Bite Club - First Bite from BCI Behira/Hook Training

Ok, so I got my first bite from my BCI and first snake bite in 27 years, tonight.

Behira looked like she was tense/looking for food and curled her neck - as if to strike, when I opened her tank (front door). I called her bluff and started to pick her up from the mid section. WHAM! She turned and nailed me in the arm. Didn't hold on, and I was more upset with me than at her.

Having said that, she is only 3-3 1/2 Feet now and 700 Grams, and don't want a repeat performance at 7+ FT!

Today is feeding day, but I have moved her to every 2 weeks, so she skips this week. There were no rats/mice thawed or touched, today, and besides, it was not a feeding bite.

She seems somewhat territorial in her tank, but is always a puppy dog when I get her out.

I hooked her a minute later, and she was a tame as can be while I held her for a few minutes.

A) Could she outgrow this? She's still only about 1 1/2 years old.

B) Does hook training make sense? She shows zero aggression once out of her tank.

Additionally, my fiancé was in the room and is now freaked out. She does not want an aggressive animal.

I think this does not make her an aggressive animal. However, I want to be more cautious.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ehira_bite.jpg

I would recommend hook training on all boas that reach significant length. It wouldn't hurt anything to have em hook trained and it might come in handy around the 6 or 7 foot mark. Boas in general are usually pretty docile, but can be nippy , especially when food is involved. I doubt your boa is agressive probably just wishful for food.

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Any secrets to hook training?

Or basically, you just take the snake out of the tank with a hook?

Not trying to be snarky, or oversimplify, but wondering if there is more to it?

Every snake is going to have its own personality.

Maybe you startled her?

I personally am not much help here as i have never hook trained any of my snakes and i reach in and grab any of them fine. Once they know it's me grabbing them, they just sit there or will come out themselves. If they dont want to come out, they will try and outrun my hand dragging them out lol. I have only been bit because of stupidity on my part like thinking i can reach inside and behind the snake quick enough to move stuff after handling FT rats and not washing my hands. Didnt work.

For me, i noticed my males tend to look around more and be overall more alert. My females are pretty laid back and more or less just sit there when i reach in. Once they smell food though, i dont trust anyone as they all go from Jeckyll to Hyde.

And welcome to the club. And really, even a 6 ft bite doesnt hurt much but they do bruise and bleed nicely lol.

Im not sure if there is a standard or anything. I start by sticking the hook in and rubbing under the chin very gently and slowly. If the snake is going to do something agressive this is likely where it will happen. After i rub under the chin I stroke the middle back and middle sides. This gets the snake aclamated to being touched where your going to pick it up. Then you can use the hook under the front portion of the body and lift from the middle with your hands like you normally would. I always scoop from the underside by sliding my hand under then lifting. I never grab by the sides or the top.

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Originally Posted by dakski

Any secrets to hook training?

Or basically, you just take the snake out of the tank with a hook?

Not trying to be snarky, or oversimplify, but wondering if there is more to it?

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No you never use the hook to take the snake out.. Its for letting them know its you and whats to come. Ive use the hook to push their head back if they are nippy so the snake isnt facing me when I grab it with the other hand but you dont lift their weight with the hook. During any feeding times dont use the hook and this way it conditions them a bit to associate the hook with handling time.

Ps looks like he got ya open mouth pretty good .. I see the mark under your arm from the bottom teeth...
From the way you described his behavior I would of let him be unless I had to clean the enclosure.. Sounds like he told you, but you didn't listen hahahaha

Yeah, I understand. In the past, I've had BP's hiss etc. I call their bluff and take them out. No problem.

Again, once I got her out, she was fine. Not sure what he thought process was - but I ignored the obvious signs. She was tense.

Okay, so to be clear, I use the hook to let her know it's time to come out, but I actually take her out with my hands?

Additionally, and I know I asked, does this seem like a territory thing? She is so calm 99% of the time. Could just be a bad mood I guess.

That was a defensive/go away bite because you touched her unexpectedly. She did not associate you opening her enclosure with being touched on the side. A hook will help with that, just a light rub on their side to let them know that it's "you" about to fool with them, and if the boa strikes the hook you don't care.

You can also use the hook to control their head, but that's usually when they are foody. A light touch or rub under the chin or on the side of the neck lets them know it's not feeding time.

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Originally Posted by dakski

Yeah, I understand. In the past, I've had BP's hiss etc. I call their bluff and take them out. No problem.

Again, once I got her out, she was fine. Not sure what he thought process was - but I ignored the obvious signs. She was tense.

Okay, so to be clear, I use the hook to let her know it's time to come out, but I actually take her out with my hands?

Additionally, and I know I asked, does this seem like a territory thing? She is so calm 99% of the time. Could just be a bad mood I guess.

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Some snakes are what they call cage defensive or aggressive. I dont know your boy so you have to read him. There are even Balls like this & once they are all out they're A-Ok. But read him from now on as most Balls wont turn around and tag you they just strike strait in front of themselves but Boa's, Retic, Burms & several others will turn right around and grab you. The bigger he gets the longer the reach too so learn that hook & use itvto guide his head/neck so he cant reach you if you need to take him out to clean even if he doesn't want you to.

Behira left me a big present when I went to check on her today. Lots of poop, urine, and urate.

She was fine, but I did use the hook to stroke her gently, and then pick her up.

She is usually chilling, but last night was cruising, maybe looking for a spot to poop. I know what to look for now and will use the hook.

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Originally Posted by dakski

Any secrets to hook training?

Or basically, you just take the snake out of the tank with a hook?

Not trying to be snarky, or oversimplify, but wondering if there is more to it?

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Sorry this happened to you... I'm still on a winning streak, but I know that becoming a member of the snake bite club is imminent... lol With hook training you do not want to pick the snake up with the hook, because it can damage their ribs. All you need to do is rub the snake with the hook gently then simply keep the hook between the snake's head and your hand as you pick it up. That in itself will help prevent a bite if the snake does happen to strike. The idea behind hook training is to condition the snake to realize that when the hook comes in it's time to come out and not time to eat...

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Originally Posted by dakski

Behira left me a big present when I went to check on her today. Lots of poop, urine, and urate.

She was fine, but I did use the hook to stroke her gently, and then pick her up.

She is usually chilling, but last night was cruising, maybe looking for a spot to poop. I know what to look for now and will use the hook.

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My snakes are usually out and about most of the night unless they ate. And the closer to feeding day it gets, the more they are out and the more they are interested in movements around their cage. It's normal for a snake to be semi active at night. The snakes you see that are like fat logs that dont move are the ones that are overfed.

I have never used a hook with my 21 months old BCI and I will never du. He is a bit over 5 foot and 2300 grams and eats only live. He is eating jumbo rats now, although he did not eat since 2 months now because it’s winter. He bit me twice, first time was the first day I got him, he was a month old baby not yet tamed. Second time was more of pushing me away than a bite. He was just stressed because of my continuous movement very close to his cage for a week long as I was trying to set up his adult enclosure. Even if he reaches 10 feet, I would not use a hook. I never used a hook with my ATB although he was nippy as hell the first 4 months when I got him. He is tamed now

So, I talked to a few other people I trust with BCI's and other snakes. Jeff Ronne, at Boaphile, who made my tanks, and has bred BCI's for 30+ years, had the best answer for what probably happened.

Behira was cruising for food, I reached in to pick her up, her head was around the house and couldn't see my hand, felt warm, and WHAM! Feeding response. Jeff said they know pretty quick if it's not a rat/food and she was totally calm after and let me pick her up etc. She probably thought, "damn, not food, oh well."

If it was an aggression bite, the consensus is there would have been more fanfare, hissing, biting, etc.

Jeff recommended, as many here did, to hook, etc. train. Touch her with something other than my hand before picking her up, so she knows it's not food time. He said he does this with all his large Boa's, as they can (like Behira does) have a strong feeding response.

I have been using the hook and no problems. I am glad I learned my lesson at 700G, not 3000G!

Now I just have to get my fiancé to NOT hold this against her. LOL. I am working on it. I grew up with reptiles, she did not.

Thank you everyone for the input! I'll keep you in the loop on my success with getting her not to think I am a rat!

Also, to be clear, I am more worried about her biting because of my fiancé and friend (my friend was over to watch the Super Bowl) who are now skeptical. I understand it can happen.

Thanks again and everyone be well!

I'm in the bite club, but it was just snappy baby ball pythons.:angered: Like, barely needed a bandaid bites. After about 6 months old, they chill out. If I had a 6+ foot long snake, I might be a bit more careful I suppose.
If I had 8+ foot long snakes, I would consider hook training for sure.

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Originally Posted by Godzilla78

I'm in the bite club, but it was just snappy baby ball pythons.:angered: Like, barely needed a bandaid bites. After about 6 months old, they chill out. If I had a 6+ foot long snake, I might be a bit more careful I suppose.
If I had 8+ foot long snakes, I would consider hook training for sure.

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LOL. I can tell you that at 3 1/2 Feet or so and 700G, Behira definitely drew blood. However, I barely felt it. Again, more annoyed at me than anything.

She's calm 99% of the time, and I imagine with hook training, she will be raising that average percent!

I will say I've had BP's nail me in the past and if I had to compare, this was worse, but barely. Had she wrapped and gnawed, I probably wouldn't be laughing as hard. :)

Also, not so funny at 10 pounds either!

Patience, working with her over time, getting to know her better, hook training, and putting it in perspective. I've had snakes for about 20 years of my almost 38 years on this earth. Two bites ever! Seriously, perspective is important. I keep them as pets, not to breed, so I wouldn't keep an aggressive animal. Behira is not that at all.

Right now I am working on convincing my fiancé, slowly, that Behira is still chill. I'll give her (my fiancé) some time. Behira is already back to chill!

I have two retics and this is how I use my hook - I basically have it handy when I open the tub because I'm never quite sure what mood the snake will be in. With my big female albino retic that weighs about 35 pounds I hardly ever have to even think about using the hook. However, a few times she has been in a serious feeding mode and either jumped out or stretched out towards me real aggressively like she was looking for a rat. In this case I simply use the hook to move her head to one side, she basically 'gets it' right away and will immediately snap out of feeding mode.

My big girl is never aggressive but my 'smaller' super dwarf retic was a terror when I got him and snapped and bit at everything, sent out musk and pee every time you picked him up. He is much better now at about 20 pounds but still a bit more unpredictable. I almost always use the hook to touch my male retic just to get an idea of his mood. then I use it (sometimes) to guide his head away from me while I touch him with my hand to get an idea of his mood. Usually after about 10-20 seconds with the hook he knows it's not feeding time and I know he is not being aggressive so I put down the hook and pick him up. He is still a bit squirrely compared to my female and really doesn't like to be held. If he snaps at the hook even once I don't even try to pick him up or mess with him until the next day (or several days later).

Also, there are times when I never pick up my snakes. Never startle a sleeping snake and try to pick him up, they can remember that for a long time and get pretty mean. I usually open up the tub and wait about 30 seconds before even thinking about touching them or using the hook. If they are motionless there's a chance they are sleeping, move slow and cautiously. If they are moving around slowly there's a good chance things will turn out for the better.

Also, when my retics 'buck' when I touch them I don't even try to pick them up. That is their way of telling you to back off and leave them alone. If you push them they will be in a bad mood the whole session. Also, when my retics go into shed mode they don't eat and don't want to be handled. I don't even try to touch them until they shed out. However, I can still clean up around them and spray down the substrate, they pretty much stay balled up in a corner.

As everyone stated above I don't use the hook to pick up my snake or even try to pick up any part of the snake at all. I use it to gently and slowly touch them to measure their mood and for my more aggressive male to guide the head away from me when I first go in with my hands.

Hope this helps!

I just don’t know why people make a big deal out of a bite. My ATB bit me countless times, last bite was yesterday and it bleeded. As long as it’s not in the face I don’t give a :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r: about it. Actually i got used to it and find it sweet now

It's not the bites that hurt me it's when I jerk my hand away to dodge and smash it into the glass door ..


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Hey, I'd call 27 years one heck of a winning streak! I will be interested to hear your updates on how Behira reacts to the hook. I'm having to utilize one for the first time with my little scrub and he haaaaaaaates it. I mean, with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. I feel bad using it on him because it makes him so mad...but I would also like to keep all my fingers ;)

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Originally Posted by Dutti

I just don’t know why people make a big deal out of a bite. My ATB bit me countless times, last bite was yesterday and it bleeded. As long as it’s not in the face I don’t give a :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r: about it. Actually i got used to it and find it sweet now

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Nobody is making a big deal about it. The thread is about Bites. Sharing stories. I'd rather not have any of my snakes bite me because there's a good chance they will lose teeth and they can get a infection. I'm much more concerned about my snakes health then anything else... it's not a good idea to lose a bunch of teeth and then have filthy rat bacteria in their mouth.


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Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

Nobody is making a big deal about it. The thread is about Bites. Sharing stories. I'd rather not have any of my snakes bite me because there's a good chance they will lose teeth and they can get a infection. I'm much more concerned about my snakes health then anything else... it's not a good idea to lose a bunch of teeth and then have filthy rat bacteria in their mouth.


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Agreed. Also, in general, and for multiple reasons, who wants to get bit? Additionally people tend to overreact to these things, partly we write and joke about it, and try to determine the best ways to care for our snakes and prevent bites (for all involved). My biggest issue now is that my fiancé is afraid to hold Behira, for the first time, and is nervous having her in the house. I am sure, over time, and hopefully no more bites, or fewer and far between, she will relax.

I work really hard at trying to educate people, including my fiancé, that these are not animals to be feared. Respected, yes. I feel at fault for the bite, not mad at Behira. Somehow, Behira gets the blame.

People will wrestle with their dogs, get much worse, yet fear a snake.

Boasting about being bit and how it doesn't bother you doesn't help the bad rep snakes get.

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Originally Posted by Team Slytherin

Hey, I'd call 27 years one heck of a winning streak! I will be interested to hear your updates on how Behira reacts to the hook. I'm having to utilize one for the first time with my little scrub and he haaaaaaaates it. I mean, with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. I feel bad using it on him because it makes him so mad...but I would also like to keep all my fingers ;)

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Yeah, fingers are good! A thousand suns, huh? Wicked!

So far, so good. I have a small snake hook now, which is fine for Behira's size today, but ordered a 32 or 36 inch one for when she's a big girl.

Jeff Ronne told me to put something soft on the hook, or use the soft handle to touch the snake. Let them know you are there. You might want to try something more gentle. The idea is to let them know it's not food time and you are there to pick them up, but also avoid and accidental bite.

Last night, Behira was looking for food again. I put the hook up to her neck, rubbed her a little, then her body, then picked her up.

Was she ecstatic, no, but she didn't strike or hiss at me or the hook, and let me pick her up without fanfare.

I'll keep you in the loop!

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Originally Posted by dakski

Boasting about being bit and how it doesn't bother you doesn't help the bad rep snakes get.

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Can't help but compare people who dont try and avoid snake bites or in fact get bit on purpose like that idiot Catfish who has the Burm latch onto him to people that smash beer cans on their foreheads. Stupidity but at the animals Expense.



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Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

Can't help but compare people who dont try and avoid snake bites or in fact get bit on purpose like that idiot Catfish who has the Burm latch onto him to people that smash beer cans on their foreheads heads. Stupidity but at the animals Expense.



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Enough people who don't understand snakes, or the difference between a rattlesnake and a corn snake, or worse, fear them, as it is. Passing laws and condemning owning reptiles in general.

Not to get political, but just let people live their lives! Live your own life! Don't worry so much about what your neighbor is doing. No one is getting hurt here!

Having said that, I do think it is important for reptile owners to be responsible owners. Both in care for their animals, and in how they portray them to friends, the public, etc.

It should be our job to educate and inform. Not add to fear and misperception.

My 7 year old niece loves my reptiles, like I did when I was a kid, and I love seeing that passion. I love having the ability to teach her to respect them, but not fear them, as she grows. Will she be a breeder? Probably not, but at least she won't be scared.

Additionally, if people are ambivalent, I show pictures of my niece holding the reptiles, or introduce them to my BP Shayna (the sweetest and calmest snake I have ever met). I want to help people with the fear and hesitation. However, if people are scared, I do not push on them. I try to be careful not to make the fear worse.

I think some people don't understand fear/ignorance and try to push snakes on people. It doesn't help. I have had much more success being calm and slowly introducing people and feeling them out then pushing an animal on them; that backfires almost every time.

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Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

Nobody is making a big deal about it. The thread is about Bites. Sharing stories. I'd rather not have any of my snakes bite me because there's a good chance they will lose teeth and they can get a infection. I'm much more concerned about my snakes health then anything else... it's not a good idea to lose a bunch of teeth and then have filthy rat bacteria in their mouth.


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Arboreal snakes when they bite its a different issue. I don,t think they will lose teeth that easy. As i have mentioned before, my ATB bit me countless times and never lost a tooth i think. Maybe because they have a different set of teeth or because the bites are just defensive. My GTP bit me several times and never lost a tooth. As for bacteria, i think they are somewhat immune to that as my snakes eat live prey and they bite it and get also blood and bacteria in their mouths. And sure i would love if they don,t bite, but how can i convey that to my ATB? I was able to reduce the number of his bites and tame him partially not totally

Ohhhh, yeah something soft on the hook is a great idea! I think he hates the metal. He bucks at it and bites at it, raises up like a freaking cobra. He goes ballistic at the thing, and while he's busy hating it, I can usually grab him and coax him out. As soon as he's out of the cage, he bolts to me like, "MOM, did you see that monster in there?!?!" So interesting. Outside of his enclosure, he's a lamb...but as soon as he crosses the threshold back in, his pupils dilate, and it's a definite no-hands zone.

I want him to feel comfortable with the hook because I don't know that he will ever be the kind of snake you can consistently reach in and pick up without a second thought. Especially when he's a big boy and has dragon teeth:colbert:

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Originally Posted by Dutti

Arboreal snakes when they bite its a different issue. I don,t think they will lose teeth that easy. As i have mentioned before, my ATB bit me countless times and never lost a tooth i think. Maybe because they have a different set of teeth or because the bites are just defensive. My GTP bit me several times and never lost a tooth. As for bacteria, i think they are somewhat immune to that as my snakes eat live prey and they bite it and get also blood and bacteria in their mouths. And sure i would love if they don,t bite, but how can i convey that to my ATB? I was able to reduce the number of his bites and tame him partially not totally

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Mine eat Fresh Kill or Live... I acually know of snakes that had their whole mouth swell from bacteria getting to where they lost teeth... One I know of died 4 months later. How common is it probably not very, but I do all I can to prevent any kind of mishaps because I feel 100% responsible for their life. I don't know about Arboreal snakes at all...i know they have a hell of a set of Chompers though. Most of the time when a smaller snake looses their teeth unless it's in your arm you won't even know. As a matter of fact sometimes you find teeth days later because they're like a sliver. But anyway my point is I do what's best for the snake and them getting stressed & biting is what I try to prevent for their own good.


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Quick update.

One week of "hook training" has been very effective.

I stroke Behira a couple of times on different spots on her body before picking her up with my hand. Works like a charm every time.

Once picked up, she is a total sweetheart, as always.

Additionally and a BIG UPDATE, Katie, my fiancé, held her tonight.

We talked about it and I explained that it was a hunger response and that we will hook train from now on.

She feels much better and put her arms right out to hold our baby today.

Brave on her part, especially since she has only lived with snakes/reptiles, for 7 months now.

I am very happy.

With my first Burm some 30 years ago I used a roll of paper towels. With my boas back then I never used anything until I got bit the first time. It was no big deal but I hated it for my snake. Knowing it could do damage to their mouth and lead to worse issues, they to were introduced to a roll of paper towels.

Today I have used a telescopic hook on my new Burm since day one. The hook I have covered with 3 layers of different sized Tygon tubing to make it softer. Even though he has only hissed once and never has struck it, he gets the same greeting from me each time except when feeding.

Not using a conditioning device to get a snake out of feed or defense mode is a choice. I choose to do it for my snakes health more than my health.

Being part of the snake bite club I have no pride in. Yes I will agree it is no big deal and I have no great fear of being bit. It is more of a "I'm not doing my job" as a snake handler to provide the best care, comfort, and sense of security for my snake if it chooses to strike.

Behira, predictably, ate like a champ tonight and took down a 60G F/T small rat.

NICE TO SEE HER BITE SOMETHING THAT WASN'T ME! :)

All kidding aside, thank you to everyone for their support and thanks.

Katie came over to see Behira eat today too (after she struck - lol). She's back in the game.

I really appreciate everyone understanding that Katie is very new to this. She had never held a snake, or even a lizard, before meeting me in June 2016. Now we live together with 5 dogs (I had 2 and she had 3), which is enough in and of itself, and now 7 reptiles and 5 reptile tanks! Her dad hates snakes and her mom pretty much feels the same.

She really seems to embrace the menagerie now better than I could have hoped. She supports my passion and even joins in. I love her with all my heart and adore her, and am thankful, for her open mindedness.

I couldn't imagine not having reptiles in my life, but understand many people don't get it, and wouldn't want them in their home. It may be ignorance more than anything, but moving in with someone and getting engaged, etc. is enough of an adjustment. The reptiles added to the stress initially, but all seems to be working out now.

Not sure this is the appropriate place for all this, if there is one here, but thank you again for letting me share this.

Quick update:

Behira was stretched out tonight, seemingly looking for food (already!) with her head up and tense as I walked by.

I opened the tank and stroked her gently with the handle of the hook, as I have been doing for almost two weeks now. She tensed for a second, then put her head down, and let me pick her up, no problem.

Hook training is working very well.

I can't say she loves it, but realizes no food is coming. Additionally, once I picked her up, total doll as usual. She fell asleep on my chest for 1/2 hour while I was watching TV with Katie.

I think this is going to work out nicely for all involved.

I'll keep everyone in the loop!

Deffinetly worth all the hard work dakski , that’s how I won my img round, tend too loose less blood that way too,lol


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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

Deffinetly worth all the hard work dakski , that’s how I won my img round, tend too loose less blood that way too,lol


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I like my blood in my body!

Seriously though, I want Behira to be comfortable. I also want to know how to read her and know I can trust her being held and with Katie, etc. Zero issues once out of tank, but I want to try to avoid issues in as well.

I really appreciate everyones advice here.

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Originally Posted by dakski

I like my blood in my body!

Seriously though, I want Behira to be comfortable. I also want to know how to read her and know I can trust her being held and with Katie, etc. Zero issues once out of tank, but I want to try to avoid issues in as well.

I really appreciate everyones advice here.

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It is always nice to hear a positive ending to a story... With that said, I recently purchased a female Sonoran het leopard boa and I must say, the Sonorans are in a class of their own. The breeder warned me about these young Sonorans and that it is their nature as youngsters to be vocal...and he wasn't kidding. Everytime you go into her tub she is immediately very vocal (hissing) at you and waiting to tag you (and she has tagged me). So I've started with the hook and she is slowing coming around. I know that her behavior maybe part of being young and also being defensive, so hopefully she will associate with the hook as not waiting to harm her. At the end, once you do get her out of her tub she is sweet as pie and a delight to handle...

As regards hook usage ... oddly enough I use one for the HD Hypo Burm and the SD Purple Albino Retic and any of the bitey / unpredictable Kings / Ratsnakes ..

The only ones I just use my bare hands for are the adult Corn Snake , the Royals , Rhino- Nosed rat snake and the Sand Boa ... who I trust implicitly.

Hooks ( tiny 12" ones ) are great for baby Corns or any little , fast moving hatchlings .... as they scarper when you go to pick them up but when you get the hook gently under them they kinda relax and it's so much waster to lift them out gently with the hook and one hand .

Just prefer it chasing then all around the viv :)


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

As regards hook usage ... oddly enough I use one for the HD Hypo Burm and the SD Purple Albino Retic and any of the bitey / unpredictable Kings / Ratsnakes ..

The only ones I just use my bare hands for are the adult Corn Snake , the Royals , Rhino- Nosed rat snake and the Sand Boa ... who I trust implicitly.

Hooks ( tiny 12" ones ) are great for baby Corns or any little , fast moving hatchlings .... as they scarper when you go to pick them up but when you get the hook gently under them they kinda relax and it's so much waster to lift them out gently with the hook and one hand .

Just prefer it chasing then all around the viv :)


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I also trust my BP and Corn implicitly! My BP barely ever strikes are her rat, so not too worried about my hand! My corn is a very aggressive striker/eater, but he always smells and tastes first. Once he knows it's prey - BAM!

Behira is ready to strike at anything once she smells food! Or, apparently, sometimes just thinking about it!

However, the hook training is going great! And she is a puppy dog.

Anything with size, that can do damage, makes all the sense the world to hook train. No need to be a hero. Better for you and the snake!

My Corn, Figment, was 9G when I got him. Never bit, but hard to grab those little suckers! Never thought about using a hook to round them up! Good idea!

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Originally Posted by Jus1More

It is always nice to hear a positive ending to a story... With that said, I recently purchased a female Sonoran het leopard boa and I must say, the Sonorans are in a class of their own. The breeder warned me about these young Sonorans and that it is their nature as youngsters to be vocal...and he wasn't kidding. Everytime you go into her tub she is immediately very vocal (hissing) at you and waiting to tag you (and she has tagged me). So I've started with the hook and she is slowing coming around. I know that her behavior maybe part of being young and also being defensive, so hopefully she will associate with the hook as not waiting to harm her. At the end, once you do get her out of her tub she is sweet as pie and a delight to handle...

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Yeah, I hear little ones in general can be defensive. Didn't know Sonorans were worse, but I don't doubt it. Behira was a little over 1 years old when we got her. She was with a small breeder who handles his animals, so she was already very chill. I also asked for his tamest BCI, any morph.

Keep working with her and you should get there.

Remember, snakes need a lot of consistency and reinforcement. They do not think like we do, or dogs, for example. You can't reward or scold a snake, so it just takes time and consistent reinforcement. Did I mention it takes consistent reinforcement and time?

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by dakski

Yeah, I hear little ones in general can be defensive. Didn't know Sonorans were worse, but I don't doubt it. Behira was a little over 1 years old when we got her. She was with a small breeder who handles his animals, so she was already very chill. I also asked for his tamest BCI, any morph.

Keep working with her and you should get there.

Remember, snakes need a lot of consistency and reinforcement. They do not think like we do, or dogs, for example. You can't reward or scold a snake, so it just takes time and consistent reinforcement. Did I mention it takes consistent reinforcement and time?

Good luck!

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Thank you dakski... btw your BCI is absolutely stunning. I really wanted to stay with the dwarfs as they dont get to big. My other boa is a Hogg Island Boa and she is puppy dog tame. Then there is my 2 BP's who could care less if they are handled...
Still love them though...LOL :giggle: Have an awesome day!