Any tips for getting over fear....

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Originally Posted by Lowen

Aspen is highly digestible. It shouldn't cause him any problems as long as it isn't lodged into his skin like a splinter. Happens every day! :P

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Thank god! Thats what I thought but wasn't 100% sure. I was worried cuz both kept opening their mouths real wide over and over like they were trying to get it out (it was poking out of the corners of their mouths) I was able to pull it out of the females mouth but the male was having none of that. I figured in the wild they most likely consume some of the dirt or grass along with their prey anyway. That's nature.

Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Lowen

Aspen is highly digestible. It shouldn't cause him any problems as long as it isn't lodged into his skin like a splinter. Happens every day! :P

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I don't think there is any sort of wood that is "highly digestible". Even termites can't digest wood without the help of a certain bacteria that lives in their gut.

However, based on what I've read (my snakes aren't on aspen), a small amount of aspen is unlikely to harm your snake.

Almost forgot to add the most important part! Good job with your progress on handling the snakes!

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Originally Posted by kc261

Almost forgot to add the most important part! Good job with your progress on handling the snakes!

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:D Thanks!!!! I can't wait til tomorrow so I can hold them again they both ate the other night. Maybe this time no gloves...hehe

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Originally Posted by Skoalbasher

I got hissed at once :D

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I haven't been hissed at yet...:) That might freak me out a bit :O.

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Originally Posted by thedigi1

Well I'm kinda new at this too! but if the snake is born in captivity isn't it use to being handled and stuff like that? I was just wondering after I read that post. A snake that is born that way would not know or be afraid of a bird attacking it. (just my opinion) am i right?

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I don't believe these aren't creatures that are ever really domesticated or tamed. I think that their simple yet highly efficient reptilian brains just probably don't allow that sort of bonding to humans as fully as some animals. Also they aren't naturally a pack or herd animal that needs to seek out others to feel safe. Sure they can learn to accept human interaction and get used to us to some degree or other. From what I've seen in our collection, that's very dependent on the individual snake and the actual moment in time more so than how the snake was hatched.

I have some snakes here that are very laid back but given the right triggers or the wrong action by me, they will become defensive and hiss or strike. Doesn't bother me, to me that's just a snake being a snake and no big deal really.

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Originally Posted by lenastorms

I haven't been hissed at yet...:) That might freak me out a bit :O.

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Lena, you'll get hissed at, you'll get the occasional jab (a strike that doesn't really seem to be meant to connect, more just to drive you back), you may well get tagged. It's part of owning snakes though not an everyday occurrence with an adult BP. It's usually the smaller ones that are more nervous and defensive that tend to strike out, at least in my experience.

Most of the time it will be your fault. Something you did that startled the snake, messing with it while it's trying to shed, etc. Sometimes it's just what it is...a snake being a snake. We have two adults here that hiss every single time they are fussed with at all. Neither of them has ever tried to bite and they soon settle down if you just go about your business calmly. I think they just like to complain about life in general. :D

Eventually as you get to know the snake and it's reactions, as you get more confident, it becomes far easier to judge quickly what that hiss is telling you and whether it's a serious deal or just a snake mouthing off a bit.