes it's our job to make that transition as low stress as possible.

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Originally Posted by MedusasOwl

I think you'll be surprised once you really start handling Dakota how much you enjoy it. :) I know a number of people who were once afraid, and the more they got to know the snakes the more they fell in love. A positive mindset helps a lot! You're well on your way! :gj:

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I had my gf's co-worker and his fiance (who was deathly afraid of snakes) over for dinner a few weeks ago. We started small and did not force anything on her. She held one of our baby balls first, and by the end of the night, she was comfortable enough to hold our 7+ foot boa.

Just make sure the snake knows you are there first, and try scooping them up so to speak by sliding your hand under their belly. Just relax at first, The snake wll also relax after a few minutes and start to explore. The key is slow and deliberate movements. Try and keep handlings limited to 5-10 minute sessions once a day. In no time at all, you will see that it is not that big of a deal.

My first snake was a large boa, and i was also afraid of taking him out of his enclosure at first too. Looking back now, it seems kinda silly with how docile he is.

At any rate, good luck, and don't worry if you do get bit, it doesn't hurt and you will barely notice it. It is also a good confidence booster once you realize that they are really basically harmless to a human. :)

Robin