Help with Teaching SO

So... I am going to be away from the house Monday through Thursday. I have to teach my SO how to handle my snakes so that they can continue to get 15 minutes of handling everyday. This is what I plan on saying:

When handling snakes you have to be aware that any snake can bite, and even though a snake doesn't usually bite you have to treat each time you pick them up with care and respect. To pick one up you slowly pull out the tub. Then you look for the snake. If you can take the snake stick and tap the snake on the head a few times very lightly. This lets the snake know that it isn't feeding time, and that you are going to pick it up. If you cannot see the head, ie he is in the hide, you can remove the hide, and then tap him on the head. After you tap him on the head you can proceed to pull him out of the tub with the snake stick. (At this time I will show her how to do this.) Once you get him out you must support the snake. For the boa he will generally wrap around one of your fingers and will support himself from there. The blood python is a bit different. You have to fully support his body. Blood pythons do not climb, so he will not wrap himself around your hand or fingers. He is unable to support his own body. You have to support as much of his body as you can at any given point in time. (After explaining this I will take out both snakes and show her what I mean. )

Then I was going to explain what to do when bit.

So when you get bit by a snake one of the most important things is to not pull away. It does take some practice to not pull away, but boas and pythons have curved teeth and if you pull away you run a higher risk of doing damage to yourself. Generally when a snake is biting out of fear the snake will simply tag you. He will bite and quickly release. Usually the only time a snake will bite and keep biting is if he has mistaken you for food. So please do not feed them, or handle the frozen rodents around the time you will handle the snake.

Other General Husbandry

2x per day check the temps and humidity
mist 2x daily
check the water bowl when misting
When holding do not restrict movement


Overall this is what I can think of as the important bullet points I should tell her. I could use some help, is there anything I've missed? I will be there every Fri - Monday Morning She will be able to contact me if there is any major emergency.

Honestly, I think you're better off just letting them chill while you're gone. They won't miss the interaction and would be better left alone if you're SO isn't 100% comfortable and confident.

First off, they don't need handling every day...I wouldn't worry about it. I also would not try to give anyone a 'crash course' on reptile handling...
this is something learned slowly & patiently, not under pressure when you aren't there to help & advise.

Hi,

As the others have said I think the path of wisdom is to let the snakes be while you are away for such a short time. Not only to take any potential stress away from the situation from the snakes point of view but also from your SO. :D

It always seems to work out best when the decision to hold them is more gradual and left to the person to choose when to start and for how long at a time. The snakes won't give two hoots unless the handling was forced and stressy. ;)

OK thats even easier. I will let her know. As always you guys help me out. Thanks alot. :)

It's great if she's willing (?) & able to keep an eye on them, as far as temps. & water & such, but it's just wiser not push their handling- they don't need it anyway.

Well she holds the snakes now when I do. She just hasn't been the one to take them out.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

I just figured I should give her a run down of how to do it right if I'm not gonna be there to help.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

I had left home for business meetings to a funeral from 2 days to 2 weeks while my husband hold the fort down at home. The same thing I tell my husband as my pet sitter: Unless they pooped in their tanks, and I'm gone for less than 7 days, leave them be. Not worth risking them accidentally not closing the tanks properly. I don't care if they get bit: They got teeth, of course they will bite.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sur3fir3

I just figured I should give her a run down of how to do it right if I'm not gonna be there to help.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

---

It wouldn't hurt to give her a brief lesson and have her practice once just in case there is an injury or major problem and she has to take one to the vet, but definitely not just for daily handling if she isn't inclined to do it herself as-is.

After you're back, you could work with her to teach her if she wants to and have her start picking them up out of the cage before you both handle for the easier ones.

Agree with the rest though, the snakes won't be bothered by not coming out a few days and it probably isn't great if she is being pushed to do it for something as unnecessary as that.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Ok guys I will follow the advice and start working with my so on the weekends until I think she is ready. As far as holding them and taking them out it isnt stressful, or bothersome for my SO. She just doesn't dislike snakes, but at the same time she doesnt share my enthusiasm for them. She is thinking about getting a bearded dragon.

She holds them a few times a week. This isnt a situation where she has had no contact with them. But I should be there to teach her how to remove them properly. Again thanks guys for the great advice.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

OK, so I spoke to my GF about what we said. She made it clear that she is not nervous around the snakes, nor does holding them stress her out. She feels that after learning how to take the snakes out that she would be able to hold them. She also said that she would like to build a relationship with them now before they get large so that when they are bigger she can help me when needed. So she actually wants to hold them and interact with them when I am gone. How would you proceed, and what should I do?

So go for it then. It's totally up to you & her. Remind her the signs of a snake that is distressed or uncomfortable (also that in such warm weather, they can
more easily over-heat since our hands are 98.6* too). I suspect since she's interested that she'll be fine, but I'd want HER to take out a snake on her own as
a "demo" first, while you're still home & observing, & then go from there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

So go for it then. It's totally up to you & her. Remind her the signs of a snake that is distressed or uncomfortable (also that in such warm weather, they can
more easily over-heat since our hands are 98.6* too). I suspect since she's interested that she'll be fine, but I'd want HER to take out a snake on her own as
a "demo" first, while you're still home & observing, & then go from there.

---

Agreed 100%.

If your SO is growing comfortable and showing an interest let her lead the way. I think letting her get the snakes out of the enclosure on her own will be a huge step, as long as you're there to guide her.

Sounds like you're both doing really well with the situation, keep up the good work!

The first week of my SO taking care of Sangre and Floyd went well. Their humidity was a bit high, so I showed her how to test the humidity before spraying. I also explained how to feed, and the differences in feeding habits between them both. I spent time showing her how to heat up the rat properly for the blood python, and how to check the proper temp of the rat.

So my living situation has changed, but my SO said that she would be happy to house my snakes until we get a place together. I just haven't been able to land a job in her city. So I've been slowly showing her everything I can think of when it comes to husbandry. At least I was able to get Sangre to eat in his enclosure, which will make feeding much safer and easier for her. Overall I am impressed with how she is doing. I think next week I will have her feed both snakes so she can get a hang for it. I will make sure she uses tongs for feeding the boa, as he likes to strike his prey. The blood python is lazy, he just slithers up to it and eats it. I also lost my phone today, so I won't be online as much.

Glad to hear it's going well (your SO with the snakes)...now good luck with the job situation too. Hang in there...:cool:

thanks! yea I'm real happy its just too bad that I cant keep them with me where I am living now. At least my SO is helping me out otherwise I would have to find someone to take them. Her doing this for me means more than just about anything else she could do for me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sur3fir3

thanks! yea I'm real happy its just too bad that I cant keep them with me where I am living now. At least my SO is helping me out otherwise I would have to find someone to take them. Her doing this for me means more than just about anything else she could do for me.

---

I agree...that's a really "good sign" of a true friend. Hope things continue to work out for you...this is a good "test".