the best way to tame a snake

I have a 3 month old desert cinny mojo that is hissy, snappy and when she is held she is always ready to 'run' and looking for some place to hide. What is the best protocol to tame her? :confusd:

Can you describe your set up and enclosure?

Sounds like a classic insecure hatchling. The nipping will most likely be outgrown. Babies are small and vulnerable. Your snake just sounds afraid.

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I would have directed you to a similar post on the general bp's page but that post seemingly got off topic, as usual.

Set up is important, does your BP have plenty of hides so as not to be too exposed? How long have you had her? If you have had her for a very short time it can be seen as 'normal' in the respect a few people do experience a feisty young BP when they first get them home/in the first few weeks etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7DQssbM0uk

This is the video I used when my pastel was striking me during handling, doesn't sound like this is your case but it helps to change the BP's attitude from fight to flight. Time is what you need; time, patience and regular handling if your BP is eating well and over time you will find your BP will get used to you and tame right down :)

Ball python is not horse. Once shahaylu is made, ball python will slither with only one hunter in the whole life.
To become "taronyu", hunter, you must choose your own ball python. And he must choose you.http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/f/20...gendary360.gif







(tbh, it's combination of secure husbandry, like great privacy, occasional handling, and simply growing out of it. Make sure the enclosure is either a tub or viv with covered sides, and make sure it has snug hides. Beyond that, patience is key. Oh, and make sure no pesky house cats or dogs are harassing it either.)

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Originally Posted by Naom9Anne

I would have directed you to a similar post on the general bp's page but that post seemingly got off topic, as usual.

Set up is important, does your BP have plenty of hides so as not to be too exposed? How long have you had her? If you have had her for a very short time it can be seen as 'normal' in the respect a few people do experience a feisty young BP when they first get them home/in the first few weeks etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7DQssbM0uk

This is the video I used when my pastel was striking me during handling, doesn't sound like this is your case but it helps to change the BP's attitude from fight to flight. Time is what you need; time, patience and regular handling if your BP is eating well and over time you will find your BP will get used to you and tame right down :)

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How did it get off topic,lol...I know what happened,do you?

She was hatched in August and when I received her on November 12th she was only 80 grams. The breeder said she was a little light for her age and was hatched from a "booby" egg. I have no idea what that means. The snake is healthy, eating well but very snippy. She is housed in a dark 16qt tub and she has already eaten a few times for me. I try and handle her multiple times a day for a few minutes at a time. I'm just looking for some tricks and tips.

I wouldn't try to handle multiple times a day... keep it to 3-4 times a week. Ya have to remember they do not like to be held, they tolerate us humans. If you try multiple times a day, honesty it's just aggravating her more.


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Originally Posted by Wizard

She was hatched in August and when I received her on November 12th she was only 80 grams. The breeder said she was a little light for her age and was hatched from a "booby" egg. I have no idea what that means. The snake is healthy, eating well but very snippy. She is housed in a dark 16qt tub and she has already eaten a few times for me. I try and handle her multiple times a day for a few minutes at a time. I'm just looking for some tricks and tips.

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There are two types of behavior, learned and innate. Right now her innate (genetic based) behaviors are most prominent because she is new to the world, not just you, you begin to culture learned behaviors in a way that overpowers the innate behavior through consistent, tolerable, and persistent contact. In simplified terms, her DNA is telling her you are most likely a predator, you need to teach her you are not. This is called desensitization because you are attempting to eliminate the stress she feels when being handled, this is best done at a gradual and planned pace. Look at nature in the context of the world, yes it is dynamic, but see also that it has elegant patterns and consistencies coupled with its unpredictability. I am going to give a basic schedule here, hope it helps...
Week one
​No handling, the cage is opened only for maintenance purposes
Week two and three
​Short 5-10 minute handling two times per week
Week four and five
Longer 15-20 minute sessions three times per week
Week six
By now you have a good feel of how quickly her habits change and in what ways they change, so the rest is yours to decide.

When you go to handle her, it is very important that you do it without any hesitation, just go in and pull her out. The desensitization process is also a good time to introduce and begin reinforcing Pavlovian cues, I.e. use a certain pair of tongs for feeding only or brush her with a snake hook prior to handling (works wonders for Retics), anything that gives her a clear dichotomy between time to be aggressive/hungry and time to be handled.

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Originally Posted by Wizard

She was hatched in August and when I received her on November 12th she was only 80 grams. The breeder said she was a little light for her age and was hatched from a "booby" egg. I have no idea what that means. The snake is healthy, eating well but very snippy. She is housed in a dark 16qt tub and she has already eaten a few times for me. I try and handle her multiple times a day for a few minutes at a time. I'm just looking for some tricks and tips.

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I have a ball python who acts about the same. Personally, I'd avoid handling several times a day, or it may stop feeding.
If anything, handle lightly, for short periods once or twice a week and slowly increase the time as your BP grows bigger. Keep the cage cluttered and secured. Your snake may still be nippy, but it should grow out of it if your husbandry is correct and with a small amount of patient handling.

Just tap her on the head, shake your finger at her, and tell her no... Lol jk. Just show her your not there to harm her and give her time. It should work out. My normal was nippy and always wanted to run as well. I just gave him time and showed him important not there to hurt him and he calmed down over time.

Thanks to everyone for your helpful support and suggestions. I will take it and employ your techniques. She's just too dang georgous for her to remain in a box being fearful of human contact. I'll give her the time she needs to become comfortable and acclimated to her surroundings.
thanks again.:)

When you do start attempting to handle your snake, be sure to give it a few rubs along its side to let it know you are there. Sure they may squirm and wiggle away to go hide again, but it will let them know further down the line that if they get rubbed, it's not a threat to them.

That way when they start becoming used to you, the rubbing will signal that they will get picked up and handled. Then they know what to expect beforehand without needing to freak out and find a hiding place. Consider it a knock on the door before coming in.

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Originally Posted by ViperSRT3g

When you do start attempting to handle your snake, be sure to give it a few rubs along its side to let it know you are there. Sure they may squirm and wiggle away to go hide again, but it will let them know further down the line that if they get rubbed, it's not a threat to them.

That way when they start becoming used to you, the rubbing will signal that they will get picked up and handled. Then they know what to expect beforehand without needing to freak out and find a hiding place. Consider it a knock on the door before coming in.

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That's what I do, it works well for mine.

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Originally Posted by jasonmcgilvrey83

Just tap her on the head, shake your finger at her, and tell her no... Lol jk.

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Oh yeah, that'll do the trick. If you really want to get bit. :rofl:

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Originally Posted by Crazymonkee

That's what I do, it works well for mine.

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A plus side, is when your snake gets larger, people's natural reaction to a pet is they want to pet it. If they are smart and don't pet it near the head, then the snake will assume they are harmless and want to handle it.

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Originally Posted by ViperSRT3g

A plus side, is when your snake gets larger, people's natural reaction to a pet is they want to pet it. If they are smart and don't pet it near the head, then the snake will assume they are harmless and want to handle it.

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Very true. Though it is both training the snake and training other people. I've done quite a few educational presentations for young children about ball pythons. Little kids (and some parents, for that matter) automatically seem to go for the head of snakes. A simple lesson on how to pet snakes later and all is well so long as you have a calm animal.

My ball pythons all recognize simple cues, for the most part. I tap on their tubs to get them up for feeding or handling. If they see the feeding tongs they sit and wait for food; if no tongs are present some come out of the tub on their own and others curl up all resigned to being handled, lol.

Hahaha yeah my snake knows what the red tongs mean. He'll even sit in the corner closest to where I always put the food to thaw waiting for the delicious morsels.

Prior to ever having a snake, I had no idea how smart they can be in terms of understanding signals and cues from human interaction. I'd say the best way to take care of a snake, is to learn how to behave around it. Once you understand what they want, they can begin to understand what you want.

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Originally Posted by ViperSRT3g

Hahaha yeah my snake knows what the red tongs mean. He'll even sit in the corner closest to where I always put the food to thaw waiting for the delicious morsels.

Prior to ever having a snake, I had no idea how smart they can be in terms of understanding signals and cues from human interaction. I'd say the best way to take care of a snake, is to learn how to behave around it. Once you understand what they want, they can begin to understand what you want.

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They can be surprisingly intelligent and surprisingly slow at the same time, too. I've seen mine get mad at their own bodies for falling on them and get all hissy defensive. <<;;

Funny thing is...My other snakes were all received at similar ages. They had their issues but they were more shy than aggressive and now after a few months they are all so tame my kids can hold them without any fear or aggression.
I guess she will be my 'special needs' child that requires extra love and attention.:D

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

How did it get off topic,lol...I know what happened,do you?

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How is that off topic? I thought she shared a really good video. Am I missing something?


J.Miles